ART: Gay Jesus and Woman Christ

Kittredge Cherry's eye-opening book, Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More can be breathtaking, depending on how attached you are to your Christian orthodoxy. But an important function of art in society is to open our minds and help us see how rigid we can be in our perceptions.

Art That Dares was published in 2007, but the content still has the jolt of the revolutionary to it and bares reexamination. While respectful of the originals, the art by a diverse group of 11 contemporary artists recasts the stories of Christian teachings.

Thanks to Cherry and her great blog JesusInLove.org for helping to produce this gallery of some of the mind-expanding work here. Link through for more info on the book and other links to Cherry's blog. Links to the artists's work, if available, are with the individual pieces on the following pages.

 Sermon on the Mount (from Ecce Homo)
Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin

 Mary Magdalene and Virgen de Guadalupe (from My Cathedral)
Alex Donis

 Francis 'Neath the Bitter Tree
(c)William H. McNichols
 www.fatherbill.org

 The Crucifixion of Christ
Becki Jayne Harrelson

Jesus Before the Soldiers
Douglas Blanchard
 

 Pieta (from Ecce Homo)
Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin

 Jesus and Lord Rama (from My Cathedral)
Alex Donis

Madonna, Lover and Son
Becki Jayne Harrelson

 Annunciation (from Ecce Homo)
Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin

 Christ Mother
Janet McKenzie

 Crucifixion
Sandra Yagi

 Study for The Last Supper
Becki Jayne Harrelson

 Jesus of the People
Janet McKenzie

 Judas Kiss
Becki Jayne Harrelson

 Steve, from Adam and Steve
Gary Speziale