In this episode Jon speaks with filmmaker, youtuber, and podcaster, Houston Coley. They chat about his upcoming documentary about L'Abri, a Christian Organization that calls itself "a shelter for honest questions". They also unpack the topic of community, looking at God's role in community, why community forms around artistic projects, and what the digital world means for community.Houston is a documentary filmmaker, theme park theologian, movie philosopher, and self described "appreciator of beauty". Through his youtube channel he seeks to "cultivate spiritual imagination around art and pop culture". He is also the host of the Art Within Podcast, where they have recently done an entire season on the idea of community in the digital era.The Art Within Podcast: https://artwithin.substack.com/Houston Coley Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@houston-coley/featuredFind out more about the L'Abri Documentary: https://www.labridocumentary.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
In this episode Jon talks with Andrew Gommesen about his podcast and the way he has pursued art through that, the value and pitfalls of Christian movies, and his experience in continuing to pursue storytelling and acting with his disability.Andrew has hosted the Speaking4Him podcast for eleven years, where he discusses theology and culture. He regularly pursues creative endeavors through his podcast, including radio theatre productions, and has worked with Master Arts Theatre as an assistant director and actor. You can find out more about Andrew at his website here:http://speaking4him.com/index.php Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
In this episode Jon speaks with his friend, Jordan Awe about acting, finding God's truth in a performance or piece of art, and what it's been like for Jordan to study acting. Jordan is a fellow actor and has shared the stage with Jon a couple of times. Jordan has performed with HPA, Master Arts Theatre, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, and has toured with Arise Collective Theatre's touring production of Pilgrim. Currently Jordan is studying musical theatre at the Sight and Sound conservatory. Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
In this episode Jon speaks with conductor, arranger, and music director Robert Nordling. They speak about Robert's experience working with orchestras and classical music, the way music was meant to be communal, and how music bypasses parts of our brain and captures our experiences without using a word.Robert serves as Music Director of the Baroque on Beaver Island Music Festival, the Bandung Philharmonic and the Shoreline Music Society and is active world-wide as a guest conductor. You can find out more at his website: www.robertnordling.comSign up for our newsletter: www.artistsoftheway.com/contact Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
In this episode Jon talks to Lynn W. Francis. Lynn looks back over the process of assembling her collection a year after it's release, and talks with Jon about the work that pursuing art can be.Lynn is a poet, author, and artist. She has published a collection of poems called Me and God Locked in a Room, and Only One of Us Has the Key. You can find out more about Lynn by following her on facebook, on Instagram under fervent_ink, or by visiting her website, www.lynnwfrancis.com. Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
Alexis Noelle joins Jon to talk about how she expresses scriptural themes in her art through the use of light, how her painting has helped in her walk with Christ, and how God has been leading her in her artistic vocation in recent months.Alexis is a painter based out the Grand Rapids area. Her goal as an artist is to create work that promotes connection through highlighting things in the world that people universally experience in beholding beauty, and through conveying emotion in my work, so that each individual may know that the are not alone. She has been featured in ArtPrize twice before, and will be a part of ArtPrize in 2023. She is also one of the regular live painters at The Stray Music and Arts Cafe, and has recently begun providing workshops and private lessons. You can find out more about Alexis by visiting her website at https://www.alexisnoellestudio.com/Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.html Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
In this episode Jon talks with Jo-Ellen Ming about directing, her upcoming show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and her views on art and truth and God's working through those.Jo-Ellen has been doing theatre for over thirty years, and has owned TrueJem Productions since 2016. She has directed several shows, some of her favorites being Fiddler on the Roof, Cotton Patch Gospel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and her various youth productions through TrueJem and Avalon School of Arts.Find out more about TrueJem Productions: https://www.truejem.com/Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.html Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
In this episode Jon speaks with Casey Adams about her experience as a dancer, how she has experienced the power of God through prayer, worship, and dance together, and about the need for artists, and really all people, to rely on God every day, and in everything we do.Casey owns For His Glory Ballet, where she teaches dancers of all ages. She also works with Arise Collective Theatre and Olivia Grace and Company. She can be found choreographing several stage productions throughout West Michigan, notably with Homeschool Performing Arts. Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
On this episode Jon talks with author Susie Finkbeiner. Susie is the author of nine published books, and her new book the All-American is out this week! Susie speaks with Jon about the importance of healthy community as an artist, the importance of humility in the artistic life of a Christian, and about her own writing and how it has intersected with her faith!Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, as well as Stories That Bind Us, The Nature of Small Birds, and other novels. Susie and her husband have three children and live in West Michigan. Learn more at www.susiefinkbeiner.com.Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html
On this episode Jon talks with John Taylor, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and resident at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, MI. They discuss the importance of art to the Christian faith, the ways in which God can use it, and some of the theological implications of art to Christian artists.John holds a Masters of Theology with a focus on Multi-Ethnic Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary, and works at Crosswinds Church in Wyoming through Calvary Church's residency program Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/contact.htmlFind out more about Godspell: https://www.artistsoftheway.com/godspell.html