Baylor University Will Host "Sacred Texts, Holy Images" Two-Day Symposium
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Baylor University will host distinguished lecturers, professors and artists from across the United States to speak at the "Sacred Texts, Holy Images" symposium from Thursday, Nov. 11, to Friday, Nov. 12, on Baylor's campus.
The symposium is a conclusion of the community lecture series that was held in conjunction with exhibitions in the Mayborn Museum Complex and Martin Museum of Art during the fall semester.
The exhibitions include Georges Rouault's Miserere, Marc Chagall's Bible series and Makoto Fujimura's Soliloquies.
Catholic Rouault's Miserere compares the humility and redemptive affliction of Jesus Christ during his interactions with those of his time.
Jewish Chagall's Bible series portrays the lives of the patriarchs and prophets found in the Jewish Scriptures.
Japanese-American artist Fujimura's Soliloquies is a collection of work inspired by Rouault.
The symposium will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, with a reception in Martin Museum of Art followed by a lecture at 4 p.m. in the Mabee Theater from Fujimura on "A Journey into a Liminal Space: Painting with Georges Rouault."
Fujimura will be speaking from a refractions essay on Rouault which addresses the reality of "liminal space," which is a gap in culture between religion and the arts.
"My intent is to invite the audience into the space, to encourage creating, writing and thinking in that 'critical zone'," Fujimura said.
The next lecture in the symposium will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in the Alexander Reading Room. Scholar Dr. Soo Yun Kang, professor of art history at Chicago State University, will give a lecture on "Symbolic Poetry: the Landscapes in Rouault's Miserere."
Kang's lecture will include an overview of the Miserere series of 58 prints, focusing seven landscapes which are pivotal images in the development of Rouault's art.
"I feel honored to participate in the symposium. I hope my analysis will bring more appreciation of the Miserere album as well as Rouault," Kang said.
At 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, in the Mayborn Museum Complex, the third lecturer, distinguished Chagall scholar Benjamin Harshav, J.&H. Blaustein Professor Emeritus of Comparative and Hebrew Literature at Yale University, will speak on "Marc Chagall: 'Unconsciously Conscious' Artist."
Harshav has published several major books on Chagall, including Marc Chagall and his Times, for which Harshav was awarded the Koret Jewish Book Award (USA) for the best Biography or Literary Study in 2004, and Marc Chagall on Art and Culture. In addition, Harshav was awarded the highest Israeli prize for lifetime contribution to culture and science, the EMET Prize (= Art, Science, Culture), for 2005.
Harshav will show slides, interpret Chagall's paintings and lead a discussion.
"Chagall knew exactly what he was doing in his 'unconscious' art," Harshav said.
The last event which is by invitation only, will be a joint lecture by Mark Foster, the founder of Fine Arts in the Academy, and David Jeffrey, Baylor University Distinguished Professor of Literature and Humanities, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, in the Hughes-Dillard Alumni Center.
Foster will discuss the collaboration between Baylor University and Fine Arts in the Academy, and Jeffrey will present "Rouault and Chagall: Prophet and Priest to Modernity."
The Fujimura Soliloquies exhibit will be on display in Martin Museum of Art until Saturday, Nov 13.
The Rouault's Miserere and Chagall's Bible Series will be on display until Sunday, Nov. 28.
For more information on the symposium call the Honors College at (254) 710-7689.
The Martin Museum of Art and the Mabee Theater are located in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center at 60 Baylor Ave.
The Alexander Reading Room is in the Honors Residential College at 1413 S. Seventh St.
The Mayborn Museum Complex is at 1300 S. University Parks Dr.
The Hughes-Dillard Alumni Center is at 1212 S. University Parks Dr.
by Alison Higgins, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805