“A Jesuit Influence in the Fine and Performing Arts: Creighton Universityʼs Contribution to American Jesuit University Education Since 1964.”
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“A Jesuit Influence in the Fine and Performing Arts: Creighton Universityʼs Contribution to American Jesuit University Education since 1964.” A. Introductory Background Particularly in the era of post-Vatican II Catholic Church renewal and aggiornamento since the mid-1960ʼs, Jesuit initiatives in university education reflected the Churchʼs rediscovery of its sacramental imagination and its connection with the fine and performing and literary arts. These movements included, to name a few: a. the revision of the sacred liturgy to be more accessible and transparent to the worshipping community, b. prayer and music in the vernacular language, c. a revised theology of grace, creation, and Incarnation and the Holy Spirit at work in the body of the faithtul, d. metaphorical and analogical expression (music, drama, architecture, the visual and poetic language arts), e. inculturation of the gospel preaching and teaching, f. fresh approaches to Holy Scripture, g. the charismatic renewal h. expression of the sacred and mystical in creative literature and story i. and study of Ignatian sources, spirituality, and in particular The Spiritual Exercises. To a certain extent, the rediscovery of the arts in Jesuit education was a return to the pre-eminence of Jesuit education in the arts before the Suppression of the Society of Jesus (1777-1814) when Jesuit colleges and universities were distinguished by their attention to the arts and architecture, painting, sculpture, music, theater, dance and poetry1 as methods for inculturation of the gospel in word and performance2. The renewed awareness of the arts and education in the arts accompanied the dramatic changes in culture that occurred in the United States and worldwide during the 1960ʼs. Artistic expression in music and theater, the visual arts, creative writing, and the emergence of an energetic youth culture certainly gave energy to the growing awareness 1 O'Malley, John W. S.J. and Bailey, Gauvin Alexander, eds., The Jesuits and the Arts, 1540-1773. Philadelphia: Saint Joseph's University Press, 2005. 2 McNaspy, Clement J. SJ. “Art in Jesuit Life,” Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits V: 3 (April, 1973), 94-99. of the importance of the arts in the development of the “whole” human person during the social and educational movements of the 60ʼs.3 An important historical event that highlighted the increasing awareness of Jesuits in the importance of the vocation of the artist in the worldwide Church and Society, as well as in the educational ministry of the Society, was the meeting of the Jesuit General Fr. Pedro Arrupe with a gathering of the Jesuit Institute for the Arts in Rome at Mondragone, Frascati, Italy on June 16, 1972. Often quoted words by Fr. Arrupe: “You [Jesuit artists] are the fortunate ones. You speak and all listen, all understand. More than the preacherʼs word, it is the musicianʼs touch that is bringing the youth to God again. More than the politician, it is the folk singer who draws the races hand in hand. Heart speaks to heart in mysterious ways, and it is the artist who holds the key to the mystery. He can touch the wellsprings of the human heart, and release energies of the soul that the rest of the world does not suspect.”4 “In a 1973 [sic] talk given in Italy, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, former superior general of the Jesuits, said Ignatius believed artists had a great responsibility to direct the view of the average person and to speak for the average person. Arrupe went on to say that, according to Ignatius, Jesuit and Jesuit-related art has five goals: •To illustrate Godʼs greater glory, elevating humans to the fullness of God •To teach, and thereby enrich humanity •To form and lead young people to a Christian life •To help other artists and lead them to Christ •To focus on Christ as the inspiration and goal for all art.” From “Ignatian Imprints.” Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, 2007.5 Fr. Arrupeʼs remarks to Jesuit artists have been interpreted as a commentary on Document 30 of the 31st General Congregation (1965-66) in which it was stated: “…in our day especially works of art can exert a vast influence, whether it be with respect to the growth and unfolding of human personality, or to the development of civil society, or to the mutual union of men, a union that paves the way to union with God….The 31st General Congregation, taking into consideration both the tradition of the Society and the signs of the times, and aware of the importance of the arts for building up the kingdom of God, wishes to encourage the activity of its members who toil in this field [the arts] for the greater glory of God.”6 3 McNaspy. “The Culture Explosion.” America Magazine 104: 10 (3 Dec. 1960), 340-42. 4 3Arrupe. Pedro SJ. “Art and the Spirit of the Society of Jesus,” Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits”. V: 3 (April, 1973), 91. 5 Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus. “Ignatian Imprints,” 2007. 6 ”Cultivating the Arts in the Society”. Documents of the 31st and 32nd General Congregations of the Society of Jesus. St. Louis: The Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1977; Document 30, 243-44. B. The Early Contributions of Jesuit artists in Omaha and at Creighton University. 1. 1962: Fr. Leland Lubbers returned from finishing a doctoral degree in Aesthetics from the University of Paris to Creighton Prep in Omaha. He started a program in art and art history at Prep. 1964: Lubbers came to Creighton University as a professor of Fine Arts and began an academic program in Fine Arts within the College of Arts and Sciences. Lubbers became the first department Chair and recruited a number of Jesuits to become members of the faculty including Randall Hall SJ, and Don Doll SJ. Lubbers recruited faculty members in Visual Arts and Dance, and he located the Art Department in the former Pharmacy School library near 15th and Chicago Sts. 2. 1970ʼs: The Fine Arts program expanded to include Theater courses, formerly offered within the department of Speech and Communications, directed by Tony Weber SJ. 3. 1970ʼs-present: Under the leadership of Lubbers, Frances Kraft, and Don Doll SJ as department Chairs, the Fine Arts program developed a curriculum in Visual Arts (Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Photography, Ceramics, and Printmaking), Art History, Theater, Dance, Music History and Chorus. 4. Jesuit art faculty who served in the department from its foundation to the present were exceptional in number compared to any of the other 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, particularly given the size of Creighton University and the comparatively small number of Jesuits who had been professionally trained in the arts during that period: Jesuit Faculty: Creighton Fine and Performing Arts Leland Lubbers, Sculpture, Art History, Aesthetics, Creativity 1964-1989 First Department Chair 1964-1972 Randall Hall, Printmaking -1972 Tony Weber, Theater 1967-1977 Don Doll, Photography, Journalism 1969-2002 Department Chair 1977-1990 Bernard Portz, Music and Choral Direction 1970-1985 Joseph Brown, Artist in Residence: Theater, Creative Writing 1975-1980 Jonathan Haschka, Artist in Residence: Sculpture 1977-1984 Michael Flecky: Photography 1981-present Gerald Walling: Theater Ted Bohr: Art History 1996-2009 Charles Jurgensmeyer: Music 1998-2008 C. The Academic Legacy of Creighton Universityʼs Fine and Performing Arts Department. 1. By 1976, the Department of Fine and Performing Arts had expanded to offer the Major in Visual Arts and Dance, as well as the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts and Dance. Visual Arts studios offered the full range of traditional studio arts courses including Foundations, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture, as well as Art History. Dance studios offered classical ballet and modern dance, as well as accreditation by the Royal Academy of Ballet. 2. By 1977, a Theater Major was developed with a full production schedule including main stage and studio performances and courses in Direction, Lighting, Set and Costume Design. Music Courses were offered in Appreciation and Choral Performance. By 1977, Creighton University had the only Fine and Performing Arts Department among the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States with a full complement of Studio Arts Majors and BFA degrees offered in the Visual and Performing Arts. 3. The Jesuit Institute for the Arts: The story of American Jesuit artists in the last 45 years must acknowledge the contribution of the national Jesuit Institute for the Arts, inspired largely by Fr. Clement J. McNaspy. Under McNaspyʼs informal direction, artists from across the United States gathered formally during the summer of 1970 at Holy Cross College, in 1971 at Santa Clara University, and in Rome. The purpose of the Institute was to enable Jesuits professionally trained and engaged in the fine arts to gather for reflection, prayer, creative expression, and criticism. While American in origin and original membership, the Institute became increasingly international.7 Besides meeting in Rome and cultural centers such as Mexico, Greece, and the Holy Land, Jesuits of the Institute sponsored tours of art museums, musical performances, and exhibitions. It was during one such gathering in Rome on 16 June 1972 that Fr. Pedro Arrupe, the General Superior of the Society of Jesus, delivered his historic address to Jesuits regarding the central importance of the arts and artists in the Mission of the Society.8 4. The Jesuit Institute for the Arts at Creighton University: 7 Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits, editorʼs forward. v-vi. 8 Arrupe. Pedro. “Art and the Spirit of the Society of Jesus”, Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits”. 83-92 What began in 1970 as an informal and occasional gathering of Jesuit artists became institutional to Creighton University in the late 1970ʼs.