Art Commission Statement

Art Commission Statement

Art Statement

Introduction

In this paper, I will discuss the commissioning of a Ten Commandments statue for the lobby of the new Christian and Jewish Interfaith Cultural and Historical Center. The commission statement will explain how the Ten Commandments statue represents developments in past and current world events and cultural patterns in Judaism and Christianity. We will discuss the importance of the proposed location and why it is appropriate being placed at that location. This commission statement will discuss our belief of how the Ten Commandments statue reflects the Jewish and Christian concept of humanity's relationship to nature and to the world and God. It will also discuss the value of commissioning the Ten Commandments statue for the lobby, how the Ten Commandments statue will enhance the intellectual and physical environments, and how the Ten Commandments statue represents some aspect of the new Christian and Jewish Interfaith Cultural and Historical Center.

Past and Present Developments

The Ten Commandments being placed in a Historical Center will represent world events and cultural patterns in Judaism and Christianity in several ways. The Ten Commandments is a written version of a covenant that was made by God and Abraham many years ago. Also, the Greeks referred to it as the tables of Testimony because it was a testimony God made with Israel.

This written set of rules was an obligation and responsibility that people were to obey in order to demonstrate faith and devotion to God. The Ten Commandments was dedicated to give people a way to avoid sin. Anyone who did not value this covenant would invite sin into their daily lives and have to eventually experience the wrath of God.

This covenant was originally initiated with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:15) it eventually leads to Abram (Gen 17:1-8) and then to Christ. This written set of rules gave an understanding of what Christ accomplished on the cross at Calvary. These rules to live by are currently valued by present Christians and Judaism today. There have been some meaning transfers during the ages, but the faith still invites truth and liberty in our lives. Reflection

The Ten Commandments would be a practical choice for the lobby of a Christian/Jewish Interfaith Cultural or Historical Center because the commandments are revered in both faiths. Since Judaism is the parent religion of Christianity, many of the sacred texts or religious symbols that are important in Judaism are also considered to be sacred or holy in Christianity. Both religions accept the Ten Commandments as a set of the laws given by God to humanity. Both Christianity and Judaism believe that these commandments were passed from God through Moses (Exodus, 19-20).

Placing the Ten Commandments statue in the lobby or hallway of a Christian/Jewish Interfaith Center would reflect how both religions value these commandments as the words of God and how these commandments are used as guidelines or rules for developing and nurturing their individual relationship with God. The old testament of the bible, or Torah, is accepted by the Jewish faith because it establishes their identity with the rest of the world. The concept of God passing his laws through Moses with the Ten Commandments would be the best, non-controversy causing piece that could be displayed in the center.

Values

The value of commissioning this statue for the lobby of the new Christian and Jewish Interfaith Cultural and Historical Center is very high both monetarily and spiritually. This statue contains the Ten Commandments that we should live by and they are believed in and followed by the Christian and Jewish faiths. Not only is this statue a beautiful piece of art for visitors to look upon when entering the center, but it also reminds us of the reasons Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of us no matter what our faith, age, race, or gender may be. This is invaluable to every human being. This statue is something any visitor to the center can appreciate and agree with.

This piece of artwork can be expected to enhance both the physical and intellectual environment of the center. It will enhance the physical aspect because of the beauty of the piece and because it will inspire visitors to the center, whether Christian, Jewish, or any other religion, to remain faithful to the Commandments as given to us by Moses through God. The intellectual aspects of the piece are many. It will provoke the visitors to the center to want to learn about and discuss the Commandments, and both religions and their histories.

Enhancement

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. It is the world's largest