Steve Turner, Imagine

A vision for Christians and the Arts

I remember a student art show where a group of Christians were given blank canvasses on which to do a self portrait. The paintings were going to be displayed as a large montage, demonstrating the diversity of self expression and uniqueness of the individual, within the unequivocal strength of a single identity: all Christian. This is how I see myself; yet this is who I am.

Imagine the power of this silent, creative presence. One student of a more conservative bent struggled with the commission, and returned a canvas with no picture, but the words from 'Two Ways to Live' written on: a basic, verbal tract to convince people to follow Jesus.

And this is the problem that Steve Turner tackles in Imagine. That Christianity, historically the strongest inspiration and instigation behind great art, has become to many a joyless belief system that in its efficiency in evangelising is incapable of producing art any more. We assume that Christian Artists should really be undercover preachers, that creative people should use their gifts for God (shorthand for doing things for church meetings) and that all art produced should somehow transcendently point immediately to the cross.

Turner's vision is of dynamic, mainstream art, created by believers eager to contribute to society's discussion with itself. Using examples from ranging from rock bands (U2) to novelists (Tim Winton) and poets (RS Thomas), he urges us to develop ways of being where it counts; of thinking rigorously yet christianly; of finding a voice; of achieving both artistic and spiritual integrity. Only then, he argues, can our art naturally and inevitably speak of the hope that we have.

The book lays out this vision, and as such, is a must-read for artistic Christians everywhere. In imagining a new landscape however, Turner exposes the kinds of dualisms and errant theology that plague us all, and as such, is essential reading for any Christian keen to love God and engage with the postmodern world in any sphere. It is short, easy to read, and deserves to be a staple Christian text.