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An illustration of Isaiah 6 for the Old and New Project, a biblical illustration initiative by Jim LePage and Troy Deshano.
I’ve been an atheist since childhood, so I was at first bewildered when they asked me to participate – but in exploring their site, I learned that the project welcomes and in fact encourages artists from all spiritual perspectives, including people like me who are are about as spiritual as a bag of hammers.
I’ve been perennially fascinated by the products of Christianity – the crazy saints, the obsessive work of Hieronymous Bosch, Bernini’s St. Teresa, Dante’s Divine Comedy, William Blake’s illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy, weird icons, everything discussed in The Name of the Rose, odd relics, strange rituals, the cathedrals… etc.
This particular moment from Isaiah has been illustrated by tons of people, but I was really smitten with this amazing naive drawing by Benjamin Roden, who founded the Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association (?). I learned a lot researching this project, and if you like the piece you can buy a print – proceeds go to charity.
Thanks to Jim and Troy!