UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Garaventa Center

Moment of (Sobering) Beauty: Ezekiel’s Valley of the Dry Bones

This week’s glimpse into The Saint John’s Bible is artist Donald Jackson’s re-imagining of the Valley of Dry Bones in the prophet Ezekiel’s vision. Notice the allusions to extermination of the planet (abandoned cars, oil spills) and its people (genocides in the Shoah and Rwanda). Musician Tyler Lawrence ’24, provides the haunting soundtrack.

Moment of (Disturbing) Beauty with The Saint John’s Bible: Suffering Servant

This week’s illumination is the haunting Suffering Servant from Isaiah. The image is inspired by the “Door of No Return” at Elmina Castle on the coast of Ghana, from which enslaved people were packed onto ships bound for America in the horrific Middle Passage of the transatlantic slave trade. The contemplative music in this 2-minute video is provided by Tyler Lawrence ’24.

New Date: Why Theology Needs Schitt’s Creek, March 2

Take two for this event which has moved to March 2. Like a dash of humor with your theology? Join Karen Eifler, co-director of the Garaventa Center, for “Why Theology Needs Schitt’s Creek,” the next installment in the popular Beckman Humor Project “Why Theology Needs…” series. Eifler will highlight thematic elements of Schitt’s Creek – the series that swept the comedy category in the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards – and propose what we can learn from this Canadian sitcom to deepen our understanding of Catholic faith. Free live Zoom webinar, Tuesday, March 2 at 5 p.m. at this link. Hosted by the Garaventa Center.

For more info: up.edu/beckmanhumor/events or garaventa@up.edu.

A Better Kind of Politics: Towards Social and Political Charity, Feb. 2

Going online has made it possible for the Garaventa Center to partner with several similar centers across the US to share programming on the theme “A Better Kind of Politics: Towards Social and Political Charity.” The Cushwa Center at Notre Dame is kicking off this endeavor just days after the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden. All programs are free and open to all; most will require registration, including this one: A Catholic In the White House: The Biden Presidency in Historical Context will take place Tuesday, February 2 at 1 p.m.

For more details, please contact the Garaventa Center at garaventa@up.edu.

Mary Szybist and Jerry Harp: A Poetry Reading & Conversation, Feb. 10

Mary Szybist and Jerry Harp, two celebrated Portland writers and scholars who explore Catholic iconography and prayer traditions in their poetry will read from their work, answer questions, and pose a few questions of their own. Join the free Zoom webinar on Wednesday, February 10 at 5 p.m. using this link. This event is hosted by the Garaventa Center.

For more info, please go to Garaventa Center Events site or email garaventa@up.edu.

Saint John’s Bible Moment of Beauty: The Raising of Lazarus

This week’s 90-second glimpse into The Saint John’s Bible is the illumination of The Raising of Lazarus. All the musical accompaniment for SJB moments this semester are provided by students and faculty in UP’s music programs. Violinist Lauren Guerin ’21, is the artist you will hear in this brief video.

Saint John’s Bible Moment: The Birth of Christ

Spend two minutes beholding Donald Jackson’s luminous “Birth of Christ” from The Saint John’s Bible. The music here is provided by singers Nicole Leupp Hanig, performing and fine arts, and music student Cameron Creitz ’23 singing English and German verses of “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming,” respectively. Members of UP’s music department—faculty and students—provided the music for several months’ worth of these glimpses of UP’s Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible. Look (and listen) for those in upcoming issues of UPBeat.