SCHEDULE:
2:00pm Intro
2:15pm Session 1: The Mathematics of Beauty - Insights into the pattern of the mind of the Creator. David Clayton will explain the basic principles of the mathematics of traditional Western harmony and proportion and how it connects the beauty of the cosmos to musical harmony, architecture (as seen in ancient cathedrals, and Georgian and Colonial architecture for example) and even our rhythm of life. It is therefore at the heart of the pattern of beautiful Christian culture and most importantly, of our Christian worship. When we conform our lives to this pattern, we are transformed supernaturally so that we become part of the mystical body of Christ, his Church, partaking of the divine nature and living a life of joy and peace that ‘passeth understanding’.
3:00pm Q and A
3:10pm Break
3:20pm Session 2: Sacred Art: For Christians, it’s not a matter of life and death, it’s much more important than that - David Clayton Why does the Church tell us that sacred art is not only permitted but is mandatory as part of the prayer and worship of Christians? If that is the case, what subjects should we choose? What style should we choose? And how do we pray with it? In this talk, Clayton answers these questions by explaining how the style and subject matter of traditional Christian imagery is deliberately chosen to affect us most deeply and lead us into the supernatural transformation and joy that the Christian life offers (regardless of whether or not it corresponds to our taste in art). I will explain how you can establish a domestic church by creating an icon corner in your home as a focus for your own prayer and worship.
4:00pm Q and A
4:15pm Practicum
5:00pm Dinner
6:00 Chanted Vespers
6:20 Evening of Art and Music
7:30 The end
David Clayton is an internationally known artist, teacher, writer, and broadcaster. He moved to the US from his native England in 2009 and has been working here ever since. He is currently Provost of Pontifex University, an online Catholic education platform where he has designed their unique, inaugural program, a Masters in Sacred Arts which is a traditional formation in beauty for artists, patrons of the arts and anyone who wants to contribute creatively to the transformation of the culture in the modern world. He is also Visiting Fellow at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts.