For many years Juliet Benner chose the beautiful art that graced the covers of Conversations and wrote the “O Taste and See” reflections that appear in these pages. As we reflect on the body in this issue, it is appropriate to consider our physical sense of vision and how the soul is moved by art. In this interview, Juliet discusses her new book Contemplative Vision and how art can stimulate our prayer.
Conversations Journal: How can art help our prayer life?
Juliet Benner : The process of looking at art slowly and meditatively is the same process that is involved in prayer. Spending time gazing at art that is supported by Scripture provides the space where we can be fully present and open to whatever God wants to do in and through us. You can almost say that art is prayer as we enter that same state of quiet stillness and solitude when we engage with a piece of art. Then, creating our own art in response to our reflections on other works of art is also a way to engage prayerfully with art. We become co-creators with our Creator God when we do.
CJ : We tend to think of great works of art as being meant for museums, but they were originally displayed in churches. What happened to change that?
JB: Before the Reformation and before people were able to read and write, churches were repositories for the arts. They were considered to be the “poor man’s Bible” and were used as tools of religious instruction. The Reformation brought an emphasis on the Word alone, privileging hearing over seeing. Consequently, images in churches came to be considered idolatrous and were therefore destroyed or whitewashed. What resulted was an experience of God that was limited to the rational and analytical, as well as a loss of experiencing God with all the senses and the imagination.
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