Art and the Church

The choice of a Catholic Church as the subject of this project is by design. For centuries, the Catholic Church has supported the Arts. In 1999, in his Letter to Artists, Pope John Paul II recognized the role that the Arts would play in the new millennium writing:

“This world in which we live needs beauty in order not to sink into despair. Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart and is that precious fruit which resists the erosion of time, which unites generations and enables them to be one in admiration!”

The Catholic Church wasn’t the first religion to see the value in Art and to encourage Artistic expression. Every major civilization known to humanity - from Ancient Egypt, to the Far East, to the Middle East, Central and South America and beyond have used the Arts and related symbolism as a means to communicate, to tell inspiring stories, to express their understanding of the true nature of life and the world beyond.

While the subject and people involved in Project Tarsus are very specific there is a broader set of observations about the world around us and this particular time in history that make this project meaningful. 

In the year 2023, the pace of technological change is bringing the human race closer to unimaginable positive discoveries - from settling new planets in our solar system to finding cures for diseases to raising the standards of living for people all across the world. 

Yet, at the same time, it seems like society is ripping at the seams - from war, homelessness, intractable poverty and climate destruction, many of us are feeling overwhelmed by the chaos and upheaval that progress brings.

Throughout history as we have attempted to grapple with societal shifts and turmoil, we often use Artistic expression to help us tap into something beyond our earthly challenges. We find refuge in the spiritual. Art becomes the channel through which we communicate to the souls of people and help them find meaning in their existence.

For example, in the mid-14th Century the Black Death had spread across Europe wiping out an estimated 200 million people. And about the time that the Black Death was receding, the European Renaissance was born, a period of some of the world’s most enduring works of Art across architecture, sculpture, music and painting. Much of these works found inspiration from the teachings of the Christian faith. 

While much of Art and Artistic expression today draws inspiration from sources outside of traditional religious belief and teachings, Project Tarsus is a small effort to connect these ancient truths to something meaningful. 

Art at its highest and best form represents all that is good with humanity - beauty, connectedness and community. 

Beauty has the power to elicit compassion, sympathy, and a sense of goodness. This is because beauty is more than just aesthetic appeal; it encompasses moral, spiritual, and emotional aspects as well. 

Beauty, Art and Spiritual expression have guided us through chaos in the past. Project Tarsus is a small example of how we can combine these elements to guide us forward into the 21st Century.