Shaping the World with Stories

Church and culture often tell us that art is a nice luxury but of no use when a crisis hits or for the chronic difficulties of life. But what if art is actually a divinely gifted set of tools, a way to bear witness to our shared humanity? Sophie Killingley takes you through stories of art history and her own experiences ofgrief to uncover the necessity of creativity as a sacred way to fully engage a trauma-filled world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do myths come from? For many, the friendship between C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien is a familiar story, but a new book explores the braid of complexity woven throughout their 40 year friendship with a new lens. John Hendrix presents the major themes from his new graphic novel, The Mythmakers. This lecture will illuminate the history of mythology, the purpose of story, and the rich value of an artistic community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this session from Hutchmoot 2024, Author A. S. Peterson and author Jennifer Trafton discuss the importance of art and story within a fallen world and how our daily acts of creation are signposts pointing toward the world to come.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Royal Vagabonds: How John Bunyan’s Life and Work Offers Hope for Storytellers and Artists(Joe Sutphin, Erik Peterson, Nathan Engelhardt) Many Christian artists struggle to feel at home in today’s culture, and can tend to feel unworthy of their calling at times. But we are treasured by God and called by Him to create wonderful things, despite ourselves. In this session, we will discuss the challenges and suffering that John Bunyan endured, leading him to write one of the most endearing and enduring stories of all time. A story that continues to inspire and encourage authors and artists, nearly 350 years later. The session leaders include the team behind Joe Sutphin’s illustrated edition of Little Pilgrim’s Progress.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please enjoy this session from Hutchmoot Homebound; "Awaking Wonder" by Sally ClarksonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Universe Away and Burning—The Life and Art of Thomas KinkadeRuss Ramsey Thomas Kinkade (1958-2012) wanted to present a more perfect world, and who doesn’t want that? But what if the brilliant light in his windows shone as it did because the house was, in fact, on fire. Wouldn’t we want the maker of that world to tell us that before we opened the door behind which the flames danced? It seems we would not. The truth of history tells us we would rather turn that world into a multi-million-dollar empire of comfort, suggesting it somehow represents the heart of Christian faith—a world that has no real need of a savior. Come hear the story as we ask the ever-important question: What have we done?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creating out of the Dark: Artists and Mental Health (Joe Sutphin, Bailey McGee, Gina Sutphin, Jamin Still, Kyra Hinton) Some artists thrive in the midst of trouble, creating powerful, emotionally-driven works. But to others, the darkness stifles creativity, leaving them in a state of artistic limbo. In this session, five artists will talk together about the struggles and triumphs of making something new even when the dark is all you can see. Over the course of the discussion, art will be made, then lost to the dark. Together, the group will navigate where to go from there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rabbit Room presents this session from Hutchmoot Homebound:  The Imagination's Wake-up Call (Malcolm Guite, Mark Meynell)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rabbit Room presents this session from Hutchmoot 2023: Do Christians Need an AI Theology? (by John Hendrix, Joe Sutphin, Don Clark, Trillia Newbell, Jared Boggess) Is Artificial Intelligence a new tool that makes artistic creation more accessible or is it cancer that threatens the very soul of humanity? Perhaps it is somewhere in between, no matter the answer, Christian artists and those that love art should have a thoughtful response when it comes to this new revolution. A panel discussion about the implications of making art and creating stories when human hands are no longer involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rabbit Room presents this session from Hutchmoot 2024: The Practice of Devotion: How Devotional Songs and Poetry Enrich Our Spiritual Lives (Jon Guerra) The quality of corporate worship transcends music, instruments, and lyrics. It is a spiritual dimension measured only by God, linked to our personal intimacy with Him. Devotional songs and poetry, like the Psalms, are meant to shape and enrich our hearts. Just as “with the same mouth comes blessing and cursing,” a regular engagement with devotional content between Sundays can profoundly enhance the quality of our worship when we gather together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.