Inspiration Outside the Gates: A Day at the Morgan Library
I teach evening classes on Mondays, so I usually reserve Tuesdays for research and writing to give my schedule some much-needed breathing room. Today was an exception—a surprisingly warm early autumn day—and with my sister visiting from Portland, Oregon, we seized the opportunity to explore.
We hopped on CitiBikes and pedaled our way to the Morgan Library and Museum for a brief tour and a light lunch. The Morgan Library and Museum is a sanctuary for bibliophiles. I insist that every student enrolled in our Hybrid M.Div. intensive courses must visit this extraordinary collection. Today, however, what captivated me was a limited-time exhibit on the drawings of Bridget Riley, which is set to close this weekend.
Bridget Riley is a British artist, celebrated for her groundbreaking contributions to the Op Art movement. Born in 1931, she rose to prominence in the 1960s with works that often produce optical illusions through precise, abstract geometric patterns. Her compositions generally feature simple forms like lines, circles, and squares, yet these elements are arranged in ways that evoke movement, depth, or even shifts in color.
The exhibit highlights Riley's shift from representational to abstract art. The commentary notes her ambition to capture nature's vitality, something she achieved through abstract and Op Art forms that uniquely convey a sense of movement and vividness. Her works are playful, mesmerizing, and incredibly engaging.
What struck me was how powerfully her art evoked strong emotions in me, even without the scaffolding of narrative or overt symbolism. The experience felt almost spiritual, akin to how an organ voluntary at the end of a church service can elevate the spirit into a state of prayer, or how sunlight streaming through a stained-glass window, illuminating wafts of incense, might inspire a moment of deep contemplation. I hadn't planned to learn about Riley's work when I set off today, but such serendipitous encounters happen frequently in New York City, where you often find yourself face-to-face with something or someone that shifts your perspective.
General Seminary has called New York City home for over 200 years. During that time, the urban landscape has evolved around us on Chelsea Square. Although the pedagogical methods at General have changed to meet the needs of a changing church and a changing world, our urban setting remains a vital context for our educational and formational mission.
Through our week-long residential intensives on the Close, students in General’s Hybrid M.Div program have unparalleled access to the world's most vibrant arts, music, and cultural scenes. Just a few minutes' walk from our gates, you can encounter art that inspires, challenges, and engages. Experiences like these make the Hybrid M.Div at General more than just a degree; they offer an invitation to a new way of experiencing God’s beloved world.
Dean Michael
