An Exhibit Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

Christendom will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, and in honor of this event, Bowden Collections is offering an exhibition with over thirty-five works. Sola Scriptura: Biblical Text and Art is a visual testimony of how the Scriptures have compelled artists who cherish the Bible to incorporate its text into their art. The exhibition is comprised of three sections: Translating the Bible, Illuminating the Bible, and Picturing the Bible.

Martin Luther’s ground breaking translation made it possible for Christians over the last 500 years to read the Bible in the vernacular. The impact of this cannot be overstated. Artists are among those who have been influenced by reading and studying the Bible, often incorporating the words of the Scriptures into the very fiber of their art.

TRAnslATing The Bible

Includes portrait engravings of Martin Luther, and early translations of

the Martin Luther’s Bible.

Martin Luther Bible

illuminATing The Bible

Exploring the diverse ways scribes and calligraphers have illuminated the biblical text

with imagination and devotion.

Ge’ez Ethiopian Prayer Book

PiCTuRing The Bible

Featuring more than fifteen artists who use the Biblical

text as an integral part of their creations.

In the Beginning - Sandra Bowden

Woodlawn CRC & Eyekons present

January 4 - February 10, 2017Woodlawn Ministry Center 3190 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Church & school goups Welcome - schedule a guided TourOpen to the Public: Tues - Thurs 9 am - 4 pm, Fri 9 am - noon

CONTACT: johanneswitte9@gmail.com | 616-304-0504

The exhibition’s first segment, Translating the Bible, includes portrait engravings of Martin

Luther, an 1883 poster commemorating the 400th anniversary of his birth, as well as a

1875 Martin Luther German Bible with illustrations by Gustave Doré and a single 1541

leaf from the an early edition of Luther’s Bible. Several other Bibles illustrate the impor-

tance of the English vernacular translations over these five centuries. Among these is the

very rare Title Page of I Thessalonians from Martin Luther’s New Testament of 1529, a leaf

from 16th century Tyndale Bible, a page from The Great Bible approved by King Henry

VIII, a leather bound King James Bible with an accompanying single leaf from the first

1611 edition; and Eugene Peterson’s contemporary paraphrase, The Message.

TRAnslATing the Bible

Martin Luther - Hodgell Woodcut Heilige Schrift - 1875 Martin Luther Bible

Heilige Schrift - 1875 - Martin Luther BibleIllustrations by Gustave Dore

Title Page of 1 Thessalonians - 1529Martin Luther’s New Testament

Reverse Side of 1 Thessalonians - 1529Martin Luther’s New Testament

Gutenberg Bible - Morgan Library

King James Bible - Cambridge University Press - 2007

The Message - Paraphrased by Eugene H. Peterson - 2002

Title Page for 1 Corinthians 15The Great Bible - 1541

Title Page and Prologue of JamesTyndal Bible - Printed by John Daye - 1549

Geneva Bible Leaf - Genesis 6-8 Printed by Christopher Barker - 1597

Title Page of Hosea - King James VersionImprinted by Robert Barker - 1611

Martin Luther - Reformation PosterLithograph - 1883

Martin Luther Portrait - Engraving - 1855

Reformation Quadricentennial Coin - 1917

United States Post Office - First Day Cover - 1983500th Anniversary of his birth

United States Post Office - First Day Cover - 1983

The second section, illuminating the Bible, explores the many diverse ways scribes and

calligraphers have illuminated the biblical text with imagination and devotion. Some of the

manuscripts include: a 13th century illuminated manuscript from France of I Corinthians

6; 15th century illuminated pages from the Vulgate; and a bifolio antiphonal parchment

manuscript used by medieval choirs. Also included are several recent calligraphic cre-

ations, such as: The Holy Bible illuminated by Timothy Botts with an accompanying piece

I Have Plans for You; two Ethiopian prayer books; and a contemporary Celtic illumination.

illuminATingthe Bible

Psalm 51 - Book of Hours - French 15th Century - Artist Unknown

Ethiopian Prayer Book - Illustration of the Virgin Mary

Ethiopian Prayer Book - Leather Cover

Ge’ez Prayer Book - Mid 20th Century

Gutenberg Bible - Morgan Library

Antiphonal Leaves - Spanish 1500 - Artist Unknown

Pennyroyal Caxton New Testament - 1999Illustrations by Barry Moser

The Holy Bible - Tyndale House Publishers - Timothy R. Botts Illustrator - 2000

The Holy Bible - Tyndale House PublishersTimothy R. Botts Illustrator - 2000

The Plans I Have for You - Jeremiah 29:11Timothy R. Botts Illustrator - 1999

Entry into Jerusalem - Engraving with French Bible TextLate 17th to Early 18 Century - Artist Unknown

Psalm 119 - Published by Anton Koberger - 1513Printed by Jacque Sacon in Lyon France

Vulgate Psalms 88-92 - Circa 1500 GermanyArtist Unknown

You Were Justified - 1 Corinthians 16England 13th Century - Artist Unknown

Look at the Birds - Nancy Snooks - 2014 Psalm 96: 1-4 - Chen Ghsin Wang - 2013

Alleluia - Illuminated Manuscript16/17 Century - Calligrapher Unknown

Whatsoever Things are TrueEarly 20th Century - Artist Unknown

Picturing the Bible features more than fifteen artists who use the Biblical text as an integral

part of their creations. These evidence the power of the Bible, compelling artists to embed

its very words in their art. Some of those in the show include: William Blake’s Vision of

Eliphaz; two pieces by Howard Finster, inscripted with his own personal version or para-

phrase of the biblical text; an etching by Sue Coe relating to the Beatitudes; a delicately

collaged cross form by David Kamm; and two elegant drawings by Doug Jacques. Adam

Back, Andrew Barchus, Martha Chatelain, Sandra Bowden and Guy Chase have created

more dimensional works that reference The Book.

PiCTuRing the Bible

In the Beginning - Sandra Bowden - 1995

The Word Became Text - Andrew Barchus - 2011

The Wounded Word - Adam Back

Glyphs - Matt Plescher - 2015 In the Beginning Was The WordSandra Bowden - 1982

Open Book V - Martha Chatelain - 2007

Sola Scriptura - Sandra Bowden - 2009

God’s Minute - Guy Chase

Sins on this Earth - Howard Finster

Unnameable Transforming DeviceDavid Kamm - 2007

Through Him all things were reconciledKirsten Malcolm Berry - 1998

Good News Shoes - Joan Bohlig - 1990

Vision of Eliphaz - William Blake

Blessed be the peacemakers / Thou shalt not killSue Coe - 1991