Immersion – The Miss-Understood Photograph of Andres Serrano

 One of the pieces of art on my “Must See” list is officially titled “Immersion”, but is most known by its “popular” name, “Piss Christ”.  To say this photograph, by a Christian artist, is miss-understood would be an understatement.

I first learned of his work, like many, through church.  The pastor of the fundamental church I was then attending mentioned it in a sermon, and went on for a good 20 minutes about how “offensive” this “art” was.  You see, the artwork is a photographic image of a crucifix submerged in the artists urine.  It is easy to see why many of the religious community would take offense, if, like so many art viewers, they failed to look at the context of the piece, and the artists own reasons for creating it.

As an artist myself, as soon as I heard of this piece, and the controversy and offense surrounding it, I was intrigued.  I began researching the piece, and was surprised to find out the artist himself is Christian.

Immersion/Piss Christ by Andres Serrano -- Photo used in accordance with 'Fair Use' laws of the USA.

 

And they were bigots...

I know I will probably lose a lot of friends over this, and that's ok. I have never been afraid of offending others by speaking my mind.

In the 1860's, only 155 years ago, we fought to end slavery in the United States. People were outraged, and states seceded, leading into the Civil War. As foreign an idea that slavery is to today's culture, many people back then firmly believed in the "right" to keep slaves. Their culture, their history, and their religion told them it was ok. It was even taught that the Bible considered the black man to be "marked by Cain", and not equal to others. They fought for their beliefs, and held on to those old ways of thinking for many years after. They were bigots. Not because they "held a different opinion" than the changing, progressive society, but because they felt that their beliefs, their religion, their history, should be upheld over the rights of others.

Colorful Little Fu...

Colorful Little Fu...

Colorful Little Fu.. - Copyright 2015

Cured Of Being Cured; The Testimony of an Ex 'Ex-Gay'

Spring of 2010 I found myself beginning a spiritual journey that would lead me into the heart of a local fundamentalist church. The four and a half years I spent there still seem surreal, and it's hard to put into words what led me there.  But once there, I was firmly rooted into their culture and beliefs. So much so that I committed to seeking Jesus to "cure" me of my homosexuality. And it worked -- or so everyone thought. I was an outspoken "ex-gay" who had (miraculously) found "healing" from my old "sinful" nature, and spoke and wrote on how others could also find "freedom" from homosexuality.

I Don't Want To Be Your Martyr

I Don't Want To Be Your Martyr

 

I Don't Want to be Your Martyr Copyright 2015