Faith + Works Archives - BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

The Art of Religion: Curator of Religious Art Ashlee Whitaker Shares How Religion Looks Behind the Frame

Capri Baker — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:46:18 +0000

Ashlee Whitaker paints the picture of how religious art works and spirituality coincide With over a decade of experience under her belt, curator of religious art Ashlee Whitaker will share her experiences and thoughts at the college Faith + Works Lecture Series. On March 10, she will speak on “The Things of a Soul: Art as Sacred/Spiritual Text,” explaining how she has accessed spirituality, empathy and understanding through art. Whitaker graduated from BYU summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in art history and a master’s degree in art history & curatorial studies and is the recipient of BYU’s Graduate Research Award. She was an intern at BYU’s Museum of Art and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. and later began working at the Springville Museum of Art in Springville, Utah after receiving her graduate degree in 2008. Outside of her practice, Whitaker enjoys numerous personal interests. When she is not curating, she may be found running, hiking, doing “nerdy history stuff,” exploring antique shops, road tripping or playing with her dog Winslow.

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Faith + Works Lecture Series: Professor Kris Boyle Shares How to Harness Heavenly Help

Capri Baker — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 20:50:28 +0000

Kris Boyle walked students and faculty through a few of life’s crucial moments he has faced and how the Lord has been alongside him through it all Third-generation BYU cougar Kris Boyle recently shared what “Harnessing the Power of the Lord in Our Educational Journey” has meant to him at the college Faith + Works Lecture Series on February 3. Boyle looked back on the challenges and opportunities life offered him, which led to his appreciation for the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 101:16. This verse contains the two-word command to “be still,” a “phrase [that] has stuck with [him] first as a student, then as a journalist and now as an educator.” Boyle found that by encompassing the attributes of faith, action, sacrifice and love, we are enabled to access the power of God in the work we do. During the lecture, he expounded on how these characteristics have played a major role in the different circumstances he has faced. The first story he shared took place in the spring of 2019 when he and fellow School of Communications professor Ed Carter led students on a trip to the Colombian island of San Andrés for cultural preservation purposes. They hoped to document after-school programs and capture the unique influence of American sports on the island. Boyle explained that while the group did not know fully what to expect, it took faith and action from both the professors and students alike to journey to an unknown place with very few connections and try to accomplish their goals. He added that their sacrifice of time to be there allowed for a “spirit of love” to be shared among the youth with whom they worked. A later situation where the Lord’s hand was evident was when Boyle worked with other professors and students to celebrate the anniversary of the First Vision in upstate New York. They thought about pushing back the trip in order to have better weather, considering they were traveling in February, but something inside Boyle said they should move forward with the original plans. Boyle told himself that if this is what the Lord wanted them to do, they should do it. In faith, they took action. Ironically, the worst snowstorm of the year hit while the group was there, but miracles along the way proved they were right where they were supposed to be. Because of the intense weather, there was hardly anyone on site at their interview location, allowing for hours of work without disruption. They met a couple who were some of their most compelling interviewees. The lack of population also allowed for a time of personal spirituality when Boyle got up early to visit the Sacred Grove on his own. He said, “to have that Sacred Grove experience is something I will never, ever forget.” Upon reflection, Boyle realized that had the group decided to push their trip back, the work and preparation for the project may have been for naught, because the COVID-19 pandemic hit soon after and most likely would have made the trip impossible. Boyle continued with the final example of how he has witnessed the Lord’s hand in his life. He explained the miracles he and family identified despite the immense sorrow they felt after his father’s death from a bike accident. He said, “While losing Dad was so difficult…, I’m grateful that as I look back, I am able to identify several ways the Lord was preparing us for this trial.” In retrospect, Boyle has been able to recognize that despite the heartache, there have been blessings that have come of it. Boyle’s mother’s college car, Mustang Sally, is one that his father cherished and worked on extensively before he passed. While it had not run for 40 years, the car finally started weeks before his father’s death. Boyle felt that the Lord knew his father’s time on earth was limited and wanted him to finish the car repair as “a gift of love for his sweetheart,” allowing Boyle’s mother to drive Mustang Sally to the funeral. Another tender mercy came when family members received a letter from a man named Emmanuel, who was the recipient of Boyle’s father’s kidneys. Much like Boyle’s father, Emmanuel’s passions included swimming, running and biking. Reflecting on the experience, Boyle noted, “this was the work of the Creator.” While the family prayed for a miracle for Boyle’s father to recover, Boyle understood that “this was the miracle.” Boyle concluded with his testimony that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. “As we are willing to do the Lord’s work at BYU, He will make it so we will not be weary. He will make it so we will not faint.” Again emphasizing the importance of accessing heavenly help, Boyle said that through faith, action, sacrifice and love, the power of God is accessible. He said, “On occasion, we don’t have all the answers. We won’t be able to see the end from the beginning.” Boyle continued, “Instead, we need to step out of the light into the darkness, trusting that He will be there to guide us.”

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Be Still: Kris Boyle to Speak on the Harmony Between Religion and Education at Faith + Works Lecture

Capri Baker — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 23:23:38 +0000

Kris Boyle is well-versed in the world of journalism and communications. On February 3, Boyle will speak at the college Faith + Works Lecture Series on “Harnessing the Power of the Lord in Our Educational Journey.” He will discuss what the phrase “be still” means to him and how faith, action, sacrifice and love have influenced him in doing the Lord’s work. Boyle, originally from Idaho, earned his bachelor’s degree in print journalism and his master’s degree in mass communication. He later received his doctorate degree from Texas Tech University in mass communications. Following this accomplishment, Boyle spent six years at Creighton University as an assistant professor of journalism before returning to BYU. At BYU, Boyle teaches undergraduate classes in media writing and editing and is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). When he is not in the classroom or in the newsroom, Boyle enjoys time with his wife and sons, as well as running, biking and attending BYU sporting events.

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Faith + Works Lecture Maps out Framework for Fighting Injustice

Noelle Barrus — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:51:34 +0000

On March 4, professor Ed Carter presented a lecture on justice as part of the Faith + Works series After years of working professionally as a journalist, attorney and professor, Ed Carter has had numerous hands-on experiences with injustice. He has seen or learned about people from all over the world taken from their families, wrongfully accused of crimes and killed for their journalistic work. These experiences influenced Carter’s framework of ideas for approaching injustice, which he shared during his Faith and Works lecture on March 4. This framework of transitional justice includes judging righteously, telling the truth, being accountable and making reparation. Carter used his own experience and examples from scriptures to illustrate his points. Judging Righteously The first piece to the transitional justice framework is judging righteously. “Righteous judgment sometimes means allowing and bringing about consequences,” said Carter. “Other times, we have to apply grace and mercy and leave it in God’s hands.” Carter shared stories from around the world of people experiencing both justice and injustice. He told of a woman who helped her neighbor after a fire in Chile and a man who was wrongfully accused of a crime. He also shared an example from the people in the Book of Mormon. “Zion was and is created through us being agents for justice for everybody around us,” said Carter. “There were no divisions in society because of political beliefs or statuses. Here at BYU, we can work toward achieving something similar.” Truth-Telling In conjunction with judging righteously, the second piece to Carter’s justice framework is truth-telling. “We need to find truths through debate, discussion, exposure to viewpoints, media and other sources.” Carter explained the theme of his lecture “error without malice.” This phrase comes from a document created by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. This document argues that we have to allow for some degree of unintentional error from people for freedom of expression. “We shouldn’t hold speakers liable for unintentional error, even if it causes damage,” Carter said. “Actual malice is defined as knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard of the truth.” Carter invited listeners to rely on good journalism and have tolerance for non-malicious error. “Similar to how the Savior allows us some error, we should offer the same,” said Carter. “We can seek truth about our own lives through the Holy Ghost, inspiration, revelation, prophets of God and the scriptures,” he said. Accountability and Reparation With judging righteously and truth-telling comes the third piece of Carter’s justice framework — accountability and reparation. “We can also recognize accountability and reparation in our spiritual lives as repentance,” said Carter. “But in the international human rights context, there needs to be a prosecution process.” Carter shared the story of a case he worked on for a client who was wrongfully deported. While working on this case, he felt a lot of pressure to carry out justice for this man. At one point in the process, he stood in front of ten judges. One of the judges asked Carter a question that left him stumbling for an answer. “Three years of work and all of these people were waiting for me to help this man. I wondered how I had gotten there — I was just a journalist and a professor,” said Carter. “What do you do in those key moments when justice hangs in the balance? You do the best that you can,” said Carter. “I relied on my preparation and I provided the best answer I could. This is where mercy and justice came in, because I went home that day feeling like a failure. But a few months later, justice was served despite my inadequacies, and the man I had been fighting for was brought back into the country.” Reform and Non-Recurrence The fourth and final piece to this framework of transitional justice is non-recurrence. Carter explained that in the gospel context, we can become new, reinvented versions of ourselves. In this final part of the lecture, he shared the story from a project he worked on for a series of 10 modules about journalism literacy. The one module he discussed is titled Why People Should Not Kill Journalists. For this module, Carter has done research on over 1,000 unresolved journalist killings. “Most journalists were threatened and refused to stop doing their work and then were killed,” said Carter. “They reported on crime and corruption and somebody was not happy about that.” Carter’s project is aimed at ending the violence acted out on journalists who are fighting for truth and risking their lives. Carter also invited students to watch a variety of news sources in the search for truth. “We are told to seek understanding by study and faith. It is not easy. You will not get real news sources on social media, you need to go out and seek them.” Several students were invited to watch the lecture in-person, including communications student Hannah Koford. “One of my biggest takeaways was Dr. Carter’s counsel to avoid becoming a part of the culture of dehumanization. Don’t dehumanize journalists. Don’t dehumanize people who disagree with you. Don’t dehumanize people who make mistakes. We can only expect to deal justly and mercifully if we view people as who they are: people,” Koford said. Carter finished his lecture by answering questions from the in-person audience. One student asked how college students now can start practicing and applying the principles discussed in his lecture. Carter responded, “Be open to opportunities that come your way. Don’t wait until later, act now. Try to live your life and do fun activities, but also take on challenges. There is never going to be a better time.”

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Faith + Works: Doing and Dealing Justly in an Unjust, Imperfect World

Noelle Barrus — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 17:09:36 +0000

The Faith and Works Lecture with Ed Carter will take place on March 4 in the Madsen Recital Hall and will be streamed online Aside from being a professor, Ed Carter has served in many roles. He was a mentor on student projects traveling to Latin America and Europe. He has served as a lawyer representing journalists in federal courts. He is a graduate from BYU, Northwestern University, the University of Edinburgh and Oxford University. Throughout his varying roles and disciplines, Carter has wrestled with questions surrounding justice. “While I wait for the perfect justice and mercy of Jesus Christ to be fully applied, how should I react to injustices in the imperfect world around me?” Carter asked. Carter’s lecture “Error without Malice: Seeking Justice Through Journalism and International Human Rights Law” will address this timely question. For his lecture, Carter will present four solutions to reacting to the injustices of our world. First, he will discuss judging righteously. Second, he will explain the value in truth-telling. Third, he will present on accountability, and fourth, he will address institutional reforms. During his lecture, Carter will expound on these four principles using personal experiences and scriptures. “A big part of our effort to merit the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ for justification and sanctification is to listen to the Holy Ghost guiding us to do justly, love mercy, judge righteously and be humble in doing so,” said Carter. Watch the lecture live on March 4 through http://faithandworks.byu.edu.

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Tuning Into Intention Helps Habben Create and Maintain an Eternal Perspective

Noelle Barrus — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:14:54 +0000

Professor David Habben shared how a 100-year-old guitar helped inspire him to make intentional changes that impacted his professional design work Design professor David Habben used a 100-year-old guitar to demonstrate the meaning of intentional change during his presentation at the Faith + Works lecture in November. For Habben, the guitar is part of what influenced him to seek intentional change in his own life. “This guitar was passed down to my father and was sitting in the corner of my parents’ closet for a long time. I often bugged my dad about being able to see and play it,” said Habben while showing the guitar to the audience. “One day my grandmother saw me complaining and said, ‘Don’t put it in the closet. It was meant to be played.’” Habben used the guitar sitting in his family’s closet as a metaphor of how life can go unintentionally out of tune. His solution is intentional change through purposeful actions, much like tuning a guitar. He explained that we can tune aspects of our own lives. Habben laid out his philosophy of eternal intentional change in three main points: people can change, people do change and change is a choice. Habben used his artistic career and his passion for growth and education. He attended Boise State University before transferring to BYU. Nine years after earning his Bachelor of Arts at BYU, he decided to continue his education at the University of Utah. “During that time before I attended grad school, I was changing constantly. I was changing to a point that I knew there was something more I needed to be doing,” said Habben. “Asking ourselves the question, ‘What am I meant to be doing?’ is dangerous, because it pushes us to change.” During his time studying at the University of Utah, Habben discovered new ways to interact with his art. He crossed paths with a dance professor and eventually started experimenting with painting dance movements; he often sat in dance studios while dancers practiced. This exploration led to progress and collaboration opportunities with dancers. “I was learning and growing in a more direct way. I was changing with intention and purpose,” Habben said. “If we let the Holy Ghost take part in determining the song we’re going to sing or the art we’re going to draw, we are able to be instruments in the Lord’s hands to change our own lives and the lives of others.” At the end of his presentation, the lecture transitioned to a question and answer session. One student asked Habben what the biggest block is to curiosity and change. “The biggest block is fear. Letting go is the first step,” said Habben. “You can choose to give in to fear or choose to give in to faith.”

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Finding Your Way with Eternal Intention Theme for November Faith and Works

Noelle Barrus — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 16:17:00 +0000

The lecture will take place on November 5 at 11 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall and will be streamed online The College of Fine Arts and Communications lecture series Faith and Works returns this November with BYU’s Department of Design professor David Habben who will discuss “Finding Your Way with Eternal Intention.” Habben is an illustrator, artist, and educator based in Utah, USA. His unique work has been honored by 3×3 Creative Quarterly, Communication Arts, Graphis Magazine, and the AIGA, including a 2020 AIGA SLC Copper Ingot. David’s first author-illustrated children’s book, “Mr. Sherman’s Cloud” (Page Street Publishing), was named one of Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year for 2020. David received his BFA in Illustration from BYU in 2006, was a Children’s Book Design Fellow at Chronicle Books in 2008, and earned an MFA in Studio Art from The University of Utah in 2017. These combined influences inspire him to keep developing creatively and give a new voice to every project. When he’s not in the studio or classroom, David loves spending time with his family, especially outdoors, and traveling. Habben’s lecture will focus on the importance of change — from seeking change to having faith during times of change. Using examples from the scriptures, from art history and from his own life, Habben also explains how having specific intentions in his work has helped increase his faith. “My hope is that by sharing the importance of focusing our intention on eternal perspectives, I’ll be able to help others find the direction and revelation they need to make use of their own unique experiences,” said Habben. “Having been guided by personal revelation through my career and life, I can trust going forward that each challenge has a purpose and an end.”

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Professor Diane Reich Shares Lessons from Her Career in Faith + Works Lecture ‘Schooled by Performance: Tales of an Opera Diva’

Anelise Leishman — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 14:35:46 +0000

Reich shared meaningful moments from her career as a performer through stories and music School of Music voice professor Diane Reich began her March Faith + Works lecture with a bang — performing “The Year’s at the Spring” by Amy Beach. “God’s in His heaven, all’s right with the world,” she sang, accompanied on the piano by professor Scott Holden. Reich performed the piece as an example of the beautiful messages she has encountered during her career. “In the College of Fine Arts and Communications, there’s an element of performance in all disciplines — whether on the stage, presenting our work or on display,” said Reich. Her lecture was centered on a scripture in the Book of Mormon: “Ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” Reich shared experiences in her life and career that have helped her understand how to consecrate performance and recognize the Lord’s plan for her. “The gifts and responsibilities that I’ve been given are not for my glory and gain,” said Reich. “It is for my growth and my service to others, and to build the kingdom in whatever way I can.” Reich also recalled counsel she received from Elder David A. Bednar — her former stake president — while she was in the process of being hired at BYU: “Teach the students that it is not about them.” In addition to the importance of this bigger picture, Reich then shared experiences that confirmed to her that God is in the details of her life. She shared what she called the “Parable of the Gown,” an experience when she found herself scrambling to find a dress the day of her performance at the BYU Homecoming Spectacular. “In my prayers, I said ‘Heavenly Father, if there’s a great dress out there, please lead me to it,’” said Reich. “I wasn’t even sure if that was a righteous desire, but I figured it didn’t hurt to ask.” After finding the perfect last-minute gown for her performance, she knew that Heavenly Father was aware of her desires and that what was important to her was also important to Him. “President Monson taught us, ‘Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives.’ I know that that is really true.” Reich also recalled moments of spiritual confirmation in her career. In the middle of Metropolitan Opera auditions at Indiana University, she was overcome with emotion while performing an aria by Antonin Dvořák, “Rusalka’s Song to the Moon” – which she also performed during the lecture. “The Spirit was witnessing to me that I was where my Heavenly Father wanted me to be and doing what he wanted me to do,” said Reich. “How grateful I was for that witness and especially at that time of my life.” Reich had always held fast to President Ezra Taft Benson’s counsel to “prepare for life’s greatest career, that of homemaker, wife and mother,” and affirmed the Family Proclamation’s guidance on the role of mothers. But she didn’t know how to reconcile the expectation of stay-at-home motherhood with her personal directives to pursue a career. While she began her teaching career, Reich’s husband Steve stayed at home with their two young children, and later worked part-time. Initially they both felt guilt for this non-traditional arrangement, but soon realized it was exactly what the Lord had intended. “What we discovered is that our divine roles in the home did not change, even if our secular roles did,” said Reich. “Steve provided food, he took care of our home, he kept us safe. He was our provider. And I was still the nurturer, the comforter, the homework helper, the social navigator. Even if I had a full-time career, I could still fulfill my role as a mother. Having a career and family have not been polarized options.” Reich emphasized the importance of using personal revelation and obedience as sources of guidance. “If you will seek Heavenly Father’s guidance and work together, you will know His plan for you,” she said. Reich concluded her remarks by encouraging students to recognize the Lord’s hand in their lives. “His plan is the bigger, better picture, always,” said Reich. “When we are doing what the Lord directs us to do, we will be fulfilled. I can testify that Heavenly Father has schooled me through the process of being a performer. He has taught me eternal truths, tempered me and blessed me with the desires of my heart — because He knows me and loves me, as He knows and loves you.”

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Documentary Filmmaker Scott Christopherson Speaks on Charity, Prayer and His Creative Process in Faith + Works Lecture

Anelise Leishman — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 15:42:52 +0000

Christopherson shared clips from his documentaries and lessons of faith he has learned throughout his film career In his Feb. 6 Faith + Works lecture “Sacred Subjects: The Sacred Nature of Representation,” Theatre and Media Arts professor Scott Christopherson illustrated the importance of Christlike charity and trust in God in his creative process as a documentary filmmaker. “Documentaries are art through the lens of human relationships,” said Christopherson, whose films have played at the Sundance and South by Southwest (SXSW) film festivals. Throughout the lecture, he shared clips from his works and the spiritual insights that have informed his career. Christopherson’s documentaries center around unique and often complex characters that can be difficult to represent both honestly and respectfully. In his BYU honors thesis “Only the Pizza Man Knows” — a deeply personal documentary chronicling his parents’ deteriorating relationship and eviction from his childhood home — Christopherson struggled to understand his parents’ flaws and made some difficult discoveries in the process. “I love my parents dearly and it was important to me that I represent them in a way that reflected my love,” said Christopherson. “I had to turn to God through prayer to understand how to represent complex human beings in a nuanced way. The only way to truly understand someone is through God’s omniscience. Our language and ability to understand someone through emotion is limited.” Christopherson also shared his struggles with mental health. Shortly after he began teaching at BYU, both of Christopherson’s parents died within months of each other, and he fell into a deep depression. He found solace and solidarity in Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s 2013 talk “Like a Broken Vessel,” which impressed upon him the importance of vulnerability in documentary filmmaking. “In my artistic life, I realized that the characters in my films needed to be vulnerable like Elder Holland and dig deeper into what challenged them,” Christopherson said. “My family’s love and empathy directly affected my ability to empathize with and love the subject of my films.” That empathy has helped him to better connect with his films’ subjects — including Stephen Groo, the eccentric and often difficult filmmaker featured in Christopherson’s documentary “The Insufferable Groo.” “Steve was hesitant to explore his own demons and we had multiple talks about him being vulnerable and sharing challenges in front of the camera,” Christopherson said. They had a breakthrough when, after Groo’s basement flooded, Christopherson helped clean up the sewage until four in the morning. “Sometimes you have to wade through the proverbial sewage of long-suffering and patience,” said Christopherson. “Sometimes you have to put the camera down and serve the subjects you’re working with.” Christopherson also shared clips from his feature-length film “Peace Officer” — a documentary about officer-involved shootings that won the 2015 SXSW Grand Jury & Audience Awards for Best Documentary. While making the film, Christopherson prayed to know whether to include clips that portrayed people at their worst. “It felt like our representation could dramatically affect the mental health and well-being of a lot of other people,” he said. Even at times when his portrayals caused controversy, Christopherson felt comforted by the Holy Ghost, knowing that he had done his due diligence by making the Lord a part of his creative process. “I had to trust in God’s infinite knowledge that he knew best how to represent one of His children. My portrayal of them will always be flawed or fragmented, but I also felt peace.” Christopherson concluded his remarks by highlighting the importance of prayer in his life, something his mother taught him from a young age. Quoting the Book of Mormon prophet Alma, he said, “‘Ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.’ I really believe this. I think God does care about the minutiae of our lives. He cares about the test you’re taking, He cares about the assignment you’re doing. That’s the God that I believe in and know loves me.”

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Diane Reich to Speak on Spiritual Guidance in the Life of a Performer in Faith + Works Lecture

Anelise Leishman — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 15:26:23 +0000

The lecture will take place on Thursday, March 5 at 11 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall In March’s Faith + Works lecture, students in the College of Fine Arts and Communications will hear from School of Music professor Diane Reich, professor of voice and division coordinator for classical voice at BYU. She will speak on the role of spiritual guidance in the life of a performer. “Whether we are on a stage, presenting our work or on display, we are in the spotlight or performing in some way,” said Reich. A decorated soprano, Reich has performed with the Utah Festival Opera Company, Opera West and Indiana University Opera Theater, and as a soloist in Vietnam, China, Russia and Italy. Her past roles include Marguerite in Faust, Mimì in La Bohème, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Antonia in The Tales of Hoffman and many others. Reich’s lecture — “Schooled by Performance: Tales from an Opera Diva” — will draw from her experiences and insights as a performer and engage with the idea of consecrating performance to the Lord. “How will Heavenly Father consecrate my performance for my welfare? How might that be manifest? What is my responsibility in this pact of consecration?” asked Reich. “I think He schools us through life experiences, and in this case, performance.” In 2017, Reich gave a university devotional titled “Change and Becoming: Thoughts from a Reluctant Grower.” Prior to teaching at BYU, she was the director of opera at Central Washington University.

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