This time I've gone a completely different direction in casting a vision for the cover of my forthcoming book on faith and pop culture. I like this a lot better that my prior tries--too obvious, to representational. So where to go? The opposite end of the spectrum is abstract art, I suppose, and it occurred to me that my friend Mako Fujimura, an amazing artist featured in the arts and culture chapter of my book Faith as a Way of Life. I haven't asked Mako yet if he's open to the idea--I just had the idea this morning! But if I get good responses from you, dear readers, then I'll write Mako and see what we can do about it. His painting:
Broken Splendor
Azurite, malachite, Japanese vermillion, Italian gold leaf, silver leaf on Kumohada paper
80 x 60 inches
2006
His work (and writing) is amazing. A picture below shows the original hanging in the Sara Tecchia Roma gallery in New York where Mako's work is often shown.
Anon, and peace,
Chris
This is my favorite of the ones you've posted.
Posted by: Jake Bouma | January 22, 2009 at 07:15 AM
Yes! I definitely think you are on to something here.
Posted by: Eric | January 22, 2009 at 07:36 AM
I love it! What a beautiful picture.
Posted by: Rachel Hallowell | January 22, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Hey, I'm so glad you like it! Thanks for weighing in. I'm really happy going in this direction. Now I need to get the book finished! For some reason it helps me write to get the cover and table of contents and so on all lined up. A bit like cleaning my desk, I guess. It clears my mind for what I need to do.
CS
Posted by: Chris | January 22, 2009 at 09:09 AM
As if it mattered: this has my approval!
Posted by: Jon | January 22, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Ooh, I love it! I hope Mr. Fujimara says yes.
Posted by: Rachel | January 22, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Much better--it captures the "broken" much more than the celebrity head shots (as cool as they are). Also, as someone pointed out, your name across the single frame makes it seem that the photo (of Miles Davis?) is you.
Whereas we all know the photo on the back jacket will be the beard experiment from Christmas....
peace!
Peter
Posted by: Peter Hanson | January 22, 2009 at 01:12 PM
this one's pretty rad.
Posted by: Jeni Grangaard | January 22, 2009 at 04:12 PM
YES! This is SO much more appropriate! I like it!
Posted by: Mary Hess | January 24, 2009 at 12:55 PM
This painting perfectly encapsulates the title of your book. The gold leaf, despite its abstract context, reminds me of Baroque altar decorations and illuminated manuscripts, thus the "Hallelujahs." And the artist obviously already had the word "broken" in mind, but the painting almost has a motion to it, like something falling to pieces in front of you. IMO it works perfectly and I hope you get permission to use it!
Posted by: Will Scharen | January 25, 2009 at 06:44 PM
Using Fujimura's art does a far better job of drawing in the viewer's curiosity. As Will Scharen stated, its like "something falling to pieces in front of you", or coming together.
Posted by: Nathan Foxton | September 26, 2009 at 12:29 PM
OH OH OH OH OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS BOOK, I WOULD BUY!
pre-order on AMazon???
I am stunned at the differences. I would have passed on the others, this one invites investigation.
(Yeah, I have, on occasion, judged a book by it's cover.)
congrats.
Posted by: Gwen Meharg | September 26, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Mako gave permission, so this will be my cover, or some version of it, when I get to that point! I'm still writing . . .
Peace,
Chris
Posted by: Chris | September 26, 2009 at 08:20 PM