Worship Weblog
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Image on EnVision
EnVision Church
In a day when many feel compelled to go outside the church to find beauty, EnVision Church actively works to bring art into sacred spaces. An online resource provided by The Georgetown Center for Liturgy, EnVision Church offers a broad and thoughtful spectrum of art specifically created for sacred spaces. Resources for integrating art and liturgy can be few and far between, especially those with an eye toward excellence and beauty, so it’s refreshing to find a website as thoughtfully constructed and comprehensive as EnVision. Drawing largely on Catholic tradition, its mission is to strike up a forum for anyone interested in learning how to create a worship space that enriches the life of a specific community according to its needs. The site covers everything from the practical issues (effective acoustics, art commissions gone wrong) to seasonal challenges, such as preparing a space for the season of Advent. It also looks at creative examples of installations, architecture, even needlework, for inspiration. With articles reflecting on the interplay between the arts and liturgical tradition, images of worship spaces from six continents, a list of upcoming religious art events and announcements, and a library of glossaries, bibliographies, and church documents, EnVision demonstrates a deep appreciation for worship—seasonal, environmental, and sacramental. As a new site, EnVision is open to suggestions, discussion, and contributions, but even in its infancy already offers a wide array of insight into Catholic aesthetics and worship as it seeks to “generate a community of people whose interests, talents, creativity, and collaborative spirit will bring about a deeper and richer worship life for the Church.”
To go to the EnVision Church website, click here.