Summer Reading

Carrot Top Studio is headed out of town today for a week of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. We appreciate your clients patience as shipping will be on hold from today until July 2nd. 


I grew up absolutely absorbed in my library's summer reading program. Thanks for signing up for that Mom! Reading still brings great pleasure and my bags are packed with probably three weeks worth of choices instead of just one! Here's a little of our selection:

Passing the Colors : Engaging Visual Culture in the 21st Century by Chris S. Overvoorde who is professor of art emeritus at Calvin College. In this book he addresses challenges faced by artists who long to remain in the church. The purpose of this piece is to demonstrate how important the visual is to worship and devotion and how including artists in faith communities strengths the ties that bind. I've never felt unwelcomed by the church as an artist but I think this book will expand my thinking. 

I'm almost a year away from turning fifty. Wow! So I'm taking a friend's recommendation and packing Jubilee Time. She used it in a class about seeking spiritual direction in the second half of life at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Reading her course description made me intrigued. Typically I don't make a big deal out of birthdays in general or even milestone birthdays but this book looks to be interesting and the format seems great as it's written by the author but infused with writings and thoughts from others. I wonder what I'll be challenged to think about?

I couldn't resist already starting to read Awaken Your Senses: Exercises For Exploring the Wonder of God by J. Brent Bill. This topic takes me back to when I was a elementary art teacher and there was much emphasis on teaching to the many different learning styles students have. I've always felt that this applies to worship as well. Some people connect visually, but others through the auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, etc. Bill applies this notion to our five senses and our personal faith. I suspect that much of this will translate easily to corporate worship as well and might open my mind to new ways to use our work in the studio.


Due to my passion for and recent trips to Haiti I also hope to read through Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle: Living Fully, Loving Dangerously by Kent Annan. I am more and more constantly reminded of how comfortable my life is. I don't believe this is what it's called to be but boy is it tricky to give that up! As I continue to pray for what God has in store for me next I suspect Annan's personal experience might give me a glimmer insight for my life. 

And lastly, I must admit I love "reading" cookbooks. The creative soul in me really likes cooking also, but a cookbook that tells stories of the how and why of the recipe is doubly delicious (pun intended!) So Ripe by Nigel Slater is a super large volume that will probably be absolutely devoured. And because I won't be actually making the recipes during the reading it will be very skinny on calories. 


And you? What's on your summer reading list?