August 4, 2021
Bisa Butler and the Legacy of AfriCOBRA with Suzanne Roberts
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July 27, 2021
Drag Theopoetics with Max Brumberg-Kraus
On Tuesday March 2, 2021, United alum Max Brumberg-Kraus ('20) presented to the Arts Lunch on their current work with Drag Theopoetics. A “drag theopoetic” is the theopoetic of the professional or amateur crossdresser who performs in front or with an audience. It is experiencing the divine while being in drag. It is the sacred phenomenon of attending a drag show. Drag Theopoetics is camping the gods. It is the production of another gender or a heightened version of one’s own gender as a means to understand God, the cosmos, and one another. Drag Theopoetics is the sacred rite of gesturing, performing, then becoming a self. (more…)
July 5, 2021
Artist and Ecosystem / Spirituality, Looking, Flowers, and Making in the Garden: Virtual Artist Talk by Benedict Scheuer
Reredos of Summer / Watercolor, Crayon, and Oil Pastel on Paper / 2019 On October 1, 2020, Benedict Scheuer gave a virtual talk at United. Benedict is an interdisciplinary artist who views gardening and nature as the spiritual center of his practice. His work spans drawing, painting, sculpture, video, photography, performance, singing, and textiles. He values a non-prescriptive approach to engaging with his work, allowing color, texture, shapes, and narrative to engage with each viewer uniquely. Death, Love, Connection, Mindfulness, and Cyclicality are often warmly encountered. (more…)
July 2, 2021
Making the Universal Personal: An Interview with Artist Elliott Sharpe
On a sunny afternoon in April, I sat down with local Twin Cities artist Elliott Sharpe to talk about his artwork. To my delight, he drew in his sketchbook throughout our conversation. You can follow Elliott on Instagram. (more…)
December 23, 2020
On Waiting: Writings from Advent 2020
We've all waited before--for buses, appointments, test results, acceptance letters, rejection notices, first kisses, last breaths...we do a lot of waiting in this world. Waiting is an inherently vulnerable and inescapably human experience. This Advent, a season of aware waiting, we sent out a call to the United community for stories, thoughts, poems, and reflections on the act of waiting. The following volume is a free collection of all the submissions. Download the PDF here. (more…)
November 18, 2020
“A Rare and Magical Space”: An Interview with Community Partner Allison Jones
Allison Jones is a community partner and friend of United who has participated in numerous events and programming at the seminary, including Arts Lunch, Social Transformation events, and Queertopia United. She is a long time musician and emerging artist with a passion for social justice, education, and public health. She currently works in the education department at JustUs Health in Saint Paul. I sat down with Allison Jones last Friday Nov. 13 to interview her about her experience being a community partner with United. (more…)
March 20, 2019
The Arts are in United’s DNA: An Interview with Jennifer Awes Freeman
Photo of Jennifer Awes Freeman by Angela Jimenez Photography Last summer this blog introduced you to Jennifer Awes Freeman, the new assistant professor of Theology and the Arts at United. More recently I sat down with Jennifer to talk about her role in United's theology and the arts programs. Here are some excerpts from our conversation. Tell me a little about your role as a professor of Theology and the Arts. (more…)