aesthesis

Purpose Statement

I am dedicating this web space to furthering dialogue about aesthetics. The goal is to encourage critical thinking about aesthetics, art and the life of the artist.

Things I'm hoping to discuss in the future are: the definition and function of art, purpose of beauty in art, the purpose of

Purpose Statement

I am dedicating this web space to furthering dialogue about aesthetics. The goal is to encourage critical thinking about aesthetics, art and the life of the artist.

Things I'm hoping to discuss in the future are: the definition and function of art, purpose of beauty in art, the purpose of art as it relates to the church, and principles of art drawn from the Bible.

Since I am a Christian I am particularly interested in understanding what God has to say in the Bible about artists and the arts. Many churches never address this issue and others take secular definitions at face value in heir discussions. Since God has used all of the arts and since Christians ought to follow His example, it is critical that we know what he has to say about their use and purpose.

Certainly I don’t consider my thoughts to be final on the subject. My goal is to sow seeds of discussion. I encourage feedback and criticism of what I say.

Artist statement and Bio

Jason Waggoner uses experimental techniques to combine found materials into art that is both intellectually stimulating and morally challenging.

Jason received a BA in art in 2001 and is pursuing an MA in art as it relates to the theater. Jason’s smaller more enigmatic collage pieces contrast sharply to the large-scale sculptures and paintings he does as a theatrical artist at Bob Jones University’s Rodeheaver Auditorium.

Whether large or small, Jason hopes his work will stimulate a kind of dialogue between the viewer and the artist using the art as the medium of communication. “I want to challenge viewers to think about how they relate to others, their culture. How they impact the world, temporal or eternal.” With this in mind, Jason creates works that have a sense of wear-and-tear.

“I remember, growing up near San Francisco, seeing once a billboard that had been layered with years of advertisements. The weather had torn away all but the best-attached parts. Now I think of that image as the cultural parallel to stone that has been worn away by water. The softer stone and dirt is worn away more quickly than the harder sediment. Only the densest cultural ideas can survive a disposable society. I believe there are truths and principles that endure beyond the cultures that record them.”

Jason believes that art can be the wise man’s riddle. “Sometimes a question is the most powerful tool for learning – teaching - changing your culture or the world.”

Jason’s work has been recognized with several awards including best of show in the 2001 commencement competition at BJU.

Thus far in 2004 Jason has had two one man shows and his work was included in an invitational show focused on the collage medium.

Posted by jwaggone at April 14, 2004 10:53 AM