Reviewing several books by my old professor friend this year about where art and spirituality and culture intersect in the life of Vincent Van Gogh. So good to reconnect to this wise teacher, after many years, and sit with his life findings around and through the life of this fascinating and still mysterious artist; and to get to read newer manuscripts, just sent. We both have a passion for art, culture and deep faith.

Nice reconsidering Van Gogh as a spiritual figure outside of just art history-more as a visual theologian, not just a failed minister or famous icon, but a man on spiritual pilgrimage.

Someone who was trying to live an authentic spirituality, both in response to “the church” and the “art world’s” shadows. And, both have their clear shadows! I relate to that. Vincent was fired from the church, and somewhat shunned by the celebrity culture of the art world in Paris; so knew both shadows experientially. This is another thing I’ve always related to from his life and art.

All Dr Edward’s books are good (Van Gogh’s shoes; Van Gogh and God; Night Cafe; and most recently, Ghost Paintings), and trigger fresh thoughts about where faith, art and culture intersect and effect one another!

“Van Gogh and God” which was the original one Cliff was working on back in our day, and now “Ghost Paintings” (with a great forward by the late great priest Henri Nouwen) where he deals with the paintings, specifically of Christ in Gethsemane, which Vincent tore up evidently because he felt he could not depict that level of suffering.

But also, because he felt he could do so more powerfully, by implying the story through the olive trees, instead of direct representation. Tell the bible stories through the art of your life! Art as hermeneutic, or a way of interpreting life, and a place of encountering God, still makes sense to me! Being the gospel, not just “telling” it! Incarnate and become your teachings, as one great teacher put it to me!

Painting, and living, as a parable and dialogue with scriptures was something Vincent never abandoned! Somewhere over, both the church and the art world, there must be a large Kingdom roof! And enormous covering for true contextualization and dialogue! Let’s be the parables, we are talking about!

This last book I’m reviewing now (“Ghost Paintings”) is lots about how what an artist’s takes out, is often the content which is put in. What is negated, tells the true tale. What we erase, reveals who we are!

Good stuff. All of Dr Edward’s books are long earned humble journeys which suggest rather than tell you (show, don’t tell, as the great writers say). He has been with Van Gogh’s work through his art and letters for over 40 years now, and has some subtle insights into specifically what was motivating the artist spiritually.

I’ve always enjoyed the intersection of arts, faith and culture, and all these books trace and map that particular intersection in the life and times of Vincent Van Gogh.

Nice to reconnect with some art father elders who have been considering this intersection for over 50 years at least! Plus, as a fellow pastor’s son and artist, i love Van Gogh’s work, and appreciate his authentic quest! Even, its painful ending made sense to me on some visceral level.

Read more here, in this interview with my old friend and professor Dr Cliff Edwards! A man of books, faith and art, and, as importantly, humor! Good man, thankful for his long quest to ask the right questions, and to teach us to do the same!