Illuminate Conference

LITERATURE SESSIONS

Click each title to expand for session description and presenter information.

The Good Life in Great Books

Reading well is a kind of practice for living well—not only through the lessons that books teach, but also through the virtues required to attentively and systematically engage with a story.

Presenter: Karen Swallow Prior, PhD, author

Finding Home: Wendell Berry on the Sacredness of People & Place

Through Berry’s fiction, poetry, and essays, we see a vision of how the transcendent beauty of creation is known in particularity. For this venerable Kentucky writer, human flourishing is a loving stewardship of people and place, appreciating the spiritual fruit of our embodied existence.

Presenter: Thomas Pope, PhD, Lee University

C.S. Lewis' Creativity with Classical Mythology

This lecture—an introduction to Lewis’ practice of reworking stories from Greek and Roman mythology—will explore how English authors he loved did the same, and survey writings he composed in this manner, such as his poem, “The Birth of Language.”

Presenter: David Beckmann, MDiv, C.S. Lewis Society of Chattanooga

How Nature Informs Faith in Mary Oliver's Poetry

Oliver once wrote, “Maybe the desire to make something beautiful / is the piece of God that is inside each of us.” Through sustained observation and reflection on the natural world, her work often takes readers deep into the mysterious beauties of spiritual life.

Presenter: Daniel Gleason, PhD, Bryan College

A Story Without Seams: Loving Your Fictional World into Being

To be a fiction writer—or a builder of worlds in some other creative genre—is to weave what is on one level an illusion. But there are untrue fictions, and there are true fictions. To conjure believable fictional worlds, we must take the craft seriously, sewing up the seams of our stories. If we are to love our audience well, we must also wrestle with the moral underpinnings of what we make.

Presenter: Douglas McKelvey, author

Humanity’s Search for Eternal Values in Global Literature

An expat dentist, a refugee chef, and an alienated coal merchant confront readers with the ache of human homesickness—and suggest an unexpected path toward resolution.

Presenter: Emily McArthur, PhD, Southern Adventist University

“Hound of Heaven” Poem/Film Screening and Panel Discussion

The Victorian poem by Francis Thompson has carried considerable influence since its initial publishing; Tolkien even presented a paper on it during a 1914 conference. What is it about this long, challenging poem that endures and inspires?

Presenters: Propaganda, artist, and lead actor in the film; Jud Lake, ThD, Southern Adventist University

Prayer-Writing Workshop: Liturgy As Legacy

In this interactive session, “Every Moment Holy” author Douglas McKelvey will lead participants through a series of exercises aimed at crafting a liturgical prayer—one that might serve to refocus the petitioner on the faithful stewarding of their own unique gifts. Bring a notebook and pen, or other means of writing, to the session.

Presenter: Douglas McKelvey, author

Flannery O'Connor and the Difficulty of Becoming a Christian Reader

In her theology of fiction, O'Connor is convinced that Christian readers are looking for redemption. But she also argues that we don't know how to recognize it when we find it. Is there any hope for us?

Presenter: Jordan Rowan Fannin, PhD, Berry College

Blackout Poetry Workshop

Create a poem without writing any words. No joke! This form of “found” poetry encourages participants to take an existing printed document–a page from a novel, a song from a hymnal, an article from the newspaper–and birth something new into existence. How? By blacking out selected words and phrases until the remaining verbiage forms a new thought with its own emotional and intellectual reward.

Creative Writing Roundtable

Have an original poem or other creative writing excerpt that you’re willing to read? If you’re shy about presenting your own work, but enjoy sharing your favorite authors with others, read a selection that inspires you. Want to simply come and listen? That’s great, too! Limited presentation slots available; sign up on site at the conference.

MUSIC SESSIONS

Click each title to expand for session description and presenter information.

Rhythm & Restoration: Therapeutic Drumming’s Capacity to Heal

Presenters explore this treatment modality, focusing on its use within a framework of trauma informed care for youth. The workshop will be heavily experiential ... drums provided!

Presenters: Tatiana Rolles, Youth Villages; Tron Wilder, PhD, Southern Adventist University

Music for an Anxious Age

Music sung together is a miraculous medium that is equal parts mystery and medicine.

Presenters: Gennevieve Brown-Kibble, DMA, Southern Adventist University; Sarah Tullock, MM, Hamilton County Schools and Ooltewah United Methodist Church

Jazz: The Sound of Hope

The parallels between being a disciple of Christ and a student of jazz music are numerous, and not incidental. We will explore: the perspectives of the archived tradition, how it informs and instructs; the student disciple, how understanding and mastery are acquired; and the informed performance, reflecting individual and corporate statements of testimony and praise.

Presenter: Alan Wyatt, MM, Lee University

Coltrane’s Epic on the Patience and Power of God (“A Love Supreme”)

This classic recording is arguably one of jazz music’s preeminent “concept” albums, in which Coltrane focused his artistic themes in response to his spiritual awakening following a near-fatal drug overdose. The sustained tone of solemnity and intensity throughout each recorded performance is unmistakable, inviting its audience to respond with reverence and awe.

Presenter: Alan Wyatt, MM, Lee University

Hymn Arrangement Discussion and Performance

What’s the creative approach for taking an existing song and modifying it? Does the listener’s familiarity with a song make this task -- crafting a new arrangement with its own merit -- more difficult than starting a song from scratch? How do you decide which songs are good candidates for fresh arrangements and which theories/tools aid in the musical process of addition and subtraction?

Presenters: Peter Cooper, DMA, Southern Adventist University; Matthew Kimbley, Southern Adventist University student composer

Songwriting Workshop / two sessions

Explore principles and practices for crafting effective congregational songs. Participants will learn through experimentation and collaboration as we write a worship song together over the course of two 90-minute sessions (one session per day). Sessions are open to aspiring lyricists and musicians, so bring an acoustic instrument if you want – or just come and actively observe the creative process.

Presenter: Nick Zork, PhD, NYC Church of Advent Hope

Visual Art Sessions

Click each title to expand for session description and presenter information.

Rupture as Invitation: The Generosity of Contemporary Art

How do we look at art we don't like? This talk argues that the friction we might experience when encountering contemporary art can actually be an invitation to contemplation and empathy.

Presenter: Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt, PhD, Covenant College

The Divine Thread in Movies that Move Us

In this visually driven talk, we explore eternal themes embedded in secular films. Unraveling the universal story of our original connection with God, separation, and eventual reconciliation, this presentation examines scenes to show how filmmakers unintentionally weave this divine thread into the narrative fabric of the most impactful movies.

Presenter: Zach Gray, MFA, Southern Adventist University

Community Catalysts for Empowering the Marginalized

This discussion addresses the value of having artists placed in the most vulnerable areas of our community to work with a variety of underserved populations. What best practices have been identified for using the visual arts as a tool for engaging and equipping a broken world?

Presenter: Charlie Newton, MFA, Splash Youth Arts

Flesh on Bone: Bringing “Wingfeather Saga” to Life

Crafting an intriguing story is a challenging enough task on its own, but birthing narratives with deeply spiritual messages? Stories created in the method and genre of heroes like C.S. Lewis? That’s a whole other level of responsibility (and anxiety). This session invites insight from the author and an animator of “Wingfeather Saga,” a popular book series and show streaming on the Angel Studios platform.

Presenters: Andrew Peterson, author; Beau Sherman, animator

How Early Reformers Used Art to Clarify Their Theology

As devout Catholics, early Reformers would have had engaged in pilgrimages and familiarized themselves with important works, making them art savvy. When they were introduced to Luther’s theology, they were clever in how they created or “quoted” older works of art to propagate their message. This session offers a comparative study between art meant for pilgrims and reformation art.

Presenter: Gisella Hasel, MFA, Southern Adventist University

Divining Meaning: Creative Collaboration Workshop

Looking and seeing are not at all the same things. Using his “Subjects with Objects” collaborative project as a case study, poet and lyricist Doug McKelvey will explore the process of discerning meanings already inherent in a work, rather than simply imposing one’s own will on a piece. Participants will attempt a “seeing” exercise together, crafting expressions to go along with various paintings.

Presenter: Douglas McKelvey, author

Square Halo Gallery: Art Meets World

For over a decade, the Square Halo Gallery in Lancaster, PA, has been a space for contemporary art inspired by the Christian faith. In this session, the curator of the gallery will show examples of the work of several artists who have been exhibited as well as talk about the highs and lows of running a gallery for art that doesn't fit in the Church or in the Art World.

Presenter: Ned Bustard, artist

Every Moment Illustrated

"Every Moment Holy" (volumes I-III) are books of liturgies for the ordinary events of daily life written by Douglas McKelvey and illustrated/designed by Ned Bustard. In this session, Bustard will read excerpts from many of the liturgies and weave in explanations for the symbolism found in a number of the blockprint illustrations.

Presenter: Ned Bustard, artist

Printmaking Workshop / TWO SESSIONS

Experience what it is like to pull a print! Linocut blocks from "Every Moment Holy" and other projects are available for attendees to ink up and apply to paper. All materials supplied; each person will be guided through the process individually. Several blank blocks will be on hand for those who want to both carve and print (takes two sessions). No experience necessary. Limited spots available; sign up on site at the conference.

Presenter: Ned Bustard, artist

INTERDISCIPLINARY sessions

Click each title to expand for session description and presenter information.

Calling and the Kingdom of God

The difficulty and joy of walking the way of Jesus.

Presenter: Andrew Peterson, author and musician

Good Words for Good Work

Three words that shape the imagination, remind us of the story God is telling, and keep us faithful to it.

Presenter: Andrew Peterson, author and musician

Narrative Art and Nurturing a Love for Our Enemies

To love our neighbors as ourselves, we must effectively imagine the lives of others. This requires thinking truthfully and compassionately about media because creative works can be used both for dehumanization and rehumanization. We will examine literature, film, television, and music that provide us with opportunities to expand our empathetic imagination.

Presenter: Mary McCampbell, PhD, author

Wrestling Angels: Recognizing Creative Struggles as Holy Ground

Creators often idealize rare moments of feverish inspiration, and lament the far more common, daily experiences of grinding struggle and disappointment. But what if we’ve been looking at this thing all wrong? What if the roadblocks and “dark nights of the soul” we experience are a vital part of the process of creating expressions of beauty and truth? What if those “forces arrayed against us” offer confirmation that we are indeed about the business of building the kingdom of God?

Presenter: Douglas McKelvey, author

Prophetic Imagination in Southern Gothic Art

Southern Gothic art–from Flannery O’Connor and Alice Walker to Howard Finster and REM–prophetically critiques the social structures and cultural Christianity frequently encountered in the Bible Belt. How does this art’s commentary, often in the form of lament, teach us to view our surroundings with more discerning eyes.

Presenter: Mary McCampbell, PhD, author

Nourishing Young Souls with Beauty

A panel discussion on how parents and educators can incorporate the arts—paintings, music, nature notebooking, poetry, and handicrafts—into daily lessons, whether in the home, school, or homeschool.

Presenters: Jeannette Tulis, Joyce McPherson, Cindy Rollins, and Shelia Atchley

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Individual presentations have not yet been assigned their specific days/times within the larger conference schedule. However, the itinerary listed below is an accurate representation of each day's progression.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
7 pm / Free Pre-Conference Presentation by Karen Swallow Prior

THURSDAY, APRIL 4
8-9 am / Check-In / Lobby
9-10:30 am / Session #1 / Breakout Rooms
11 am / Plenary / Sanctuary
12-2 pm / Lunch (on your own)
2-3:30 pm / Session #2 / Breakout Rooms
4-5:30 pm / Session #3 / Breakout Rooms
5:30-7:30 pm / Dinner (on-site; included in registration)
7:30-9 pm / Spoken Word Performance / Amphitheater

FRIDAY, APRIL 5
9-10:30 am / Session #1 / Breakout Rooms
11 am / Plenary / Sanctuary
12-2 pm / Lunch (on your own)
2-3:30 pm / Session #2 / Breakout Rooms
4-5:30 pm / Session #3 / Breakout Rooms
5:30-7:30 pm / Dinner (on-site; included in registration)
7:30-9 pm / Closing Concert / Sanctuary

Thursday Night Performance

Spoken-word artist Propaganda is the Thursday night performer at Illuminate. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for this outdoor event at Southern's Goliath Wall amphitheater where conference participants will be joined by university students and community guests.

Friday Night Performance

Songwriter and recording artist Andrew Peterson is the Friday night performer at Illuminate. His concert takes place in the church sanctuary where conference participants will be joined by university students.