— from Meredith Griffith —
On July 21–24 Orcas Islanders are invited to attend KindlingsFest 2015, a celebration of art and ideas where they meet with the spiritual. The theme this year is “Joy: The Art of Living.”
“C.S. Lewis writes that ‘The serious business of heaven is joy,’ ” says Kindlings president Dr. Jeff Keuss. “The destiny of humans is to find joy. What does that look like?” Keuss, who teaches at SPU’s school of theology, said our culture often focuses on experiences rather than relationships, “but true joy is much deeper than a great vacation, or a really good latte.”
Keuss is fascinated by how people find joy in unique ways. “How do people find joy in the hard, hard work of racial tension, or in working at soup kitchens, or in creating art? Why do people leave highly paid professional careers to do overseas missions, and yet find joy?” KindlingsFest will explore questions like: Who are the role models and mentors we turn to as those living joyous lives? Where is true joy to be found in our culture today? What can artists show us as to what true joy looks, feels and sounds like?
The festival will include contemplative music with ArkMusic recording artist Jeff Johnson, intellectually provocative lectures (childcare provided), conversations with artists in residence, provocative Sundance Select films, and the BagEnd Cafe, a time for young and old to gather, sing and read original poetry while roasting s’mores. Sundance Film Festival showings will include “Burt’s Buzz” and “How To Dance In Ohio.”
Lecturers include Seattle Pacific University professor Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, an experienced leader in the field of racial, ethnic and gender reconciliation. Poet, priest and academic Dr. Malcolm Guite plays in Cambridge rock band Mystery Train. Principal of the Washington Institute Dr. Steve Garber specializes in the confluence of popular and political culture. Filmmaker,writer, producer, and recording artist Steve Taylor has produced records and filmed videos for Sixpence None the Richer, Fleming & John, Rich Mullins, Guardian and The Newsboys, earning Grammy, Billboard, Telly, Addy and Dove awards and nominations.
Artists in Residence this year include singer-songwriter Sarah Masen, whose albums include Carry Us Through, The Dreamlife of Angels, and The Holding. Critically-acclaimed author David Dark wrote The Sacredness of Questioning Everything; Everyday Apocalypse: The Sacred Revealed in Radiohead; and The Gospel according to America. Visual artist D. L. Taylor has exhibited in multiple gallery and group shows in the U.S. and U.K. Folk-rock singer songwriter Eric Miller will host the BagEnd Café. C.S. Lewis scholar Dr. Jerry Root based his Ph.D. on C. S. Lewis and the Problem of Evil.
“Lewis said, ‘Joy must be sharply distinguished both from Happiness and Pleasure. … I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever … exchange it for all the pleasures in the world. But then Joy is never in our power and Pleasure often is,’ ” quotes Kindlings’ founder Dick Staub. “How then do we nurture joy in daily life?”
People all religious affiliations are welcome to attend. Register to reserve your spot at KindlingsFest 2015 at https://www.thekindlings.com/
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