After the two world wars, many artists had no upper story of hope, and either got hedonistic or egotistic, or nostalgic, or protectionist of their own reputations. Why would that be? And how similar to art’s, and at times, the church’s response now!

The biggest global need now is for people to have the courage to continue living joyously authentically as themselves, not in denial of the millions of displaced, but willing to dignify them, and dignifying the unique lives and cultures of those around them. Joy and hope is radical not escapist in times like ours, for it contains the courage to be.

A radical art of authentic Joy is needed now! Not an innocent but an experienced Joy. A Joy actually grounded in vision. This type of vision was missing after the wars, and much art defended into hedonism, nostalgia or celebrity. A radical art now would contain reconciliation joy, a radical sharing of oneself and gifts, a path towards healing, a true gospel of suffering and hope sitting at the same cafe; we need to become the poppies which popped back up in Belgium after the war—red signs of Hope growing from bloodied fields!

So take away from this weeks art history study after the two great wars: few really modeled the right response to that much suffering. Those who did claim the courage to be, to dignify others, to radically share with one another-rather than becoming hedonistic or protectionist (which you can see is happening now also), to make an art and live a life which also dignifies in view of suffering, to sing that gospel song in clear view; to plant an art which gave informed hope those who did made great art and a lasting contribution to the drama, were unfortunately and perhaps, unnecessarily, rare.

It is not escapist to make even joyous art now. It is not escapist to be our real selves in the face of suffering. Not sentimental to hope we are still here, and other’s true names, still matter. To claim the creative courage to be! To be authentic, let’s the Author write and paint, or even graffiti our names awake again; Joy, recalls us to ourselves. It actually dignifies, gives room for others to be safe enough to be themselves again, and not live in fear! This needed art and living is not sentimental, but joy which knows suffering! An earned and informed type of Hope is transformational!

Joy which sees the millions of displaced people globally, joy which sees the generational hurts between races and ethnicities, a creative Joy which says yes to life because God says yes, and is reconciling all things. A joy which has moved from innocence into experience, and still says yes to the wonder of being here and becoming!

That’s the needed art response to now, just as it was after the wars. So few made that sort of hued by life;s Hope Beauty which offers a way forwards! Let’s! A joyous art which is neither sentimental or depressive, or narcissistic, but one which channels what St Peter called “living Hope”! (I Peter) It’s not flower power, it’s root and flower, and rain and storm, and the suffering sky’s power. It’s incarnate hope. Embodied beauty. It’s a redemptive redaction, in the energy of reconciliation of all things towards wholeness!

Since art incarnates where it is created from, we are drawn into the Reality of what is being symbolized. If we are creating from the space of Hope, we will channel that for others through our art, regardless of medium. Art is a ladder into…art can tell us there is a still a Home we are working our way into and towards. There is still tangible hope, which elicits true Joy!

And art of true joy is radical, as it contains the suffering and takes it forward towards wholeness! Joy which sees our silly walls, but sees through them to Peace. Joy which has that complexity of awareness, that innocence which has moved on to experience—that type of authentic Joy and freedom of being is what is needed in the world now. Let’s make that art friends! Once we have moved from innocence into experience, through suffering, we have a unique opportunity to offer incarnate hope to one another, and profound dignification of one another. Art is meant to do this in times like ours. Let’s make that art friends!