Candler Admissions Blog

Candler Around the Globe

2009-06-12T11:19:00.000-04:00

(Sunset over Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo by Gretchen Van Ess)

This summer, six Candler students have spread across the globe as interns funded with a grant from International Relief and Development, Inc. Students are serving in the Republic of Georgia, Mozambique, Indonesia, and IRD headquarters in Washington, D.C. this summer. During their internships, students will be assessing a broad range of issues, including democracy and governance, HIV/AIDS, and community development.

(A shy schoolboy in Maputo, Mozambique. Photo by Aquarius Gilmer)

All six Candler students are blogging for us all summer long!

Click here to follow their blogs this summer.

A Catholic Priest Walks into a Methodist School...

2009-05-22T14:40:00.001-04:00

Father David (right), with Emory's 22nd President James Wagner (referred by
undergrads, affectionately, as "J Wag.")

Our Guest Blogger this week is Father David Glassmire. Fr. Glassmire is a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Buffalo, New York. He is also a chaplain serving on active duty in the United States Navy. After completion of his studies at Emory, he will be assigned to the First Marine Division, First Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, CA. Fr. David is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Glassmire of Kenmore, NY , and the elder brother of Cathleen Mroz and Lynn Wyland. He currently lives in the Woodland Hills section of Atlanta with his “spoiled rotten” Vizsla, Rye. He is a graduate of Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY (MDiv) and the University of Notre Dame (MAT in Liturgical Studies). He was designated a Student Marshal for Commencement 2009 and graduated first in this year’s ThM class.

Reflections on the Eve of Graduation 2009

I am Candler, I am Emory, and I am the Spirit of Dooley! Although not the Holy Trinity, this is as good as it gets in a School of Theology of Methodist leanings—for a Catholic priest, that is!

Commencement and graduation offer an opportunity for reflection and gratitude. Often in life we take things for granted. At Candler I gained insight: “I did not learn my theology all at once, but had to search deeper for it, where my temptations took me” (appropriated from Karl Rahner). And some of my theological insights were gained at the High Museum or the Georgia Aquarium rather than the study carrels at Pitts (appropriated from Martin Luther). And in the end emerged a ThM thesis of my own.

My ThM year provided theology writ large, painted on a canvas of international proportions. Coming together with diverse backgrounds—“would-be theologians” us all—we studied, worked, and shared together, seeking to find what God placed in our midst.

Candler shaped this experience, helped to make it happen using words rife with intent, purpose, and profound meaning, and we have all grown because of our experience in this place. So it is time to unleash a new generation of theologians on the four corners of the universe, heaven help us all! This has been one of the best years of my life. Thank You.

What can a Catholic learn from a Methodist? As it turns out, more than I ever thought I would know. Therefore, I invite you to take the Candler Challenge.

Candler Graduation 2009!

2009-05-15T10:55:00.004-04:00

Candler MDiv '09 grad James Clark is happy

On Monday, May 11, 2009, Candler School of Theology graduated its 94th class of students. Below are photos of the day, which included a commencement speech by former Mexican President Vincente Fox (pictured left) and Candler's graduation ceremony in Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church.

Special thanks to Cindy Brown (www.cbrownphoto.com), Candler MDiv '09, for use of many of her pictures. Check out her amazing slideshow of the day below.

Slideshow

Lauren Lobenhoeffer, MDiv 09, with Professor Rex Matthews (photo by Michelle Levan)

Yong Sil Choi, MDiv 09

Scott Wilks, MDiv 09, and Jan McCoy, MDiv 09

Kelsey Grissom Johnson, MDiv 09

Julia Buckner, MDiv 09, with Professor David Petersen (photo by Michelle Levan)

Kim Wagner, MDiv 09 (photo by Lauren Lobenhoeffer)

Amanda Garvin, MDiv 09, with her dad

Saul Burleson (right), MDiv 09, with Myron McGhee, MDiv 95

Brandon Wason, MTS 09, with Professor Steve Kraftchick (photo by Wendy Wason)

Estelle Archibold, MDiv 09

Evita Smith, MDiv 09, with Dean Jan Love

Rodney Mason, MDiv 09!!!

Earth Day and a Green Emory

2009-05-01T15:24:00.005-04:00

Two weeks ago, Emory and Candler celebrated Earth Day along with millions of people across the globe. You may not know this, but Emory University is one of the leading universities in the country in terms of environmental consciousness and sustainability.

One of the student leaders on Candler's campus in terms of Greening the seminary and sustainability issues is Alison Amyx (pictured right). In honor of her green activities on campus, Alison, a first-year Master of Theological Studies student, won the Myki Mobley Memorial award at the 2009 Candler Honors Day awards. The Mobley award is given to an MTS student who "demonstrates both academic excellence and significant social concern."

Alison hosted two events on campus on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22 featuring Dr. Katy Hinman, a 2006 Candler MDiv grad who also holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolution from SUNY Stony Brook. Dr. Hinman is the Executive Director of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), a non-profit group in Atlanta working with faith communities (churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, and other centers) on issues of Creation care and energy conservation.

Earth Day also included a screening of "RENEWAL," a documentary film about the efforts that faith groups of all stripes around the world working are taking to combat climate change. Click on the image to the left to watch a short clip.

One of the reasons I love working at Emory is its institutional commitment to put energy (no pun intended) and resources into sustainability. Due to the work of Alison and other Emory faculty, staff, and students, Emory has the following green distinctions:

Earned one of only 11 spots on the Princeton Review's "2009 Green Rating Honor Roll."
More LEED certified building space than any other university in the nation (including the Theology Building, which is in the process of LEED certification)
Named "2008 Distinguished Conservationist of the Year" by The Georgia Conservancy.
Offered 129 courses with a sustainability component or focus, including 13 in Theology, Religion, or Philosophy.
Featured on CNN and CNNU for our green initiatives (see below)

CNN piece, April 22, 2009,on sustainability at Emory
(4 minutes, 24 seconds run time)

CNNU project, April 29, 2009 on student involvement in environmentalism
at Emory. Look for Alison Amyx's nine- seconds of fame from 1:59-2:08. (3 minutes, 20 seconds run time)

Candler Spring Banquet

2009-05-01T14:10:00.025-04:00

Spring Banqueteers, from left to right, Becca Storace (MTS '10),
Cody Case (MDiv '10), and Justice Schunior (MDiv '09). They might have been
rocking out to Bon Jovi. Livin' on a Prayer??? Tough to tell.

Spring is a time of joy, celebration, and transition at Candler. Last Friday, April 24, Candler held its annual Spring Banquet, AKA “The Candler Prom,” an outward expression of all of these for students, faculty, and staff. There is joy in fellowship and dancing with friends, classmates, coworkers, and professors. Though Finals still remain for some, everyone celebrates the end of a rigorous academic year or an entire degree program. And the school begins a transition, as students graduate, classmates move across town and around the world, and faculty and staff retire and follow life on to further adventures.

Here are some photos of and thoughts about the Spring Banquet, from some of our students and faculty.

Above, from left to right, Scott Wilks (MDiv '09) and Khalif Smith (MDiv '11)

Scott Wilks, MDiv '09,
The Candler Prom is that last chance to unwind with friends, to raise a glass and salute good times, and to get that hug or handshake from someone who has shared the laughter and the tears. The Candler Prom included all the fun parts of a wedding reception, except that instead of celebrating just one couple, we were celebrating ALL of us. Friends like Khalif who remind me that my brothers (and sisters), whether in friendship or in Christ, enrich our lives by walking with me and sharing who they are.

During my time at Candler, I built some real friendships which have sustained and enriched the educational component of the academy. Some will remind me of God's love for all when I hear people say stupid or hateful things. Some will give me hope that God's work, which is entrusted into human hands and hearts, will be pursued with diligence and purpose.

Above, from left to right, Haemin Lee (ThM '07, Emory PhD '13) and Candy Benson (MDiv '11)

Diane Kenaston, MDiv '11 (not pictured)
Best parts about Candler Prom:

relaxing after a stressful last week of class (and gearing up for finals)
being with friends who feel more like family
hanging out with the third-years one last time (officially!)
watching the choir pose as Calendar Girls
the Colbert-Report-styled Candler video
and (my personal favorite) seeing professors break it down on the dance floor (especially Dr. Brooks Holifield, below)

Professor Brooks Holifield, with his wife Vicky, doing an old school Swing.

Above, from left to right, Nancy Gerhart, Sarah Glidewell, Maria Presley,
and Christina Repoley, all from the MDiv class of 2011

Nancy Gerhart, MDiv '11
I had a great time at Candler Prom! I was so fun to watch the videos, eat, and dance with my fellow students, professors, and Candler staff. At Candler you feel like you are part of a community anyway, but it became very evident at the Spring Banquet that we all love each other and are here to support each other and have fun!

Sarah Glidewell, MDiv '11
Spring Banquet provides an opportunity for the Candler community to come together outside of the classroom. Spending time with classmates, professors, and especially those about to graduate is a great way to end the year!

Maria Presley, MDiv '11
The highlight of Candler prom for me was celebrating the last day of my first year of classes with the friends who have filled my first year of memories.

Above, from left to right, Susan Evans (MTS '10) and Nathan Skinner (MTS '10)

Above, from left to right, Jenna Strizak (MDiv '11) and Lea Harrison (MTS '10)

Jenna Strizak, MDiv '11
Spring Banquet was a great chance to decompress from finals, visit with old friends and new, and celebrate (and poke fun at ourselves!) as a community.

Above, from left to right, Kim Jackson (MDiv '09), Khalif Smith (MDiv '11) and Trina Jackson (MTS '09)

Kim Jackson, MDiv '09
I missed the Candler Spring banquet my first year, and after seeing the pictures, I vowed to never miss it again during my time at Candler. The "Prom" is such a fun experience, and a great time to share laughs and good food with the Candler community. I especially enjoyed seeing faculty and staff getting on the dance floor with us!

Above, from left to right, Keri Olsen (MDiv '11), and Duncan Teague (MDiv '11)

Keri Olsen, MDiv '11
As a first year student, Spring Banquet seemed like the last of our initiation into the Candler community. It was a witness to the fact that we really were a part of a fun and trusting community composed of professors and students, but most importantly friends.

Duncan Teague, MDiv '11
The evening was a pleasant distraction from our finals and papers. Everyone cleaned up so nice. It was fun to do the Electric Slide with half of my fellow students from Preaching Class.

Spring in Atlanta: Festivals and Gardens!!!

2009-04-24T17:35:00.003-04:00

(music from the Atlanta Dogwood Festival)

There is nothing like springtime gardening and festivals in Atlanta. Winter (well, whatever winter we have—I’m from Chicago. I’m just sayin’). Everything is green, the rains have come, the flowers, dogwoods, and azaleas are blooming, and there is so much to do outside and inside around the city. Last weekend for me was about two great festivals --the Dogwood Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival-- and some gardening.

Last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday was the 73rd Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival. The Dogwood (pictured left in pink, though most dogwood flowers are white) is the unofficial state flower of Georgia (the Cherokee Rose is the Official State Flower; the State Seashell, in case you were wondering, is the Knobbed Whelk). The Festival was back in Piedmont Park this year, after a drought-induced hiatus to the Lenox Mall Parking Lot last year. The weather was gorgeous! I went on Friday, played Frisbee, and walked around to some of the more than 250 artist booths, which were really spectacular. I’m a woodworker, and I was very impressed with the number and quality of wood turning, carving, and furniture booths. I might have to get one for next year…. In 2006, the Artist Market was ranked #16 out of the Top 200 Shows in the Country by Sunshine Artist's Magazine.

Last weekend was the best weekend so far this year for gardening. On Saturday, before the Atlanta Film Festival, I went to pick up a pick-up truck-full of horse manure! I know, it might sound kinda gross, but this stuff is all natural, totally organic, and better than gold to gardeners and farmers! You can use manure as a top-dressing, mixed into soil directly (do this at least 2-4 months ahead of any planting), or thrown in your compost bin. And it was FREE!

I went to Vogt Riding Academy, located about a mile from the Emory campus. My friend Colin and I had the truck filled in 20 minutes, and they had TONS of free manure. Just go by anytime they’re open (8-5 M-F; 8-3ish on Sat), and they’re happy to help out. They’ll even load your truck for you for free (you should tip the guy five bucks, in my opinion) if you go earlier in the day. Loaded up with horse apples, Colin and I grabbed a cup of coffee at a coffee shop, where they gave us free used coffee grounds for the garden.

We saw Farmer D’s organic garden shop across the street, so we went over and bought some vegetables and herbs to go into the ground. The workers there were friendly and knowledgeable and Farmer D’s website is fantastic. For instance, they’ve got a great video on the process and benefits of composting.

Lastly, The Atlanta Film Festival (AFF) was fantastic. I only caught the Drama Shorts, but there were 183 films total being screened between April 16-25. Since 1977 the AFF has screened early films from directors such as Steven Spielberg, Victor Nunez, Spike Lee, Julie Dash and Robert Rodriguez. The Drama Shorts that I saw were all good, and several were great. They were between 12 and 19 minutes long. I can say that I had previously seen less than five short films in my life. But the shorts were powerful and unlike most Hollywood movies. Three of the six were filmed in Atlanta, with many of the actors, directors, and production people sitting in the theater with me! I particularly like Magellan, the story of a bright and awkward young boy living in a smokestack in Atlanta with his artist father. The festival website says:

Magellan, a scrawny seventh-grade outcast, has a precarious friendship with the popular but insecure girl he walks to and from school with everyday, but that friendship ends at the school boundaries until one day Magellan gathers the courage to ask her to the Spring Dance.

Check out the trailer on the website and go see the movie! It was fantastic! The rest of the The AFF website is very interactive, and most of the films have trailers and/or comments sections. Check out the rest of the Drama Shorts below for descriptions, reviews, and trailers.

Between You And Me | Micah Stansell

Flying Lessons | Janet Grillo

Magellan | Sebastian Davis

Miracle Fish | Luke Doolan

The Capgras Tide | Adam Hutchings

Wheels | Tracy Martin

So the festivals, gardening, and spring have arrived in Atlanta. Sometimes all on the same weekend. You can see why it’s my favorite time of the year!!!

Quaker Service at Candler

2009-04-10T12:52:00.004-04:00

A Quaker Meeting in Candler's Cannon Chapel

Diversity is something that is celebrated at Candler. Diversity is something sewn into the basic fibers of the Christian faith. Christianity emerged from a complex mix of cultures, languages, religions, ethnicities. It was a Jewish Sect, from a Greco-Roman world, spread among fellow Jews and Gentiles alike, in Greek and Aramaic language. The New Testament itself talks about the multifaceted nature of the Church from the very beginning, with Peter, Paul, and James not always on the same page as to what it means to be followers of Jesus (Acts 15). By the way, a great introduction to the diverse cultural and religious context of the New Testament and early Christian church is Candler professor Luke Timothy Johnson’s The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation. Minneapolis; Augsburg Fortress, 1999. pp.1-91.

As a student here, I was exposed to many different theological perspectives, and had pleasant conversations and heated debates—inside and outside the classroom—with people from various ends of various spectrums. Worship is another place where diversity at Candler is celebrated. Last week the Candler community got together for a first in our chapel: we had a Quaker Meeting/worship service. Dr. John Snarey, (pictured right, blue shirt) Candler professor of human development and ethics and a Quaker, relates that students have held Quaker meetings in the past, but never in the chapel.

Christina Repoley, (pictured above right, orange shirt) a first-year student at Candler, planned the Quaker Meeting service at Candler. It was attended by roughly 35 people, and featured a capella singing, a brief introduction to Quakers, and a proper meeting. For Quakers, there are traditionally no clergy members, so no one “in charge” of a Meeting. George Fox (1624-91), an Englishman and one of the founders of what became known as the Quakers, or the Society of Friends, spoke of the “Christ within” everyone. Fox reasoned none are set above any others, and each member of the community has the spirit of Christ within them. Meetings take place in silence until someone in the community is lead by the Spirit to share with the rest of the meeting. Sometimes many people share, sometimes no one shares. Sometimes people share for several minutes, sometimes the words are very brief.

According to Candler professor Brooks Holifield, early Quakers’ “aim was …to recapitulate the experience of the same Spirit who had moved the first Christians.” “Their worship—which alternated between devout silence and ecstatic outcry—game them the name Quaker” (Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to the Civil War. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003: pp 320-327).

Quakers today are sometimes confused with Amish, who are a religious group of the Anabaptist tradition. Quakers today don't tend to look like the guy on the Quaker Oats box. Quakers were known for their opposition to slavery—many abolitionists were Quakers—and today are often involved in pro-peace movements. Along with Mennonites, and the Church of the Brethren, Quakers are a historic peace church, meaning they believe that Jesus advocated non-violence and that violence on behalf on governments is contrary to Christian teachings and morality. The American Friends Service Committee is a national Quaker organization, with offices all across the country, that advocates for non-violence, justice, and reconciliation, and human rights.

Candler’s Quaker service featured four people sharing during the 30 minutes of otherwise silent time. I personally loved the service, but I have a special place in my heart for the contemplative side of religious practice. It is a time of listening to that “still small voice” (I Kings 19: 11-12) of God that is drowned out in so much of our busyness. I appreciated the time to sit with my mind, to let it wander, and to bring it back, letting it wander, and bringing it back until it settled down a bit. It was kind of like letting a child run around and tire herself out before resting.

As a United Methodist, I appreciate John Wesley’s idea of the Quadrilateral. The concept of the Quadrilateral is that individual Christians (and institutions, denominations, churches, etc) have four sources of authority from which they draw: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience. We all use these different sources, and all of have a different combination of these four. Whereas some Christians place priority in Scripture or Tradition over Experience, for instance, Quakers hold Experience as the primary source of God’s revelation. Holifield mentions that early Quakers revered the Scriptures as the inspired word of God, but believed that God continues to speak to each individual, and this ongoing revelation is primary: “In dealing with the relationship between the Inner Light and scripture, for example, early Quakers could both cite the Bible as an authority and insist that it remained subordinate to the Spirit within” (Theology, 321).

Quakers are one of the Christian voices here at Candler. Come visit with us, worship with us. We’ll probably worship in your tradition, whichever one you come from, and you’ll worship in the traditions of others. Our Quaker service reminded me to listen, to stop talking, to stop thinking, and just listen. I saw an apros pro bumper sticker to this point: “Don’t just do something, sit there.” A time for speaking and words, yes, and a time for silence and listening, too.

Candler Mustache Society

2009-04-03T16:09:00.009-04:00

Kerr Ramsey, 2nd year MDiv student, looking dapper, and a little frightening

In February of 2009, The Candler Mustache Society (CMS) held its second annual FebruHairy event. This February, 17 Candler men (and one Emory PhD student in Microbiology, who probably could talk about mustaches on the follicular level) grew mustaches in order to raise money and awareness for concerns around Domestic Violence. According to organizers Brett Harris and Elizabeth Wilson, the CMS expanded upon last year’s successful FebruHairy events with 6 additional mustachioed men, along with 4 women in supporting roles—t-shirt-making, organizing—basically most of the work besides the facial-hair-growing! The group set out to raise $1500 for the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence , a local non-profit that provides services and programs for victims of domestic Violence. The CMS ended up raising over $2000—nearly doubled from last year!—for the WRCDV through T-shirt sales and donations for sponsoring a mustache-grower.

In addition to the successful fundraising, the CMS sponsored a lunch gathering of over 65 people to promote domestic violence awareness in the community. The group also hosted a current Candler student, who shared her personal survivor story of domestic violence and how she overcame abuse.

And to cap off FebruHairy was the ‘Stache Bash, where Taylor Hammett, 2^nd Year MDiv student (pictured above right), was named Mustache King for raising the most money overall ($275). Great job, Candler Mustache Society! What a creative and fun way to raise money and awareness for what is a very serious issue in all communities.

Special thanks to Joe Martinez(pictured below), himself a mustachioed man and a freelance photographer here in Atlanta, for the ‘stache shots of Kerr, Taylor, and Dan. Check out Joe’s blog.

Trina Jackson, sporting a fake support-'stache

Dan Dixon, 2nd year MDiv student, looking...???

Candler, Emory, and the World

2009-03-27T16:34:00.002-04:00

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Emory University Presidential Distinguished Professor

One of the things I love about Candler is that, as a student and now as a staff member, I have been connected deeply to the school here--faculty, staff, students--but also to Emory and to the larger world. What a week for all three of these aspects of Candler life on campus?!

Candler

At Candler this week, we had the privilege of hosting John August Swanson, the American artist whose works adorn the walls of our new Theology Building. Last week’s blog covers the art and techniques of Swanson. In a meeting of sizable powers, Swanson shakes hands with Dooley, Emory's unofficial mascot (pictured right).

Meeting and hearing John August Swanson the man was a pure delight. Though he claims he is not a speaker or lecturer, his presentations throughout the week were insightful, funny, and thoroughly engaging. He gave a talk on his creative process. I was particularly fascinated by the patience and trust in the work that was coming through him about which he spoke. For instance, he had rough sketches from the 1970s that he held onto until the late 1990s or early 2000s, when he was ready to finalize his vision and complete a serigraph or painting. He never throws anything away, and when things are ready to come out, he is in tune enough to listen to the spirit within and create when the time is right.

Stay tuned for some video from the worship service he led with Rev. Dr. Don Saliers—I missed it, but heard from several colleagues that it was the best worship service they’d ever been to at Candler!

Emory

While Candler had Swanson week, the rest of Emory was in the midst of Dooley’s Week. While mostly for the undergrads at Emory College, Dooley’s Week is a week of food, music, and celebration across campus. Dooley is pictured to the left, with his entourage. Wikipedia has a great description of Dooley and Dooley’s Week:

Traditions at Emory include Dooley, the "Spirit of Emory" and the unofficial mascot of the university. Dooley is a skeleton and is usually dressed in black. The name "Dooley" was given to the unofficial mascot in 1909. Each year in the spring, during Dooley's Week, Dooley roams Emory's campus flanked by bodyguards ("Dooley guards") and lets students out of class with unscheduled appearances in classrooms. He typically walks slowly with an exaggerated limp. A spokesperson amongst the bodyguards walks with him to deliver his messages as he never speaks himself. His identity is unknown and this is often fodder for campus gossip. He adopts the first name and middle initial of the University's current president. As such, Dooley's current full name is James W. Dooley, after James W. Wagner. Dooley's Week culminates with Dooley's Ball, a grand celebration that takes place in the center of campus on McDonough Field held in celebration of Dooley and Emory University. A sporting match called the Dooley Cup is played between the university administration and the student government association (SGA) each spring as well, and the SGA remains undefeated.

Dooley's week always ends with a concert. This year N.E.R.D played to a packed crowd on Friday night (pictured below).

photo by Kevin Kelly/Emory Wheel Staff Photographer

The World

Lastly, this week was Tibet Week at Emory. Every year, Emory celebrates its relationship with Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Tibetan culture, religion, and arts. The Emory-Tibet relationship began in 1991 when 1991 Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi was sent to Atlanta by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Negi received his PhD at Emory and founded the Drepung Loseling Institute, the North American seat of Drepung Loseling Monastry in Dharamsala, India. Emory’s Religion Department offers a full range of classes in Buddhism Pali and Sanskrit language, as well as a study abroad program (alas, only for undergrads), in Dharmasala, India, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

This week, Tibetan prayer flags criss-crossed the Quad in a rainbow of colors. The Tibetan tradition is that the prayers that are written on the flags are carried by the wind all across the countryside and the world, spreading joy and peace.

In a wonderful coincidence, the featured Tibetan art form this week was the Thangkas, which are Tibetan religious paintings. Like Swanson's art work, thangkas are highly detailed paintings of religious saints (or boddhisattvas, in the case of the Buddhists), figures, and stories. I actually ran into one of the Buddhist thangka painters in the hallway of the theology looking at what he called Swanson's "Christian thangkas." We talked for about ten minutes about theology expressed through art and through prose, and how each medium has its place. What a blessing!

The Art of John August Swanson

2009-03-20T17:24:00.016-04:00

Psalm 85, serigraph, John August Swanson

All images are the copyrighted material of John August Swanson.

Candler School of Theology is the proud owner of the largest collection of artwork by John August Swanson in the world. Swanson’s folk-art is featured in museums and galleries around the world, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tate Modern gallery in London, the Vatican Museums and the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.

Swanson’s work is highly colorful and detailed, often depicting biblical themes, alongside scenes of circuses and celebrations, as well as clowns, tricksters, and jesters. Please join us March 24-26 to hear Swanson talk about his art and the creative process, lead worship with Dr. Don Saliers, Candler emeritus professor of liturgical theology, and for an evening reception. (Swanson's schedule of events is here) If you cannot make it to Candler for the festivities, do stop by the building and wander around all five floors of Swanson’s art.

Above is a video of Dr. Jan Love, Dean of Candler, talking about the recently acquired John August Swanson collection. (RealPlayer required.)

Below are some of his most beautiful serigraphs. All images are the copyrighted material of John August Swanson. Enjoy!

Procession, serigraph, John August Swanson

The Jester, serigraph, John August Swanson

Loaves and Fishes, serigraph, John August Swanson

Wedding Feast, serigraph, John August Swanson

Star Clown, serigraph, John August Swanson