Rob Saler, an exciting and highly attuned theologian and culture maven, talks with Peter about the ways in which culture and theology learn from each other. Inevitably they focus on his favorite band—Radiohead—on whom Saler has authored a recent book, All Things Into Position.
Read MoreChristina Maranci is one of the world’ foremost scholars of Armenian sacred art. She has played an inestimable role in the display and understanding of the arts of the Armenian church — which dates back to the fourth century. She and Peter discuss the sacred arts, how these can properly be displayed in a museum, how churches become consecrated, and a host of other great things.
Read MoreGavin Bryars is one of the leading experimental composers of his generation. Among his diverse and prodigious repertoire, his best known work remains the process compositiion Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet, a stirring work of cumulative power. We talk about this and all his work, and whether the word “spiritual” may be applicable.
Read MoreGary Vikan is one of the most renowned figures among art historians as well as in the world of museum curation. His bold, exciting, but also sensitively conceived exhibits of Byzantine art are among his great achievements during his storied tenure at the Walters Museum. He’s also a great friend of our work at the Institute of Sacred Arts.
Read MoreMetropolitan Savas, one of the most culturally and intellectually engaged and curious people I know, talks with me about finding the sacred within the arts, within popular culture - especially in the oeuvre of Bob Dylan.
Read MoreLisa Deboer is an art historian who, since 1999 has been teaching at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. She is the author of The Visual Arts in the Worshiping Church — something sending us into far-reaching conversations about the use of the arts in different denominations.
Read MoreScott Cairns — poet, educator, and just a supremely wise dude, talks with Peter about how poetry works. But also about how the poetic can function throughout spoken and written communication.
Read MoreJames Jordan: The Musician’s Spirit. One of the most influential, innovative, and inspired choral conductors and educators in the world, James Jordan has so much to tell us about the sacred relationship between conductor and singer, and more than that: about the human being with the other.
Read MoreShawn Wallace is many things - a master of the jazz idiom, a pedagogue, a social commentator, and a man of deep faith. Finding himself an Orthodox Christian, he has brought the rich and beautiful musical legacy of black gospel music with him, showing us all how big the tent can be. We talk about that project, and learn much about his origin story - including the origin of “Thunder.”
Read MoreRichard Viladesau is one of the contemporary masters of the field of theological aesthetics. Longtime member of the faculty at Fordham University, he talks with Peter about what aesthetics is (it’s much bigger than you think) and how one can speak of “beauty” across cultures.
Read MoreOn a special episode of Luminous, we feature a six-way discussion on the experience of African American Orthodox Christians and the encounter with existing musical traditions in the Orthodox Church.
Read MoreKrista West: The Sacred Art of the Vestment. Deeply gifted in the art of sewing and embroidery, also articulate in reflecting on her craft, Krista adds immeasurably to the conversation on sacred arts.
Read MoreOne of the world’s greatest living bass players, and a person of deep faith, John and Peter have a lot to talk about, such as the inspiration behind John’s composed and improvised music.
Read MoreGrant White teaches and studies liturgy - which means, arts, ritual, faith - everything that propels us in our Luminous conversations. A learned and very finely-attuned person, Grant takes us down some wonderful conversational paths.
Read MoreJeremy Begbie is one of the most incisive commentators on the relationship between arts and theology. We visit many fascinating destinations in this episode of Luminous.
Read MorePageau is both an artist and a commentator about art and symbolism, and on what many within contemporary culture are searching for from the world of art and tradition.
Read MorePeter talks with distinguished professor Annemarie Weyl Carr about the meaning of “sacred,” “holy,” and “spiritual,” as well as about the images, notably in Cyprus, that she has been studying and writing about for decades.
Read MoreA leading contemporary artist, a major cultural figure, and arts advocate, Makoto Fujimura talks with Peter about silence and suffering, and their impact on art.
Read MoreLong-time professor of Liturgy and Music History, at Yale and Notre Dame, Margot talks with Peter about her work on Hildegard of Bingen - 12th-century mystic, poet, musician, theologian - and how music, text, and cosmology can all come together in a harmonious whole.
Read MoreJunius Johnson is one of the most exciting scholars of Christian thought working today. Also a musician and sci-fi/fantasy author, he is a writer and speaker with expertise in historical and systematic theology. And he has much to tell us about beauty.
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