Thin Space Art & Theology
What began as a general inquiry to find a new Yearbook editor started something much, much bigger. Given the name of someone to corner in my class, I asked Ashley if she was interested in becoming the new Editor in Chief of the Yearbook. She said yes and went on to do a fantastic job in a classic leadership role.
Before long it was time for her senior Capstone project. With a stellar portfolio, success as EIC, and nothing left to prove, she chose a manageable client project for a local ministry. Right on target for graduation.
By Spring it was clear this project wasn’t exciting to her. So, in a meeting I asked her why she chose it and what she really wanted to do. Knowing what would happen if she verbalized it to me, she took the risk anyway: “I want to bring the art and theology journal to life.”
For years there had been dreams of an art and theology volume produced by students. It was brought up a lot. We wanted it to happen. The creativity and energy were there. However, the state of digital imaging and printing costs kept the idea at bay. That is, until that year. Digital editing was mainstreamed. Digital photography was ubiquitous. The burgeoning on-demand printing industry had brought costs down. New inspirational publications became more commonplace.
Most importantly, someone was ready and willing for the creative challenge. She could have finished her existing project in peace. She didn’t need to tackle a massive undertaking in the final months of college. Still, Ashley spoke an art & theology publication into motion and rallied the Program.
At a special assembly, Ashley pitched the idea and called for submissions, designers, and editors. She would use her yearbook experience and relationships to do something new. A team instantly formed around her. As part of her presentation she spoke of the inspiration:
The Irish have an old teaching that there are places on earth where the atmosphere collapses and heaven sags to earth, a place charged with sacredness, a place close to God. They call them “thin places.”
She spoke beautifully of a desire to capture the “thin spaces” she saw among us — moments where heaven and earth drew closer together and God’s presence was more accessible to us— and maybe even “create space” for that experience to happen more often.
In closing, she asked for feedback and if anyone had ideas on what to call this new publication. Almost immediately someone yelled out, “Why not Thin Space?” in a tone suggesting the choice was obvious. The rumble from the crowd made it unanimous. The energy in the room sealed it then and there. Thin Space Art & Theology was brought to life.
Volume (0) was Ashely’s proof of concept that went on to inspire the campus and catalyzed momentum that led to yearly volumes of beautiful art and theology from the Moody community. Student-led and student-driven. Produced each year by the team Ashley used to lead. Now an all-campus, flagship publication of the Media Lab.
LEARN MORE AT THINSPACE.CC
Thin Space developed from a desire to see beauty in the mundane, to find greater truth through that beauty, and to find God through that truth. Our desire is to see the truths of God come to life through art — which is the language with which he often chooses to communicate.
(V1) The Darkroom
Developing film requires a darkroom: darkness, the right washes, fixers, and rinses. In this, we consider human beings as handmade things in need of development and, sometimes, in need of darkrooms. This volume is an exploration of some of the shadows in our lives, contours less seen, stories untold.
(V2) Interlude
The Japanese concept, ma, inspired this volume of Thin Space. Ma is an artistic and cultural term that might be translated to mean pause, gap, interval, or negative space. It is the opposite of form and function. While western thought does not have an exact translation or a one-for-one equivalent for ma, it does stir up questions. Can ‘nothing’ mean something? Is this ‘negative space’ substantive in any way? Sometimes, with big questions like these, art provides the closest thing we can get to concrete answers.
(V3) Crux
A point, a critical moment — the choices that define our times. This third volume of Thin Space wrestles with themes of faith centered around our critical moments. Thin Space invited artists and writers to express moments of tension, chaos, or celebration that are experienced throughout their journey.
(V4) Latent
Thin Space Vol. 4 develops the theme “latent” through theologically-informed art created and curated by students. Its painted cover stretches the boundaries of what a Thin Space looks like. And this volume explores how to live well in a world where much exists in unconscious form and is present but not yet actualized.
