Experiential Art & Postmodern Worship
Olafur Eliasson, Take Your Time & You

I went with some friends to view a fantastic exhibit at the SF MOMA this past week entitled "Take Your Time" by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. I've blogged in the past about him and his work and how it can inform the ways in which we understand many things, in particular for me Christian Theology, Worship and the practice of life in a church community. It was amazing! I'm grateful for Susannah and Matt and how they introduced me to this material.

If you're part of the Presbytery of San Francisco, please join us for a discussion involving and integrating this material in terms of the practice of church on Tuesday, January 15th at Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church from 1:30-2:30pm.

If you can't (or even if you can) join that discussion do go and see the exhibit at the MOMA through the end of February. Here's some pictures I took as well as some reflections from the art, our conversations there and observing the interaction of all those in the museum.

1. We think there has to be an "expert" in everything who guides us and teaches us at the same time. Eliasson's art deconstructs that so that we all are the experts gathered as a community by a common experience. It changes the discussion and dialogue from the expert and us, to us about who we are and what is happening. That's what Christian worship should be more like, as opposed to an expert (clergy person mostly) who does most of the talking seeking to impart information as opposed to facilitate experience, participation and connection.

2. We think that we have to explain everything, but deconstruction is something we all can do and join in. Eliasson deconstructs the simplest natural elements (water, light, moss) so that we might have a new perspective on what life is about and like. Jesus did that all the time. It's what his teaching was about, and what made it so powerful, deconstructing everyday life, exposing the way in which we live, relate with one another, understand ourselves, seek power, serve others, and love God - so that we might become aware of the disconnect between who we think we are and who we are, and how things are and how God longs for them to be. That's what the gospel is both about and what it does when it's proclaimed. I don't think I ever experienced that on a Sunday morning. How come?

3. We spend so much time telling others (in particular children) to "Be quiet!"; "Don't touch!"; "Keep moving!" that we all miss out on the life all around us. The Moma was filled with kids. They wanted to touch things (which Eliasson intended them to do), to make noise as they responded to the beauty of the installations (which Eliasson intended them to do), to physically express their jubilant intellectual curiosity in their own language. Repeatedly many of these kids were told by their teachers, parents, and even some of the museum staff - don't touch! be quiet! keep moving! All of which are completely counter to the experience driven exhibit that seeks to involve observers as participants in a new community. How can you do that from silent, passive distance? The kids were articulating what we all felt. They were much freer to do so yet folks shut them down so that they'd conform to our grown-up norms. We do the same thing in worship and church communities. We talk about participation and community but we're actually terrified of it. That goes not only against the central word of the gospel, it's actually the un-gospel of Jesus of Nazareth.

Have you seen the exhibit? What struck you? How?

I have a great article from the New Yorker (Nov 16, 2006) about Eliasson. If you'd like me to email you a copy leave me a note with your email.