Emily Dickinson wrote that the role of poets and artists is to “tell all the truth but tell it slant.” This is particularly true of non-representational visual artists, who allude to aspects of reality through unique combinations of colors, lines, shapes, and textures.

Showing Truth Slant is a unique opportunity to encounter the visual art of contemporary artist Josh Jensen while celebrating the work of the French modernist artist George Rouault and the release of A Prophet in the Darkness: Exploring Theology in the Art of Georges Rouault by Dr. Wes Vander Lugt. The event is hosted by the Leighton Ford Initiative in Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness and will include a light dessert reception, short talks from the artist and author, and a raffle giveaway of several copies of the book.

Register Today

Josh Jensen (MACC ’19) was trained in representational oil paintings, but his work has evolved to more abstract themes in mixed media that focus on color and movement. His body of work is influenced by his established career as a marriage and family therapist. He finds that continuing to practice both art and psychotherapy is the perfect informants for one another.⁠⁠His distinct style continues to progress as he expands his vocabulary and practice of mark-making and color composition. His work has always sought to strike a balance of exploration, seeking a high degree of access to “accidents” and commitment, using established techniques and standards.⁠⁠ Josh believes the best art has a strong concept along with a strong aesthetic. He hopes that his work expresses a sense of gratitude and beauty, urging the viewer to see more than what initially meets the eye.⁠⁠ Learn more and view Josh’s work.

Dr. Wes Vander Lugt is the acting director of the Leighton Ford Initiative in Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness and adjunct professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell. He is celebrating the launch of his new edited volume, A Prophet in the Darkness, a collection of essays and artistic responses to Georges Rouault’s work. Many consider Rouault (1871–1958) one of the most important religious painters of the last few centuries. Yet both the secular art world and the church have struggled to engage with his work, which is profoundly shaped by his Christian faith while starkly exploring the pain and darkness of human experience. In A Prophet in the Darkness, a group of theologians, artists (including Josh), and historians seek to bring Rouault out of the shadows and explore how Rouault showed slant the truth of a broken world redeemed by Christ.