FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Sarah Olson, 212.666.5069, saral@verizon.net
Madeleine Perez, 212.854.7884, mp2168@columbia.edu

New York City, Sept. 22— The Columbia University School of the Arts, Union Theological Seminary, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine are collaborating on a month-long project that brings together artists, scholars and clergy in an exploration of Western images of God and the ways in which these images continue to shape our ideas about the body, sexuality, gender, and spiritual transcendence.

“The Divine Body: God, Gender and the Diversity of Early Christianity”, features an art exhibit at Columbia’s LeRoy Neiman gallery from October 3-21; an October 6 symposium at Union Theological Seminary, followed by a panel discussion the next day at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

The Divine Body challenges conventional views of the divine and human, in order to encourage discussion about how ancient religious images and beliefs continue to reverberate through modern secular life. By illuminating the diversity of our Western religious roots, The Divine Body will also speak to current trends of religious extremism.

The multi-dimensional project was conceived by artist Sarah Olson and Professor Annette Yoshiko Reed of McMaster University in Canada.

ART EXHIBIT:

The rotating art exhibit will be on display at the LeRoy Neiman Gallery at the Columbia University School of the Arts from October 3-21. The opening reception on October 7, is from 7- 9 p.m at the gallery.

The exhibits, curated by Dean Bruce W. Ferguson, will include works by Columbia Professor Janine Antoni, and artists Sarah Olson, Eric Fischl, Renee Cox, and Andres Serrano.

PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM:

The Union Theological Seminary will host a public symposium in conjunction with the exhibit on October 6 titled “Artful Resistance: Lost Christian Texts and Popular Imagination”, featuring Elaine Pagels and Eleanor Heartney, and panelists Eric Fischl, Annette Yoshiko Reed and others.

PANEL DISCUSSION:

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine will host a panel discussion on October 7 with participating artists, moderated by Professor Reed, and featuring a solo dance performance by Layard Thompson.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, or to pre-register for the symposium, visit www.thedivinebody.com.

The LeRoy Neiman Gallery is located at 310 Dodge Hall on the Columbia University campus (116th Street and Broadway). Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9a.m. to 5p.m. The art exhibit is free and open to the public.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is located at 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, and is open Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 7a.m. to 7p.m.

Union Theological Seminary is located at 3041 Broadway at 121st Street.

Founded in 1754 as King’s College, Columbia University in the City of New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and today is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions.  For more information about Columbia University, visit www.columbia.edu.