Masland Library Blog

 Today's speaker in chapel was Makoto Fujimura, whose artwork has been featured in the PBU
library for a few years now. It was one of the most beautiful messages I have heard and it seemed a lot of people found it to be really encouraging for where they are at and have been feeling. Although his artwork is most definitely fabulous, what touched me the most was the fact that he was able to make the message he shared this morning an art in and of itself.

He spoke on John 11. He focused on verse 11, pointing out that Jesus’ tears in this passage can aid our understanding of the arts and culture. He described three of the people present at the scene including Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Each of these individuals had very different personalities, mannerisms, desires, thoughts etc. throughout the chapter. Because each of them was so different, the approach that Jesus Christ had to take to reach them individually had to be unique. Fuijimura reminded us that in our suffering and crises Jesus is the ultimate master of helping us uniquely in difficult situations. When life is filled with chaos, we need to be reminded that Jesus wept. He stated that a day will come when our sufferings will not be worth it anymore because we will be reclining with Jesus. Our reaction to this is to be that of love, prioritizing our lives, and truly living in Christ's freedom. Fujimura challenged us to face the world by creating and showing beauty, truth, and goodness. All of this should be done in confidence for God's glory.

Makoto Fujimura’s message displayed such reverence for the Lord, while also pointing out so many aspects of John 11 that I have never noticed. Take some time and check out the passage in light of Fujimura’s thoughts. Also, take some time and stop by the library to check out some of his artwork!

~Christa Joy Ciotta

Library Items by Makoto Fujimura

Makoto Fujimura's website

Image: Fujimura, Makoto. Aijo (Compassionate Love). Digital image. Makoto Fujimua. 1987. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. .

Is art something that has stood the test of time and which displays an immense effort on the part of the artist to display creativity and ingenuity? Or can art be a picture of a paperclip with the word “AND” written below it? Faced with these questions in Lit and Arts class today, I started to ponder how art demonstrates societal beliefs.

The Greeks and Romans were fascinated by humanity, and their statues demonstrate it. The Byzantines were focused on Christ and their churches with mosaics and paintings of Christ at the apse demonstrate this focus. What does our post-modern art say about the era in which we live?

The magazines in the library were my starting point in helping me consider what the world believes is important. I noticed a focus on politics and pop culture. Two areas where the question, “what is reality?” is raised. Pick up a book about modern art and read about Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain or Bottle Rack. What is the standard for art? Who is to say whether these anti-art objects truly are works of creativity, masterpieces in their time?

I challenge you to question the world around you and test it within this framework. What are we saying by endorsing fabricated objects with artist’s names signed to them? Where is our trust and hope? What is art?

Marcel Duchamp's Fountain Jonathan Hardesty's Walter

~Allison Beyer

This is my first semester working in the library as it is also my first semester here at Philadelphia Biblical University. As a new face it has been interesting watching people interact with each other in different situations such as in the cafeteria, classroom, or even just passing by in the halls or on the walkway. One of the things I find fascinating is how some people will always smile and say hi even if they don’t know you; while others avoid eye contact altogether… even if we have met once or twice.

As student workers in the library we are encouraged to smile and say hi to people as they walk in and out. It’s been neat to see how people react when you smile at them; it turns a stone face into a warm smile. I have really enjoyed this simple part of my job, just seeing the effect a simple smile has on people brightens my day. So as the semester moves on I would like to challenge each and every one of you to just smile whether it’s a good friend you have had for the past 3 years or if it’s at a new freshman that you will probably never even talk to. Just smile, it will brighten your day and theirs.

~Emily Rush