David Clayton on the purpose of art

I listened to a fascinating interview on the radio today with painter David Clayton--the artist-in-residence at Thomas More College. Clayton's specialty is sacred art and particularly iconography.




I was particularly struck by this statement:

"When art fulfills its purpose, it engages us and draws us to God."

My primary form of artistic expression is music and I have long felt that the most ancient and pure use of music is to draw people into God's presence (or perhaps I should say draw people into an awareness of God's presence).

Here is an interview with Clayton which is similar to the one I heard on the radio: