Category Archives Art & Creative Works

Hommage à Abdu’l-Baha (Tribute to Abdu’l-Baha) – An Album by Lucie Dubé

Art & Creative Works, Interviews, Music Leave a comment

Lucie Dubé is a singer, songwriter, and composer originally from Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada). For over 25 years she has been composing and performing music all over the world. Her most recent musical initiative is an album titled Hommage à Abdu’l-Baha, which is French for “Tribute to Abdu’l-Baha” as this work was created in honor of the centenary of His Passing. The album includes 13 Baha’i Writings sung in French by a choir (comprised of 40 singers and soloists) accompanied by piano, string quartet and flute.

Lucie graciously agreed to tell us about her album. Here is what she shared:

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Where the Light Comes In – The Third Book of an Illustrated Trilogy by Alice Williams

Art & Creative Works, Books, Interviews Leave a comment

Artist Alice Williams recently published Where the Light Comes In, the third instalment in a trilogy of illustrated books filled with her artwork as well as divinely-inspired quotes and meditations from Abdu’l-Baha and others.

Alice graciously agreed to tell us about Where the Light Comes In, as well as about the whole trilogy and the artwork featured — some of which is included below. We hope you enjoy!

Baha’i Blog: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been a Baha’i since 1978. My daughters, Aimee and Jenny, were young children then and I was happy to discover the Faith in time to raise them in it. I’ve held a number of non-art related jobs, but I’ve been a painter and photographic artist since I served in the art department at Maxwell Baha’i School in Canada in the mid ’90s. I try to use my art for service any way I can. I illustrate, edit and sometimes write for a Baha’i-inspired nonprofit, Oceti Wakan, with Cindy Catches, a long-time pioneer on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and a dear friend who taught me the Faith. I assist her in creating curriculum for children and youth for the prevention of addiction and suicide, and to preserve Lakota culture. Along with my family, I also do art projects with Central American refugee children and create art from them for fundraising and awareness. One project is currently on display at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. I’m active in my Baha’i community in Camarillo, California. I’m blessed to be a mother and grandmother as well.

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e*lix*ir: A Baha’i-Inspired Journal of the Arts

Art & Creative Works, Interviews Leave a comment

e*lix*ir (www.elixir-journal.org) is a Baha’i-inspired journal of the arts founded and edited by Sandra Lynn Hutchison. The journal, which is released twice a year and which has published an impressive 13 volumes thus far, offers stories, poetry, essays, and art by a diversity of emerging and established artists.

Sandra graciously agreed to tell us about the journal and we’re delighted to share our conversation with you: Continue reading →

Universal House of Justice Releases Film “Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour”

Art & Creative Works, Videos Leave a comment

The Universal House of Justice has commissioned a feature film called Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour that reflects on the efforts and learning carried out by a burgeoning Baha’i community since the passing of Abdu’l-Baha in 1921, and it outlines the journey that has led to the community’s current efforts to contribute to the emergence of a world organized around the principle of the oneness of humanity.

The film is available in seven languages and can be streamed or downloaded.

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Ambassador to Humanity – A Podcast Series on the Life of Abdu’l-Baha

Art & Creative Works, Audio Leave a comment

As Baha’is and their friends around the world commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of Abdu’l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith, I wanted to share a new podcast series made in honor of the life of Abdu’l-Baha called Ambassador to Humanity.

Ambassador to Humanity is a nine-part audio docu-series that recounts the life and work of this unique figure in human history, celebrating Abdu’l-Baha’s life, His legacy, and His enduring influence on humanity. The series explores how Abdu’l-Baha exemplified how to live with purpose and how to build a new world, and it includes eyewitness accounts from those who encountered Abdu’l-Baha, and commentary from those who have studied His life and example.

The podcast is produced by Rob Weinberg with lead narration by actors Rainn Wilson and Parisa Fitz-Henley, I caught up with the three of them to find out more about this wonderful new podcast: Continue reading →

CHARMS – A Community Building Game of Questions & Insights

Art & Creative Works, Interviews 1 Comment

Julie Burns Walker, C. Aaron Kreader, and Lisa Blecker have teamed up to create a fun, unique, engaging and award-winning game called CHARMS: A Game of Insight. There are three iterations of the game: the original version, an expansion dedicated to antiracism, and an online version. All three aim to jumpstart meaningful dialogue.

I was curious to find out more and I’m grateful the game-creating trio agreed to tell us about CHARMS! Continue reading →

“Precious Point of Unity” – Textile Artwork in Honor of Abdu’l-Baha

Art & Creative Works, Interviews Leave a comment

As the ongoing global pandemic continues to keep many of us apart, it is particularly delightful to see collaborative artistic expressions emerge. A group of craftspeople from the Maritime provinces of Canada, some beginners and others seasoned artists, have created a special textile hanging called “Precious Point of Unity”. The textile consists of 16 blocks of art that were painted, quilted, hand stitched or appliquéd. Each block is based on a story from Vignettes from the Life of Abdu’l-Baha and they were sewn together in the form of a triangle to represent a mountain pointing to a nine-pointed star, depicting Abdu’l-Baha as the Centre or Focus of the Covenant.

Three of the participants involved shared a few words with us about “Precious Point of Unity”:

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Australia Launches Website for the Centenary of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha

Art & Creative Works, Holy Days Leave a comment

A new website dedicated to the commemoration of the centenary of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha has recently been launched by the Office of External Affairs of the Baha’is of Australia. As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the passing of Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’is in Australia and around the world are commemorating this historic occasion in various ways, and this new website aims to showcase how Australian Baha’is and their friends are marking this period. Continue reading →

The Extraordinary Life of Abdu’l-Baha: A New Online Initiative

Art & Creative Works, History, Interviews, Resources 1 Comment

Nestled within a greater initiative called The Utterance Project, Violetta Zein has produced an informative, visually-rich online project titled “The Extraordinary Life of Abdu’l-Baha” in honor of the centenary of His Passing. It’s an interactive and illustrated nine-part chronology of the Life of Abdu’l-Baha and you may find it useful and inspiring, particularly in this special year as we strive to reflect profoundly on His Life.

I am so grateful to Violetta for sharing with us all about this initiative. Here’s what she shared with the Baha’i Blog team: Continue reading →

Make Me to Grow – An Album by Victoria Jane Leith

Art & Creative Works, Interviews, Music Leave a comment

Victoria Jane Leith’s album, Make Me to Grow, is subtitled “an immersive experience of melodies, nature and prayers” and that’s exactly what it is. Listening to it transported me to a devotional gathering in a tranquil garden.

You may recognize Victoria from our Studio Sessions “Lion Roar”, “Tiny Seed” and “I Loved Thy Creation”, renditions of which are also included on her sweet album.

I am glad Victoria wanted to share with us about her album. Here’s what she said:

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