As an artist, Deborah Sokolove has often been surprised and dismayed by the unexamined attitudes and assumptions that the church holds about how artists think and how art functions in human life. By investigating these attitudes and tying them to concrete examples, Sokolove hopes to demystify art--to bring art down to earth, where theologians, pastors, and ordinary Christians can wrestle with its meanings, participate in its processes, and understand its uses. In showing the commonalities and distinctions among the various ways that artists themselves approach their work, Sanctifying Art can help the church talk about the arts in ways that artists will recognize. As a member of both the church and the art world, Sokolove is well-positioned to bridge the gap between the habits of thought that inform the discourse of the art world and those quite different ideas about art that are taken for granted by many Christians. When art is understood as intellectual, technical, and physical as well as ethereal, mysterious, and sacred, we will see it as an integral part of our life together in Christ, fully human and fully divine.

"Sokolove brings to this volume her unique combination of qualifications as artist, curator, teacher, and liturgical scholar, rewarding her readers with a comprehensive overview that is engagingly written and pleasantly free of technical language. This important book is a true pleasure to read and will be essential reading to anyone interested in bridging the gap between the arts and the church."
--Margaret Adams Parker, Artist and Adjunct in Religion and Culture, Virginia Theological Seminary

"Eloquent, insightful, and discerning, Sokolove testifies to the power of art as a means of grace, clarifies the relationship between art, beauty, and justice, and urges churches to call on the artists in their midst. Experts and neophytes alike will draw wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration from this stellar work."
--Kimberly Bracken Long, Associate Professor of Worship, Columbia Theological Seminary

"Deborah Sokolove boldly and powerfully calls us to task for failing to be dialogical and, most importantly, for failing to realize that only in the richness of conversation with the artist can the fullest meaning of a work be derived. Rich, engaging, and provocative, this work will make a difference!"
--Wilson Yates, President Emeritus, United Theological Seminary

"Deborah Sokolove has given us a rare gift. She has articulated her belief in the value and purpose of art in language that is fresh, convincing, and--perhaps most of all--accessible to and respectful of a lay reader. This is obviously a work of love, and it is a great joy to read!"
--Robin Jensen, Professor of the History of Christian Art and Worship, Vanderbilt University

"Sokolove has brilliantly accomplished what she set out to do--change the conversation between artists . . . and the church. She convinces us, with her readable and persistently grace-filled style, that the church can no longer continue to misuse art or think of it in problematic ways. Too much is at stake, namely, the fullness of our life together in Christ."
--Denise Dombkowski Hopkins, Professor of Biblical Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary

Deborah Sokolove is Director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion and Associate Professor of Art and Worship at Wesley Theological Seminary. She is a regular contributor to ARTS, Lectionary Homiletics, and other journals. In addition to her writing and teaching, she is an artist with an active exhibition schedule.