Art + Theology + Justice = ARTivism

03-08-24

Final project by student L. Boss

Among the many unique offerings at McCormick Theological Seminary are courses that combine various communications approaches with a theological grounding. One of those offerings recently was the ARTivism and Proclamation course taught by Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz.

Across three modules – one in musical arts, one in performing arts, and one in visual arts – students learned how to combine prophetic preaching with art-related activism. The focus was on learning how to proclaim the good news of divine liberation through “artistic” systems of communication.

With hands-on workshops to generate a unique work of art that reflected an issue affecting their communities and guidance from an artivist-theologian, each student generated a piece designed to disrupt the evil in the world and enact divine liberation.  

The participants in this course enjoyed the opportunity to learn new artistic techniques and apply the basics of prophetic preaching to design. They found value in being able to perform an artistic intervention for the well-being of their communities. Students who saw the final projects shared how they saw “bravery,” “God’s presence,” “faith over fear,” and “empowered education.”