In Response to Place

I visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art this weekend. My group sounds like the setup to a bad joke:

So, there was a psychologist, an actor, a computer programmer, and a rocket scientist.

But anyway...

IMA is featuring a photography exhibit that is tremendous. I don't have time to organize or catalog my thoughts (I was supposed to go to be an hour ago). But I wanted to tell you all to go see it. The photos are mostly excellent, the commentary is challenging and intriguing, and it's free. You can't beat that.

My favorite artist was Lynn Davis. One of her thoughts keeps echoing in my head: “I found that the land is shrinking rapidly around Arches and other protected parks and monuments here, just as it is in Egypt, where development is coming to the Plain of Memphis. It is important to me that these entrances to our scared places be preserved. Part of their greatness—like the greatness of ancient temples—lies in how you enter.”

Hmmm...part of the greatness of sacred space is in how you enter.

Wow. Let's define sacred space. Let's talk about the attitude of entering some of those spaces. Let's talk about the continuing "casualization" of churches (yes, I know I usually champion that).

Maybe soon I'll think more out loud about this...

In the meantime, go....and tell me what you think.