Blake Book: Art, Religion and Spirituality in Australia [Paperback]

The Blake Prize for religious art has now withstood 60 years of controversy as critics from many walks of life have argued as to what, in these decades of Australias history, constitutes religious art. Rosemary Crumlins richly illustrated book traces the changing styles of the literally thousands of entries to the Prize over six decades. These begin with winners of the prize in the 1950s who modelled their works on examples from Western art history and then extends to the decades when non-objectivity posed problems for those seeking religious imagery, through to the inclusion of Indigenous art and influences stemming from Asia and the Muslim world. This is a profoundly important history of a particular aspect of Australian art.

"Rosemary Crumlin, who has published more books on art and spirituality then anyone else in Australia has just produced a gorgeous publication, the profusely illustrated The Blake Book: ART, RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN AUSTRALIA. Crumlin’s beautifully illustrated book, with its seven foldouts, dense body of illustrations and meticulous scholarship, documents the singular and lasting contribution which the Blake Prize has made to Australian art and Australian society.'"
Sasha Grishin
Canberra Times, (December 2011)

"It is difficult to do justice to a review of this extraordinary work. The artists who prefer to describe their work as ‘spiritual’ rather than ‘religious’ give us insights into a changing world. One of the brilliant aspects of this book is the inclusion of foldout pages which enable the reader to see not only the winning entries but also some of the more than 10,000 entries submitted.'"
Dr Gerard Rummery fsc, author of Catechesis and Religious Education in a Pluralist Society
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"Art that is religious or spiritual can be art that draws one close to what matters; explicit beliefs for those who have any or many; the horizon of meaning for those who have none; the ground of being; or maybe, going surfing if that does it, whatever “it” is.'"
Andrew Bullen SJ, Melbourne
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"This book invites readers into a challenging and sometimes disconcerting process of curiosity and change. I see the book as an insightful approach to the huge changes that have occurred over the past 60 years.'"
Dr Rodney Pattenden, Director of the Blake Society
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"This book invites readers into a challenging and sometimes disconcerting process of curiosity and change. I see the book as an insightful approach to the huge changes that have occurred over the past 60 years.'"
Herman Lombaerts, Emeritus Professor of Theology, Louvain University, Belgium
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"Art does not reflect the visible, but rather, makes visible (what we believe).'"
Professor Friendhelm Mennekes SJ, Frankfurt, Germany
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