On July 21-24 Orcas Islanders are invited to attend KindlingsFest 2015, a celebration of art and ideas where they meet with the spiritual. The theme this year is “Joy: The Art of Living.”
“C.S. Lewis writes that ‘The serious business of heaven is joy,’” says Kindlings President Dr. Jeff Keuss. “The destiny of humans is to find joy. What does that look like?”
Keuss, who teaches at Seattle Pacific University’s school of theology, said our culture often focuses on experiences rather than relationships, “but true joy is much deeper than a great vacation, or a really good latte.”
KindlingsFest will explore questions like: Who are the role models and mentors we turn to as those living joyous lives? Where is true joy to be found in our culture today? What can artists show us as to what true joy looks, feels and sounds like?
The festival will include contemplative music with ArkMusic recording artist Jeff Johnson, lectures (childcare provided), conversations with artists in residence, Sundance Select films, and the BagEnd Cafe, a time for young and old to gather, sing and read original poetry while roasting s’mores.
Sundance Film Festival showings will include “Burt’s Buzz” and “How To Dance In Ohio.”
Lecturers include Seattle Pacific University professor Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, an experienced leader in the field of racial, ethnic and gender reconciliation.
Poet, priest and academic Dr. Malcolm Guite plays in the Cambridge rock band Mystery Train. Principal of the Washington Institute Dr. Steve Garber specializes in the confluence of popular and political culture.
Filmmaker,writer, producer, and recording artist Steve Taylor has produced records and filmed videos for Sixpence None the Richer, Fleming and John, Rich Mullins, Guardian and The Newsboys, earning Grammy, Billboard, Telly, Addy and Dove awards and nominations.
Artists in residence this year include singer-songwriter Sarah Masen, whose albums include “Carry Us Through,” “The Dreamlife of Angels” and “The Holding.”
Critically acclaimed author David Dark wrote “The Sacredness of Questioning Everything,” “Everyday Apocalypse: The Sacred Revealed in Radiohead” and “The Gospel according to America.”
Visual artist D. L. Taylor has exhibited in multiple gallery and group shows in the U.S. and U.K. Folk-rock singer songwriter Eric Miller will host the BagEnd Café.
C.S. Lewis scholar Dr. Jerry Root based his Ph.D. on C.S. Lewis and the “Problem of Evil.”
“Lewis said, ‘Joy must be sharply distinguished both from happiness and pleasure. … I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever … exchange it for all the pleasures in the world. But then joy is never in our power and pleasure often is,’” said Kindlings’ founder Dick Staub.
Register at KindlingsFest 2015 at www.thekindlings.com/kindlingsfest/. For more info, call 376-4210 or email pamdupas@centurylink.net.
