In this episode of The Artistic Vision, poet and director arts ministry Chelsea Fraser shares her journey of wrestling with her artistic calling, creativity, and faith. We dive into her new poetry collection, The Mother Tree, and explore how poetry can reveal truth rather than obscure it. Chelsea also gives a behind-the-scenes look at leading an arts ministry in a local church—curating gallery shows, hosting concerts, and nurturing artists in community. This conversation is a rich resource for poets, creatives, and church leaders seeking to integrate art, vocation, and spiritual life in meaningful and lasting ways.

Chelsea Fraser is a poet and the director of a Fine Arts program at First Presbyerian Church, in downtown in Greenville, SC

Buy Chelsea's Book Here!
https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Tree-Chelsea-Fraser/dp/B0F4T84MC2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DB3JAYWGX8KC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-Y5Evebr2XNpxiMdXe2-OhwHbYG-fi-DwFfQBc8GJm8.dXTbAgGv5RC1adX_VEr6ul3HEEsuuaAwnLun7Y1U_HE&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+mother+tree+chelsea+fraser&qid=1749499770&sprefix=the+mother+tree%2Caps%2C308&sr=8-1

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Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
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https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1

In this episode of The Artistic Vision, we’re joined by artist, theologian and author Jonathan A. Anderson to explore the intersection of contemporary art and theology. Drawing from his latest book, The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art, we discuss the increased interest, but still underdeveloped scholarship around contemporary art. Jonathan unpacks how art can be a powerful way of thinking and asking deep theological questions. We dive into the role of beauty—its mystery, and its unpredictability. This conversation is perfect for artists, thinkers, and creatives interested in faith, modern art, and the deeper meaning behind visual expression.

Jonathan A. Anderson is the Eugene and Jan Peterson Associate Professor of Theology and the Arts at Regent College (Vancouver, BC). His scholarship explores the interrelations of art history, theology, and religious studies, with a particular focus on modern and contemporary art. He is the author of The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art (2025), Modern Art and the Life of a Culture: The Religious Impulses of Modernism (with William Dyrness, 2016), and many articles and book chapters on related topics, including “Modern Art” in The Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion (2021). Trained as an artist, art critic, and theologian, Anderson has a PhD from King’s College London and an MFA from California State University Long Beach. Prior to his chair at Regent College, he was the postdoctoral associate of theology and the visual arts at Duke University (Durham, NC) and an associate professor of art at Biola University (La Mirada, CA).

Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
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Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community

Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1

In this episode of The Artistic Vision, we talk with artist Amy Grimes, known for her enchanting “story paintings” that spark imagination. Amy shares how artists can reclaim a childlike sense of wonder by holding onto fairytales, forests, and the beauty of mystery. We discuss how to stay encouraged when facing critique and discouragement, and why authenticity and truth-telling matter in art. Amy urges Christian artists to invite God into the creative process and to simply tell the story they've been given. A must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration, artistic clarity, and hope through creativity.

Amy Grimes is a storyteller at heart, weaving tales of wonder and hope through her luminous artwork. From a young age, she was captivated by fairy tales and fantastical illustrations—sparks that ignited a lifelong passion for visual storytelling. Today, her signature “story paintings” emerge from the narratives she writes, serving as imaginative windows that invite viewers into mysterious, light-filled worlds. Amy lives a peaceful life with her husband and two daughters in a home brimming with books and color, creating art that reflects beauty, mystery, and the quiet magic of everyday life.

Find her work at www.storypaintings.net

Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
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Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community

Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1