Christian Perspective on Art at Redeemer
As the Dutch Statesman Abraham Kuyper once argued, art is "no fringe that is attached to the garment, and no amusement that is added to life." We live in a world where art is often disregarded as irrelevant or mere decoration. At Redeemer we take art seriously. We believe that art is as important as theology, politics, business or science to our integral Christian calling of cultural stewardship. As Christians who believe in a God-ordered cosmos, we must accept that our responsibility for God’s earth includes the world of art.
At Redeemer University College we believe the Visual Arts are one of the rich sources of God-given expression and meaning in our contemporary world -- an essential and ordained part of the whole fabric of culture. For over 20 years, students at Redeemer have been challenged to develop both their skills and conceptual insight in art through a variety of courses in art history, theory and technique. Art students take studio courses in design, drawing, painting, sculpture, computer-based art and media language – exploring these sub-disciplines through a variety of media and approaches.
Recognizing that ideas and conceptualizations are equally important to the creation of art and technique, students also take a variety of courses that historically and philosophically ground their work. Some of these courses include art appreciation, art history courses which explore such areas as Western art, non-Western art, the Modern world and Canadian art and courses which explore the relationship between art/aesthetics and faith. All art majors work towards a final solo senior exhibition that brings together both technical skills and conceptual thinking.
As the only Christian university in Ontario offering a degree in art, we regard art-making as an essential part of culture. We believe that culture, the cultivation of creation, is a partnered activity which calls us to develop, expand and enhance the world we live in as an offering and service to God. We explore together art’s distinctiveness as a legitimate obedient response to God. Art practice and critique at Redeemer takes seriously the recent contributions of both art theory and contemporary art to understanding the nature and special character of art and art-making.
The Art major is designed to provide students with both breadth and depth. Students trained in the visual arts have the opportunities, among others, to work as practicing artists and art teachers, or to pursue further studies in art therapy, commercial design, art criticism and curatorial work.