Friday Links, January 29, 2021
Dappled Things Fund-raising appeal; What art can (and cannot do), according to Philip Yancy and Ecclesiastes; R.R. Reno on Henry James—on Duty and Beauty; a Collegium Institute/Dappled Things literary pilgrimage through Mexico with Graham Greene’s ‘Whiskey Priest.
Dappled Things Is at the Heart of a Catholic Arts Renaissance
What you can do to help . . .Bernardo Aparicio Garcia, Dappled Things Founder and Publisher writes: "I'd really appreciate it if you could all share our ongoing fundraising appeal. We need a little more to get us over the edge for next year if we want our plans to materialize (including a shiny new website)!"
For us at Dappled Things, it has been a year to double down on our belief that true progress is not found in the piling up of comforts and the amassing of technological power, but in works of truth, goodness, and beauty that glorify the Creator and lift us up as His creatures. The field of ideas and art in which we operate sometimes seems small, even irrelevant, yet it is central because what is found there forms our imaginations, sustains our spirits, and inspires our endeavors. Do you agree? If so, please know the only way we can continue this work is with your financial support."
What Art Can and Cannot Do
Recommended by Katy Carl, DT Managing Editor. In this essay at First Things, Philip Yancy reminds us what Ecclesiastes says about the work of the writer and then examines the potentials and limitations of what art can realistically achieve.
“In time, I noticed that the last chapter of Ecclesiastes contains words directed toward people in my own profession of writing: ‘He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words.’ Clearly, the Teacher of long ago knew something of the laborious process I go through each time I approach my computer today.
“Then, in a sentence packed with mixed metaphors, the Teacher concludes, ‘The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.’ In typical contrapuntal style he adds this tweak: ‘Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.'”
Opening pages of an ambitious hand painted copy of Ecclesiastes (in Dutch), made by a part-time artist (StarBastion at Imagur) witha feather quill, 23 carat gold leaf and egg glair
Duty, the Soul of Beauty
Kary Carl also recommends this additional article at First Things. In this installment in an ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, R. R. Reno joins the podcast to discuss his recent publication from Wiseblood Books, Duty, the Soul of Beauty: Henry James on the Beautiful Life.
“James wants us to see a consciousness aroused to become something great and admirable by what we too often think a small, mean thing—duty. To have succeeded, to have done this in prose is a magnificent achievement."—From the blurb at the webpage for Duty, the Soul of Beauty, at Wiseblood Books.
During Lent 2021, scholars and writers from the Collegium Institute and Dappled Things community, as well as Nick Ripatrazone of Image Journal, will lead attendees on a literary pilgrimage through Mexico with Graham Greene’s “Whiskey Priest.”
Online on Thursdays
Between February 25 and March 18
7:00-8:30 PM EST
6:00-7:30 PM CST
5:00-6:30 PM MST
4:00-5:30 PM PST
SCHEDULE (Check the website for the reading schedule, coming soon):
Feb 25: Session 1, led by Nick Ripatrazone (Writer, Poet, and Image Journal Culture Editor)
Mar 4: Session 2, led by Nick Ripatrazone
Mar 11: Session 3, led by Katy Carl (Writer and Dappled Things Editor-in-Chief) and Natalie Morrill (Writer and Dappled Things Editor)
Mar 18: Session 4, led by Terence Sweeney (Philosopher and Collegium Institute Theologian-in-Residence)
Register here. Make sure to select the $55 Dappled Things Readers Special Rate.
