Beauty is to the spirit what food is to the flesh.—Frederick Buechner

For centuries, the Church has engaged in the interplay between beauty, goodness, and truth. Since the Enlightenment, however, the pursuit of beauty has been largely trivialized by the Church while reason has been elevated. Our minds have been challenged while our spirits and souls have withered.

In this class, Joy Hilley examines the role of beauty in scripture and how it has intersected with faith and art throughout Church history. She exhorts those who love God to develop holy imaginations that allow them to see the beauty of God and renew their spirits and souls. She describes her process of creating art that is infused by the Spirit—art that helps interpret, describe, and illustrate the mysteries of God.

Class participants will be given an opportunity to create their own piece of art as a spiritual exercise, an act of personal devotion. No art skill or experience is necessary and art materials are provided.

The course is hosted by the Emmaus Spirituality Center in Houston. Registration is open via this link.