About Visual Faith
The Institute seeks Christian engagement in the visual arts. This encompasses:
• The preparation of church leaders to understand the role of art in worship and to support the work of Christians in the visual arts
• The encouragement of Christian involvement in the visual arts
• Historical reflection on sacred art and worship
• Examination of the spiritual and theological implications of visual arts
• Enjoyment of painting, printmaking, sculpture and architecture
in historical and contemporary settings
Programs include courses, sponsored exhibitions, artists’ talks and lectures, tours and research on the role of the arts in Christian
faith and experience.
William Dyrness, Director
Artist in Residence - Christopher Slatoff
Christopher Slatoff was launched into the art world at an early age; his father was a painter and an art professor. Christopher studied both here and in France, ultimately obtaining his BFA in Sculpture from Cal State Long Beach.
He has had several solo exhibitions, including one at the San Diego Art Institute, and participated in many group shows at galleries, museums and universities in Southern California, Arizona and New York. Christopher's San Diego work also includes working with the Ilan Lael Foundation and exhibiting in the "Sculpture San Diego" exhibitions. He was recently invited to join the California Art Club in Pasadena, and is showing in their annual juried show. Christopher has also completed international sculpture projects in Japan, Holland and the Canary Islands.
Christopher has been very involved in bringing art into the community His public art commissions range from "Sheltering Wings" for the San Diego Port Commission at Shoreline Park in Coronado, to seven life-size commissions for churches in both California and Texas.
In 1986 Christopher had a California Artist in Residence Grant to work with special needs children in the Vista School System. He has worked in his community to establish both expanded in-classroom and after-school art programs. Currently he is serving as a guest artist facilitator in sculpture for children at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, a state mental institution
Since relocating from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1997, the artist has done a number of projects for the movie studios, including a featured angel grave marker for the Paramount film "Face-Off", and a mother and child sculpture for Disney's "Enemy of The State". More recently, Christopher was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal by the California Art Club. As artist-in-residence with the Brehm Center, Christopher has served as guest lecturer in a number of Fuller Seminary classes including the courses taught in Orvieto, Italy.