This past weekend was the unofficial end of the Summer season and although Summer is gone there is no end to the amount of great music and art that is available. About a year or so ago I came across a group based out of Colorado Springs in the western USA called the Anselm Society. It seems that they are picking up where the Kindlings Muse left off. Intelligent podcasts on various aspects of art, faith and imagination as well as retreats and conferences. Next month they are featuring a retreat centered around discussions on the last novel by C.S. Lewis entitled "Till We Have Faces". Their web site is Anselmsociety.org. If I were not half a continent away I would be at all of their events soaking in all that they have to offer. There are already over thirty podcasts up on their web site ready to listen to and to download and they are all top quality discussions feeding the mind and soul There was a time when the church was the instigator of the majority of the great art in the western world. She, the church, mentored artists, she commissioned great works of art and she cared for the art that was created. For the most part, unfortunately the modern church has abdicated that position in favor of second and third rate art and just poorly done propaganda. Just listen to radio stations like the K-Love system or any of the films by Kirk Cameron for examples of this. Now, I am not making a blanket statement but for the most part this is true. Yet there are exceptions to the norm, the churches that comprise those involved in the Anselm Society are beacons of hope and light in a dimly lite world.

Musically it has been an awesome Summer season with new releases by Glass Hammer, Derri Daugherty, The Innocence Mission, Big Kettle Drum, The Choir and others. The festival season is drawing to a close which means smaller road trips are in order. Jaunts to Jammin' Java in Vienna, Virginia, The Basement O' Sound in New Jersey and of course the various clubs in NYC are just the thing to satiate a case of wanderlust. Upcoming shows in NYC and upstate include: Leigh Nash, Nobody's Girl, and a quartet show including Phil Keaggy, Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta and Mike Pachelli. Judging from the trailers that I have seen as of late there are some interesting looking films on the horizon as well as the new television season kicking off the week of September 24th. Keep your mind open and be on the outlook for great art and music because it is everywhere. Also be sure to check out the Doxacon Conference happening later this year in Washington, D.C.