2025 Visio Divina Schedule of Events
SATURDAY 9/13/24 - Otter Creek Church West End, 3534 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37205
Registration - Cost: $115, Early Bird Price: $95 ends 8/31/25
*Registration includes lunch, snacks and art materials
9a: OPENING REMARKS/INTRODUCTIONS - Emily Bruff
OPENING KEYNOTE - Dea Jenkins - The Will to Flourish - What is flourishing, and how do we cultivate it? How might we listen for God's dreams for our lives as we navigate personal and social contexts? Allowing Visio Divina to frame our exploration, this interactive session will introduce discussion points for how we might define and pursue flourishing, even in the midst of challenging realities.
(coffee and snacks provided)
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS (90 minutes)
10:00a-11:30a: SESSION 1
Grace Hamman - Gazing on the Virtues & Vices - In the Middle Ages, visual artworks were widely understood to be "books for the illiterate," according to great thinkers like Gregory the Great and Thomas Aquinas. As a result, medieval images are chockful of scriptural and theological significance, meant as tools for spiritual formation. Medieval art of the virtues and vices was no exception. Medieval artists tell us the story and show us the shape of difficult words like humility, fortitude, and pride. In this session, we will meditate upon and with weird and wonderful medieval art of the virtues and vices and consider how they might spiritually shape us today, in our decidedly non-medieval lives.
Andrea Zahler - With Eyes to See: the practice of visio divina - Hear the story of visio divina itself as it developed into a tool for spiritual formation. Be guided through a communal meditation, then spend some time practicing this way of prayer on your own.
Heather Daily - Spiritually Formative Art Making - Sculpture
Using positive and negative space in contemplation of the metaphorical relationship these concepts have to our existence in this world as believers. A simple yet profound way to create- thinking about the truth that we have the capacity to change lives simply based on our actions, words and demeanor.
11:45a: LUNCH PROVIDED + Ciera Reyes-Ton & Community Art Experience
"VISCIO DIVINA" is an art and science prayer exhibit featuring beautiful data and science-inspired art. It is inspired by Visio Divina an ancient form of contemplative prayer involving art. The name of this exhibit is intentionally spelled with an additional letter, adding a “c” so that the letters spell out “sci” to honor the role of science.
Traditionally the art used in Visio Divina is religious in nature, and the type of art might include a painting, photograph, or icon. The point of practicing this type of prayer is to encounter God, and to invite God to speak through the art.
This self-guided exhibit offers a simple and creative way to invite God to speak to us through word (prayer prompt) and image (science art and data). It features science data submitted by scientists across the country, as well as science-inspired art (digital and textile) from local artists. This exhibit was organized and curated by Ciara Reyes-Ton's Mount Carmell Worship Collective. During this session, Dr. Reyes-Ton will introduce the exhibit, and invite participants to explore through prayerful reflection.
1:00p-2:30p : SESSION 2
Kelly Dippolito - Seeing the Old Testament: Using Art to Tell the Biblical Story - The Bible is a unified story - and reading it is daunting. Journey through significant Old Testament stories using art as our guide, learning the biblical story along the way. Meet the men and women of the Old Testament through paintings and mosaics, comparing the biblical text to the artist’s depiction. Become aware to the shaping of your theological imagination through art while learning the Old Testament story. The inclusion of women in the Old Testament will be highlighted as we explore Italian art featuring Eve, Hagar, Miriam, Deborah, Bathsheba, and Huldah.
Derek Bruff - Through a New Lens: Photography as Spiritual Formation - We live in a created world, from the flora and fauna designed by the Creator to the built environment designed by those made in the Creator's image. How can we better see and understand this created world? Most of us have a camera in our pocket (we call it, oddly, a "phone"), and the lens on that camera can help us learn to look at this created world more deeply. In this session, we'll explore ways that photography can help us experience this created world and reflect on our place in it. During the session, we'll go on a short photo walk, so bring your camera / phone!
Beth Affolter - CoCreating with God – A Painting & Printmaking Workshop - Step into a sacred creative space where art and faith meet. In this unique painting workshop, each student will embark on a personal journey of CoCreating with God, using Scripture as a springboard for inspiration. You’ll choose a verse or passage that speaks to your heart, and from there, create a meaningful artwork that reflects your own spiritual story.
We’ll explore expressive painting techniques, and you’ll also have the option to incorporate printmaking elements to add texture, depth, and symbolism to your piece. Whether your style is bold and abstract or soft and detailed, this class offers space for individual expression and spiritual reflection.
All levels are welcome—this is about the process, not perfection. Materials will be provided, including optional printmaking tools to enhance your work. Come ready to listen, create, and experience the joy of making art in collaboration with the Creator.
2:45p-4:15p: SESSION 3
Kelly Dippolito - Seeing the New Testament: Using Art to Understand the Gospel - Using images of Italian art, explore and reflect on Jesus’ life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection with an awareness of the women included in the story: Elizabeth, Anna, Mary Magdalene, and the Samaritan woman. Can we develop a deeper appreciation for the men and women transformed by Jesus in the pages of Scripture through depictions of them in art? Yes! We’ll also illustrate the epistles by discussing Lydia and her significance to the growth of the church.
Kacy Maxwell - Drawing Closer to the Word: Sketchnoting For Beginners - What if you could turn your notes into something that helps you reflect more deeply, just by applying a little creativity? In this session, you’ll learn the basics of sketchnoting, a creative yet accessible practice that combines words and simple drawings to help you engage with scripture, sermons, books, and journaling in a whole new way. No artistic skill required. If you can draw a stick figure, you’re in. We’ll explore how sketchnoting can help you slow down, pay attention, and retain more of what you’re learning. You’ll leave with practical tools to make your spiritual reflections more visual, more personal, and hopefully, more meaningful.
Dea Jenkins - The Will to Flourish - Deepdive - Through a series of listening exercises and creative responses, "The Will to Flourish" workshop will offer participants space to consider what it means to flourish individually and collectively. We will ask questions about how we might define and nurture flourishing on multiple levels, even as we acknowledge the tensions that emerge from individual challenges and social pressures. We will explore the notion of flourishing by taking a holistic overview that considers spiritual, social, digital, environmental, economical, physical, and personal factors.
4:30p KEYNOTE: Dr. Grace Hamman - Spiritual Formation in the Art of the Cross
Can looking at the visual art of the Cross change our hearts and open them up to love for God and neighbor? Late medieval artists, theologians, and writers following Christ in the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries believed this to be true. As a result, they were wildly creative, sometimes even uncomfortably so, in how they painted and visualized Jesus in suffering and his deep love upon the Cross. In imagery of blood and flowers, death and birth, the art of Christ’s passion can spiritually form us as it offers comfort in suffering and invitation into vulnerable, active love.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Dea Jenkins
Dea Jenkins is an award winning interdisciplinary artist originally from Houston, Texas. Dea's art practice spans multiple fields, including visual art, performance, and film. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, and is currently developing multiple multimedia projects. As the recipient of three fellowships and multiple artist grants, Dea has fused her art practice with a deep love for research. She has a dual master's degree from Fuller Seminary with an emphasis in Theology and the Arts. In addition to her art practice, Dea is also an entrepreneur, an independent curator, and the Director of Inbreak, a community of artists working at the intersections of art, faith, and social healing. Her love for creating expands beyond her individual practice to include crafting spaces for others to explore their own creative journeys.
Grace Hamman
Dr. Grace Hamman is a writer and independent scholar of late medieval contemplative writing and poetry. She is the author of Jesus through Medieval Eyes: Beholding Christ with the Artists, Mystics, and Theologians of the Middle Ages and the forthcoming Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life. Grace, her husband, and their three squirmy, delightful children live in Colorado. You can read more of her medieval musings at gracehamman.substack.com.
Beth Affolter
Beth Affolter is an artist, mentor, and teacher who enjoys painting and spending time with God. Using watercolor, water-based oils, and acrylics, Beth has created traditional works for many years but now delights in the contemporary side of art. She explores new techniques and loves cocreating with God. Beth holds a BFA in Studio Art, minoring in Graphic Design from UGA and a Master's of Education from Lipscomb University. Her diverse background as a professional artist includes working as an art director in both Europe and the U.S., teaching art in public high schools, engaging in community outreach, and conducting workshops for all ages. She lives in Spring Hill, TN, with her husband, where they own Adventures in Art. www.adventures-in-art.com
Derek Bruff
Derek Bruff is an educator, author, and higher ed consultant, working with faculty and other instructors to develop foundational teaching skills and explore new ideas in teaching. He’s the author of two books on teaching with technology, Intentional Tech and Teaching with Classroom Response Systems, and he produces and hosts the Intentional Teaching podcast. Most of the technology in his work is digital in nature, but he has a healthy interest in analog technology (like teaching through board games) and visual thinking. He combines those interests in his sermon sketchnotes, which combine words and pictures to capture ideas and meaning, and he shares his sketchnotes on Instagram under the handle @doodlinginchurch.
Heather Daily-Smith
Professional artist and furniture designer, art educator, Fund for Teachers Grant Fellow,
Kelly Dippolito
Dr. Kelly Dippolito (MA in Christian Studies, Dallas Theological Studies; DMin in New Testament Context, Northern Seminary) serves as Executive Director of the Center for Women in Leadership and the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity (visualmuseum.gallery). She aims to move believers from biblical familiarity to biblical literacy by teaching the metanarrative of Scripture, starting with the position that men and women were created to experience love and relationship with God and mutuality with one another. She is passionate about supporting women and freeing them from biblical interpretations that undermine their capacity to lead and thrive. Married for 30 years to Rich with two adult children, a fantastic son-in-law, and the most affectionate Wheaten terrier named Brady. Enthusiasm is her superpower.
Kacy Maxwell
Kacy Maxwell is a marketing executive and visual thinker who uses sketchnoting as a tool for reflection, learning, and connection. He’s passionate about making ideas more memorable through simple visuals and teaching others to do the same— even those who think they “can’t draw.” Kacy is an author who recently wrote, illustrated, and published his first children’s book, The Boy with Horns. He is also the creator of Drawn to Lead, a newsletter that combines leadership insights with sketchnotes, that helps others slow down, pay attention, and capture what matters most.
Ciara Reyes-Ton
Dr. Ciara Reyes-Ton is a scientist with a heart for worship and love for the arts. Her work often explores the intersection of science communication and spiritual formation through the arts. Her work doesn’t seek to merely use the arts as an end to a means of science communication, but rather to work in collaboration with the arts to reignite the Christian imagination, and to help others encounter God anew and the Christian story in awe-inspiring and wonder-inducing ways.
She’s worked extensively in science communication, as a writer and editor serving organizations like BioLogos, the American Scientific Affiliation’s (ASA) God and Nature Magazine and Peaceful Science. She is the founder of the Mount Carmell Worship Collective, a collaborative of creatives, artists, scholars and scientists exploring the intersection of faith, science, and the arts. She also serves as president of the Science Communicators of Faith, an affiliate group through the ASA, and teaches at Lipscomb University. She has a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan.
Andrea Zahler
Andrea is the Associate Director of Spiritual Development & Engagement for Missions at Lipscomb University. Since graduating with degrees in English and Ministry, she has been a missionary, a campus minister, a storyteller, a student life director, a facilitator, a greeting card seller and an adjunct professor. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in education, focusing on the intersection between experiential learning and inclusive behaviors.