Makoto Fujimura, the world-renowned painter, has often referred to the "500-year question" when it comes to creating art. What he's asking is this: What would it mean if serious artists--painters, writers, sculptors, architects and the like--created stuff with the view in mind that their work could last 500 years? Would it change the way they paint, write, sculpt, and design? 

Before you answer that, think back 500 years from right now, to the year 1510. What kind of stuff was being created around that time (give or take a few years)? I did a brief search, and here's what I came up with:

• Michaelangelo finished his masterpiece, David (1504)
• DaVinci completed the Mona Lisa after working on it for four years (1503-1507)
• Construction of St. Peter's Basillica in Rome began (1506)
• Michaelangelo finished painting the Sistine Chapel after four years of work (1508-1512)
• Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany (1517)
• William Tyndale finished his English New Testament translation (1526)

Last night, before I went to sleep, I determined that today would be a productive one.

Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art and Culture is a new book by Makoto Fujimura (NavPress, 2009). It is being released next month, but you can win a copy here!

To enter, simply send an email to christy(at)internationalartsmovement.org with "CONVERSANT LIFE" in the email subject line.

In the body of the email, please include your full name, mailing address, and email address. You will be added to the International Arts Movement e-mail list, and automatically entered into the Conversant Life Refractions Giveaway!

If you are already on IAM's mailing list, no worries - you can still be part of the contest.