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Art is a product of spirituality. Once man had the concept of divinity the next step was to create things to please the divinity. It is from that desire that art originates, the adornment of spiritual objects. By adorning an object, you see it apart from others. A rock is just a rock, but once it is engraved or shaped, it then becomes a sculpture. A staff is just a piece of wood, but when symbols are carved into it, it has been transformed into a tool to capture the attention of others.

What should be remembered about indigenous of spiritual art of "primitive cultures" is that we label it as art. To the actual culture it is a functional item used in ritual. It has purpose and doesn't need to be put behind a glass box in order to be revered. This could be equated to catholic priests chalice today. Parishioners see the cup, recognize it as a holy or spiritual object, however one would not pay it the same artistic reverence as they would a chalice from the 13th century.

It is from this concept of adornment and functionality that art grew. What can be seen in cultures such as Egypt and earlier is the idea of capturing the image of the divine. we would cal this idolatry. Art, as we deem it, was totally preoccupied with the spiritual, namely the gods and the afterlife. Art was, and in some ways still is, the was to project the consciousness of the devoted outward. To bring them out of their daily life and put them into a realm of larger ideas.

This has been lessened in someways today, as the world becomes ever more technological. That being said if you were to go into (almost) any house of worship built before the 1980's there is a good chance that you will feel the projection out ward. the religion or denomination you choose shouldn't matter, but the age of the building might. Typically, the older the more inspiring.

Italy of course is a wonderful example of this. Almost every church is ordained with fantastic works of art. All of which, from the stained windows, to the fresco's, to the sculptures make you realise you are in God's house. The other reason of course for arts connection to spirituality is money. Throughout the Renaissance, as well as much of human history, right to the present day, artists haven't had a lot of money. as we can all understand, you go where you can get work.

So art and spirituality are connected in several ways: a devotional manner, members of the worshipping body create or adorn objects to recognize the objects spiritual significance. On a larger scale there is the transformation of consciousness. This is why man painted on walls, carved huge pieces of stone and installed stained glass. It was to create a space for the congregation to gather and focus on the divine. These were the ways for the religion of spiritual system to get their beliefs and doctrines across, i.e. the after life and divinity. Then of course there is the more corporal reason: money. As civilization grew and monetary systems put into place, most religions had the money and doled out commissions, thus the artists came to make a living.

Learn more about this author, D. Kearney Sparano.
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