American Interfaith Artists' Group: United By Art

Since the beginning of time, religion and art have been intertwined. In mankind’s never-ending quest for the truth, religion and art serve as powerful means for expressing something bigger than us, something we can’t quite understand. Also, both have a way of resounding with individuals on such a deep emotional and spiritual level that they have the power to unite people all over the world. However, with the great power of religion and art, comes great responsibility. Sadly, too often in our human history, power is exploited and manipulated for personal and political gain. Nevertheless, there’s one group out there who believes that religion and art can be used as tools for peace.

The Council of Interfaith Congregations of the United States (CIC-USA) has added a new ministry of the artistic kind to its member body. The American Interfaith Artists’ Group (AIAG) is a newly founded non-profit interfaith ministry based in Michigan. The group is composed of clergy and lay members who express and educate the public about shared values and spirituality through their art. The group currently has over fifty religiously diverse members from across the United States including Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims. Members artistically express their interfaith and spiritual experiences through a wide range of mediums including singing, painting, sculpture, dance, writing, photography, fabric, and crafts.

"Our intention is to educate the public about interfaith values and multi-faith spiritual expression while teaching about the world's religions and faith paths through art," said Rev. Tammy Monroe, an interfaith minister and the Director for AIAG.

AIAG has already scheduled local and national exhibits throughout the year. Currently, they are assembling a West Coast exhibit including the Austin Interfaith Arts & Music Festival on October 23, 2010.

In edition, the AIAG website contains a virtual art gallery called “The Giving Gallery”. At “The Giving Gallery”, artists can submit their pieces to be donated or sold with the proceeds going toward AIAG and the organization of regional and national Interfaith/Inner-Spiritual Art Festivals and Exhibitions.

AIAG is currently accepting new applications. If you have an artistic gift to share and believe that your faith is a vessel for peace, AIAG welcomes you to collaborate with them. For more information about AIAG and to register, please visit their website.

To conclude this article, I wish to leave you with some words of wisdom from Pope John Paul II, which grace the AIAG website:

“Society needs artists, just as it needs scientists, technicians, workers,
professional people, witnesses of the faith, teachers, fathers and mothers,
who ensure the growth of the person and the development of the community
by means of that supreme art form which is the art of education."

Website: www.interfaithartists.org