Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/278977
In a crowded gallery on an early October evening, a man I have never met saunters over and launches a discussion about his favorite painting on the wall. I welcome the dialogue and by the third sentence our conversation is wrapped up in weighty matters, questions of spirituality and the human longing for significance. Such conversations are the norm on First Friday. Hungry for more of these interactions, a friend and I have been visiting the Santa Fe Art District each month on First Friday, the major event of Denver's art districts. We ponder the art, strike up conversations, meet new friends, and hope to thus represent Christ amidst Denver's art community. So far, we have found First Friday a vital venue in which to engage our city's culture with the gospel. Why so vital? Primarily, it is because the creative arts by nature both manifest and invite thought on life's important questions. Does this work of art represent something valuable? What really matters and why? What is the human predicament and can anything quell our thirst for significance? As we take in a painting, poem, sculpture, song, or other artwork, such questions arise as potential springboards for proposing a biblical perspective, the Christian worldview. Furthermore, the unique social atmosphere of First Friday allows these questions a forum for enjoyable discussion among new friends. Imagine combining the philosophical baritone of an art museum with the talkative tenor of a cafeteria. We take in works of art alongside others in a space buzzing with conversation. There, our interactions with artists and audiences transition quickly from casual to vulnerable as we grapple with weighty themes. This grants a context in which to represent Christ not only through speaking truth but also through listening and otherwise exhibiting love towards others. Who in particular are the "others" we meet? Unlike similar art-related events, First Friday attracts no hyper-specific demographic. Rather, it draws crowds of vast cultural diversity while yet retaining its status as a mainstream social event in Denver. Audience, artists, and artworks alike represent a seeming full spectrum of cultures and subcultures. Hence, not only do we forge relationships around conversations on weighty matters but we do so at a main crux of cultural exchange in our city. Will you join us in engaging this vital opportunity? If you are able, visit First Friday yourself—we meet monthly at the "FOUND" gallery, which is hosted by City Church Denver. And regardless, pray that God's truth and love permeate Denver's art community via Christ's representatives. Thus, may the gospel intersect with one of Denver's major crossroads of art, conversation, and culture. David J. Condry MASTER OF DIVINITY STUDENT David is currently illustrating a book, Mary Mary Quite: On Training up a Child, by Mary Huckstep coming out in September. For more information on Denver's First Friday Artwalk, visit facebook.com/ foundfirstfridays or email d@condry.com ENGAGE 21 Weighty Matters in the Gallery Representing Christ at Denver's First Friday Art Walk. CULTURE