The Art of God (PB) (2015)

In The Art of God, pastor and musician Jimi Calhoun suggests that the master artist, God, programmed diversity into every aspect of the natural order. Today more of us than ever live in closer proximity to people once viewed as different. The multicultural conversation of the recent past has proven to be inadequate to address the present intercultural reality in which we live. The question then becomes, how will we live together? Quite often the presence of difference results in the avoidance of the other. Many accept this as simply a natural occurrence, but in the world of art, difference does not always trigger division. Art encompasses multiple disciplines and forms. Art welcomes diversity within its borders. This book traces the evolution of art and music, then extracts principles from a musical motif to encourage the development of an artistic worldview that recognizes the beauty residing in everything and everybody. ""Jimi Calhoun, master musician, pastor, and scholar, has given us an enormous gift here. His book is on one hand an encyclopedia on the history and dynamics of music, as well as his personal diary on the art of music. On the other hand it is a book about multiculturalism, again from an informed and academic base and a personal base. . . . Jimi's book is a must-read not only for musicians, but also for anyone who is interested in knowing about the art of God."" --Paul D. Kraus, author of Pastoral Care ""Calhoun takes us all on a journey we might think we know, only to discover the depths of insight we lack. Jimi's voice is personable, knowledgeable, and clear with a life of lived experience to sustain all the wisdom The Art of God holds. Do yourself a favor and read this book. In the end, not only will you appreciate more the craftsmanship of yourself and others in being created human, but you will view the bigness of the master artist in ways you have not yet imagined!"" --Randy Woodley, author of Shalom and the Community of Creation ""Jimi provides an in-depth look at the way human artwork was designed to interact via our relationships with each other. The brilliance of this book is that as the author weaves a tapestry of art history, philosophy, the physics of music, and cultural issues, he simultaneously infuses a message that overflows with irony. While this book is steeped in the relevance of art in its entirety, Jimi lovingly and masterfully points out a large blind spot in our appreciation of some of the greatest works of art ever created. Read this book. You will never view art in the same way."" --Thomas Doyal, musician, Boca Raton, FL ""It is so enlightening to learn lessons from a field that I know little about. The Art of God teaches lessons about God and diversity using music as a pedagogical tool. It is written in such an accessible manner that even a music neophyte like me can enjoy it. We badly need the lessons in this book and Jimi Calhoun has found a great medium to deliver them."" --George Yancey, Professor of Sociology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX Jimi Calhoun is Lead Pastor at Bridging Austin, a Reconciling Community in Austin, Texas. He is the author of A Story of Rhythm and Grace (2009). A gifted storyteller, he is also an internationally acclaimed musician. He is co-chair of Community Dreams, an Austin-based nonprofit serving urban youth, and a member of the Austin Interfaith Inclusion Network, which serves people living with disabilities. He is on the boards of the Interfaith Arts Council, Humanitarians for the Arts, and the Exnihilo Art Center in Deadman's Cay, the Bahamas.