Becki Jayne visual art, queer theology, sacred feminine

BOOKS

Contemporary Christianity and LGBT Sexualities, a book edited by Dr. Stephen Hunt, Ashgate Publishing, 2009. Cover image: Madonna, Lover and Son, oil on canvas, supplied courtesy of the artist Becki Jayne Harrelson. © Becki Jayne Harrelson, 1996. AT GOOGLE BOOKS

Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ & More, a 2007 LAMBDA Literary-finalist from author and art historian Kittredge Cherry in which the writer acknowledges that "Harrelson helped give birth to a new genre of art." The book includes color plates of art and commentary about 11 artists. LINK

Treasures Of Gay Art, a book release from the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation's Permanent Collection, edited by Peter Weiermair with introduction by founders Charles Leslie and Fritz Lohman. Features LGBT artists and the art that the founders have collected over 50 years. Includes Harrelson's Judas Kiss drawing. LINK

PRESS

Introduction to the Queer Christ, a video by Sara Shisler Goff, The Slate Project. Read a summary of the video that includes "artwork by a variety of historical and contemporary artists, including Jesus in Love contributors Doug Blanchard, Becki Jayne Harrelson, Robert Lentz, Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin, Christine Bakke, Bill Burch, Carlos Latuff, and Dirk Vanden," by Kitt Cherry. READ MORE

ART: Gay Jesus and Woman Christ by Christopher Harrity, The Advocate. "Kittredge Cherry's eye-opening book, Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More can be breathtaking, depending on how attached you are to your Christian orthodoxy. But an important function of art in society is to open our minds and help us see how rigid we can be in our perceptions." Features the 11 artists in Cherry's book, including Becki Jayne's The Crucifixion of Christ, Madonna, Lover and Son, study for The Last Supper, and Judas Kiss. READ MORE AT THE ADVOCATE

Judas Kiss by Chris Glaser, Progressive Christian Reflections: "Then I remembered Becki Jayne Harrelson’s painting, Judas Kiss, and its discomfiting, tender, and sensuous depiction of Judas handing over a nearly naked and thus vulnerable Jesus to suffering with a kiss." READ MORE

Welcome Advent with a queer look at the virgin birth by Kittredge Cherry, Jesus In Love: "Two lesbian mothers cuddle the Christ child in “Madonna, Lover and Son” (pictured below) by Atlanta painter Becki Jayne Harrelson." LINK

Gay Jesus Art: Liberating Visions published at the prestigious Episcopal Divinity School's 99 Brattle: "Contemporary artists find many ways to interpret the gay Jesus. Most common of all is the crucifixion. Queer people can relate to the hurt and humiliation that Jesus experienced on the cross. The ultimate example is 'The Crucifixion of Christ' by by Atlanta artist Becki Jayne Harrelson." READ MORE

Day 3: Jesus shares a Last Supper. Part of a Holy Week series, images of Becki Jayne's Last Supper accompany excerpts from the book, Jesus In Love: At The Cross by Kittredge Cherry. READ MORE

The Crucifixion of Christ, Constructing Jesus: "The first reaction I had to this painting was initial shock that Becki would actually be attempting to say that Jesus was a homosexual. I questioned, 'is that really what this political debate is coming to now?' First of all they legalize gay-marriage and now people are going to try to prove that Jesus was a homosexual? Then as I started to read about why she painted this I realized a completely different view." MORE

Queer Christ Arises to Liberate and Heal by Kittredge Cherry, Huffington Post: "Perhaps the single most powerful queer Christian image is still "The Crucifixion of the Christ" (above), known informally as the "faggot crucifixion." Atlanta artist Becki Jayne Harrelson painted it 19 years ago in 1993. The sign on the cross usually reads "king of the Jews," a phrase used to mock Jesus in the Gospels. In Harrelson's crucifixion the sign screams 'faggot.' " READ MORE

Queer Christ Arises To Liberate And Heal, World News: "The Crucifixion of the Christ" by Becki Jayne Harrelson. Visions of a queer Christ are on the rise as Easter approaches this year -- because the conventional Jesus is no longer enough…." READ MORE

"Faggot" Jesus by Rev. Chris Glaser, Progressive Christian Reflections: "…the artist Becki Jayne Harrelson, has captured the concept of the crucifixion as a hate crime in an outstanding painting depicting Jesus on the cross with the epithet 'FAGGOT' above his head." LINK

Queer disciples in the Bible? Includes a detail from the artist's Last Supper painting about which Rev. Cherry described as a "multiracial version." MORE

Heaven Sent, by Daniel A. Kusner, Life+ Style Editor, The Dallas Voice: One of the more powerful works is The Crucifixion of Christ, by New York painter Becki Jayne Harrelson. With a perspective that resembles Salvador Dali's iconic Christ of St. John of the Cross, Harrelson emblazons the crucifix with the inscription 'Faggot.' In an artist's note, Harrelson explains that she's trying to draw the connection between Christ's persecution and hatred against gays - 'even though ... [Jesus'] words and position defied the religious establishment.' " LINK

Artemisia Gentileschi paints strong Biblical women by Kittredge Cherry. Includes Becki Jayne's oil, Tribute to Artemisia’s Judith, on the annual birthday celebration of the Baroque master painter, Artemisia Gentileschi. LINK

Art That Dares by Menachem Wecker, NY Arts Magazine: "Becki Jayne Harrelson’s The Crucifixion of Christ shows Jesus—à la Dalí’s God’s eye view—upon the cross with a marker declaring, “Faggot” in red capital letters. Harrelson’s Judas’ Kiss depicts Judas caressing a near-naked Jesus..." LINK

Spirit is Gentle like a Still, Small Voice that Whispers “Wake Up”, The New Testament in Art. About The Resurrection oil: "Becki Jayne is trying to throw the audience for a loop with this painting. She is a strong advocate for equality between the different races and takes two of the most important people in the story of Jesus and changes their race from what we are used to in mainstream Christianity." READ MORE

‘A time to love, and a time to hate,’ or, Does God’s ‘plan’ for Amendment One really involve so much pain and division? by Matt Comer, for InterstateQ. Comer addresses hate in the Christian community, and asks, "How can so many of God’s children use God’s name in promoting division, prejudice, mean-spiritedness and hatred when the gospel I know speaks only of unity, fellowship, kindness and love?" Quotes Becki Jayne and features her crucifixion painting as a visual narrative about of targets of hate speech, hate crimes. LINK

Lesbian Easter Surprise: Female Jesus on the Cross (3/28/06), Jesus In Love Media Room, Tuesday, March 11, 2008. "The crucified Christ is labeled 'faggot' in a painting by Becki Jayne Harrelson…. The dead Christ is revived by a female Holy Spirit in Harrelson’s 'Resurrection.' …The Easter story is important for lesbians. It tells us that God suffers with us, and it offers the promise of rebirth and redemption." LINK

Gay Jesus by Matt Comer, InterstateQ. Writing about Becki Jayne's crucifixion oil: "Whatever you do to 'the least,' you do also to Christ. This painting is such a perfect portrayal of this teaching…. Before now, I don’t think I could have ever really named a 'favorite' piece of art… at least not any that weren’t a part of everyone’s favorites (David, The Last Supper, The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, etc.). I can now say that The Crucifixion of Christ is my favorite piece of art… without a doubt." LINK

Take Back Jesus by Kittredge Cherry, Tikkun Magazine: "Another new woman-centered vision comes from Atlanta painter Becki Jayne Harrelson. She gives Mary a lesbian partner in her painting Madonna, Lover and Son. After all, the story of the virgin birth means that Jesus was conceived without the involvement of any man." Pgs. 48-50 via pdf. LINK

God: Why believing is not enough by Stan Wardsworth, Atlanta Biblical Examiner: "In her online autobiography Becki Jayne Harrelson says 'After all, we're talking about mythologies. It's not like we can tune into ABC's Nightline, get the definitive scoop on God or see an interview with Jesus.' " READ MORE

Gay Holy Week series runs online, My Out Spirit, an "online Holy Week series includes art by F. Douglas Blanchard, Becki Jayne Harrelson, William Hart McNichols, Corinne Quinones, Gary Speziale and Dirk Vanden." LINK

Searching For The Gay Jesus by Japhy Grant, Queerty, Apr. 10, 2009. Featured Harrelson's The Last Supper painting study. LINK

Website portrays gay 'faggot' Jesus, Pink News in the UK, Apr. 4, 2006.

Integrity Recommends: Gay Jesus in Love. THE FINAL BLASPHEMY? from David Virtue, VirtueOnline Digest, Jun. 1, 2006. "JesusInLove.org features a variety of books and images about Jesus and the man he loved, including a new painting by gay artist Becki Jayne Harrelson...." READ TEXT

Integrity Recommends: Gay Jesus In Love, New Republic, May 24, 2006. "New Website Decodes Da Vinci the Gay Way... 'including a new painting by gay artist Becki Jayne Harrelson. Her "Last Supper" decodes Da Vinci by showing a full embrace between Jesus and an explicitly male partner.' " LINK

Gay Jesus Website Sparks Easter Controversy (4/14/06), Mar. 13, 2006, via Jesus In Love Media Room.

Artistic Outlaws, The New York Blade, Mar. 20, 1998. Critics review of artists represented by Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation, featured photo of Harrelson's Madonna, Lover & Son oil painting. Print edition.

Canvas Kisses by Mark J. Huisman, LGNY (Lesbian Gay New York): critic's review and photo of Judas Kiss oil painting during October 1995 Soho art exhibitions: "Arguably the most provocative work in all three shows, though, is a darkly swirling oil canvas by Becki Jayne Harrelson, Judas Kiss. Christ and the guy who gave him up are caught in a caressing embrace, oblivious to two entwined, naked men on the grass behind them and an approaching stream of townspeople in the distance. It might be Gethsemane, but this doesn't look like betrayal to me." Print edition.

Winged Victory by artist Becki Jayne

Decatur Focus: Local Artist Participates In Art In Motion Exhibition, features article and photo of Winged Victory oil painting (above) by Becki Jayne, August 1994. Print edition.

Triumph of the Light by artist Becki Jayne

Decatur-DeKalb News Era: Decatur Artist Reconsiders Traditional Religious Themes by Dolly Purvis, Lifestyle Editor. Feature article and photo of Triumph of the Light oil painting (above) by artist Becki Jayne. Print edition, August 1994: "Making sense of her concept of religion is central to Becki Jayne Harrelson painting. There's no denying the influence of Christianity on the images she leaves on canvas. In fact, the artist openly admits to copying from the Old Masters and their depictions of religious material."

"But Harrelson said her work expresses a much more universal concept of the struggles, including social and political conflicts, that face everyone as they make their way through life. Harrelson's Triumph of the Light, currently on display as part of the Spruill Center for the Arts' "Art in Motion '94," is an example of Harrelson's concept of human's striving for equality. The piece was inspired by the vote recently cast in South Africa."

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Dreamer Series, announcement of Harrelson's exhibition at Eddie's Attic with photo of Winged Victory oil painting, August 1994.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Best Bet, photo of Triumph of the Light oil painting announcing the "Art In Motion" exhibition, August 1994.


	BOOKS Contemporary Christianity and LGBT Sexualities, a book edited by Dr. Stephen Hunt, Ashgate Publishing, 2009. Cover image: Madonna, Lover and Son, oil on canvas, supplied courtesy of the artist Becki Jayne Harrelson. © Becki Jayne Harrelson, 1996. AT GOOGLE BOOKS Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ & More, a 2007 LAMBDA Literary-finalist from author and art historian Kittredge Cherry in which the writer acknowledges that "Harrelson helped give birth to a new genre of art." The book includes color plates of art and commentary about 11 artists. LINK Treasures Of Gay Art, a book release from the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation's Permanent Collection, edited by Peter Weiermair with introduction by founders Charles Leslie and Fritz Lohman. Features LGBT artists and the art that the founders have collected over 50 years. Includes Harrelson's Judas Kiss drawing. LINK PRESS Introduction to the Queer Christ, a video by Sara Shisler Goff, The Slate Project. Read a summary of the video that includes "artwork by a variety of historical and contemporary artists, including Jesus in Love contributors Doug Blanchard, Becki Jayne Harrelson, Robert Lentz, Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin, Christine Bakke, Bill Burch, Carlos Latuff, and Dirk Vanden," by Kitt Cherry. READ MORE ART: Gay Jesus and Woman Christ by Christopher Harrity, The Advocate. "Kittredge Cherry's eye-opening book, Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More can be breathtaking, depending on how attached you are to your Christian orthodoxy. But an important function of art in society is to open our minds and help us see how rigid we can be in our perceptions." Features the 11 artists in Cherry's book, including Becki Jayne's The Crucifixion of Christ, Madonna, Lover and Son, study for The Last Supper, and Judas Kiss. READ MORE AT THE ADVOCATE Judas Kiss by Chris Glaser, Progressive Christian Reflections: "Then I remembered Becki Jayne Harrelson’s painting, Judas Kiss, and its discomfiting, tender, and sensuous depiction of Judas handing over a nearly naked and thus vulnerable Jesus to suffering with a kiss." READ MORE Welcome Advent with a queer look at the virgin birth by Kittredge Cherry, Jesus In Love: "Two lesbian mothers cuddle the Christ child in “Madonna, Lover and Son” (pictured below) by Atlanta painter Becki Jayne Harrelson." LINK Gay Jesus Art: Liberating Visions published at the prestigious Episcopal Divinity School's 99 Brattle: "Contemporary artists find many ways to interpret the gay Jesus. Most common of all is the crucifixion. Queer people can relate to the hurt and humiliation that Jesus experienced on the cross. The ultimate example is 'The Crucifixion of Christ' by by Atlanta artist Becki Jayne Harrelson." READ MORE Day 3: Jesus shares a Last Supper. Part of a Holy Week series, images of Becki Jayne's Last Supper accompany excerpts from the book, Jesus In Love: At The Cross by Kittredge Cherry. READ MORE The Crucifixion of Christ, Constructing Jesus: "The first reaction I had to this painting was initial shock that Becki would actually be attempting to say that Jesus was a homosexual. I questioned, 'is that really what this political debate is coming to now?' First of all they legalize gay-marriage and now people are going to try to prove that Jesus was a homosexual? Then as I started to read about why she painted this I realized a completely different view." MORE Queer Christ Arises to Liberate and Heal by Kittredge Cherry, Huffington Post: "Perhaps the single most powerful queer Christian image is still "The Crucifixion of the Christ" (above), known informally as the "faggot crucifixion." Atlanta artist Becki Jayne Harrelson painted it 19 years ago in 1993. The sign on the cross usually reads "king of the Jews," a phrase used to mock Jesus in the Gospels. In Harrelson's crucifixion the sign screams 'faggot.' " READ MORE Queer Christ Arises To Liberate And Heal, World News: "The Crucifixion of the Christ" by Becki Jayne Harrelson. Visions of a queer Christ are on the rise as Easter approaches this year -- because the conventional Jesus is no longer enough…." READ MORE "Faggot" Jesus by Rev. Chris Glaser, Progressive Christian Reflections: "…the artist Becki Jayne Harrelson, has captured the concept of the crucifixion as a hate crime in an outstanding painting depicting Jesus on the cross with the epithet 'FAGGOT' above his head." LINK Queer disciples in the Bible? Includes a detail from the artist's Last Supper painting about which Rev. Cherry described as a "multiracial version." MORE Heaven Sent, by Daniel A. Kusner, Life+ Style Editor, The Dallas Voice: One of the more powerful works is The Crucifixion of Christ, by New York painter Becki Jayne Harrelson. With a perspective that resembles Salvador Dali's iconic Christ of St. John of the Cross, Harrelson emblazons the crucifix with the inscription 'Faggot.' In an artist's note, Harrelson explains that she's trying to draw the connection between Christ's persecution and hatred against gays - 'even though ... [Jesus'] words and position defied the religious establishment.' " LINK Artemisia Gentileschi paints strong Biblical women by Kittredge Cherry. Includes Becki Jayne's oil, Tribute to Artemisia’s Judith, on the annual birthday celebration of the Baroque master painter, Artemisia Gentileschi. LINK Art That Dares by Menachem Wecker, NY Arts Magazine: "Becki Jayne Harrelson’s The Crucifixion of Christ shows Jesus—à la Dalí’s God’s eye view—upon the cross with a marker declaring, “Faggot” in red capital letters. Harrelson’s Judas’ Kiss depicts Judas caressing a near-naked Jesus..." LINK Spirit is Gentle like a Still, Small Voice that Whispers “Wake Up”, The New Testament in Art. About The Resurrection oil: "Becki Jayne is trying to throw the audience for a loop with this painting. She is a strong advocate for equality between the different races and takes two of the most important people in the story of Jesus and changes their race from what we are used to in mainstream Christianity." READ MORE ‘A time to love, and a time to hate,’ or, Does God’s ‘plan’ for Amendment One really involve so much pain and division? by Matt Comer, for InterstateQ. Comer addresses hate in the Christian community, and asks, "How can so many of God’s children use God’s name in promoting division, prejudice, mean-spiritedness and hatred when the gospel I know speaks only of unity, fellowship, kindness and love?" Quotes Becki Jayne and features her crucifixion painting as a visual narrative about of targets of hate speech, hate crimes. LINK Lesbian Easter Surprise: Female Jesus on the Cross (3/28/06), Jesus In Love Media Room, Tuesday, March 11, 2008. "The crucified Christ is labeled 'faggot' in a painting by Becki Jayne Harrelson…. The dead Christ is revived by a female Holy Spirit in Harrelson’s 'Resurrection.' …The Easter story is important for lesbians. It tells us that God suffers with us, and it offers the promise of rebirth and redemption." LINK Gay Jesus by Matt Comer, InterstateQ. Writing about Becki Jayne's crucifixion oil: "Whatever you do to 'the least,' you do also to Christ. This painting is such a perfect portrayal of this teaching…. Before now, I don’t think I could have ever really named a 'favorite' piece of art… at least not any that weren’t a part of everyone’s favorites (David, The Last Supper, The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, etc.). I can now say that The Crucifixion of Christ is my favorite piece of art… without a doubt." LINK Take Back Jesus by Kittredge Cherry, Tikkun Magazine: "Another new woman-centered vision comes from Atlanta painter Becki Jayne Harrelson. She gives Mary a lesbian partner in her painting Madonna, Lover and Son. After all, the story of the virgin birth means that Jesus was conceived without the involvement of any man." Pgs. 48-50 via pdf. LINK God: Why believing is not enough by Stan Wardsworth, Atlanta Biblical Examiner: "In her online autobiography Becki Jayne Harrelson says 'After all, we're talking about mythologies. It's not like we can tune into ABC's Nightline, get the definitive scoop on God or see an interview with Jesus.' " READ MORE Gay Holy Week series runs online, My Out Spirit, an "online Holy Week series includes art by F. Douglas Blanchard, Becki Jayne Harrelson, William Hart McNichols, Corinne Quinones, Gary Speziale and Dirk Vanden." LINK Searching For The Gay Jesus by Japhy Grant, Queerty, Apr. 10, 2009. Featured Harrelson's The Last Supper painting study. LINK Website portrays gay 'faggot' Jesus, Pink News in the UK, Apr. 4, 2006. Integrity Recommends: Gay Jesus in Love. THE FINAL BLASPHEMY? from David Virtue, VirtueOnline Digest, Jun. 1, 2006. "JesusInLove.org features a variety of books and images about Jesus and the man he loved, including a new painting by gay artist Becki Jayne Harrelson...." READ TEXT Integrity Recommends: Gay Jesus In Love, New Republic, May 24, 2006. "New Website Decodes Da Vinci the Gay Way... 'including a new painting by gay artist Becki Jayne Harrelson. Her "Last Supper" decodes Da Vinci by showing a full embrace between Jesus and an explicitly male partner.' " LINK Gay Jesus Website Sparks Easter Controversy (4/14/06), Mar. 13, 2006, via Jesus In Love Media Room. Artistic Outlaws, The New York Blade, Mar. 20, 1998. Critics review of artists represented by Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation, featured photo of Harrelson's Madonna, Lover & Son oil painting. Print edition. Canvas Kisses by Mark J. Huisman, LGNY (Lesbian Gay New York): critic's review and photo of Judas Kiss oil painting during October 1995 Soho art exhibitions: "Arguably the most provocative work in all three shows, though, is a darkly swirling oil canvas by Becki Jayne Harrelson, Judas Kiss. Christ and the guy who gave him up are caught in a caressing embrace, oblivious to two entwined, naked men on the grass behind them and an approaching stream of townspeople in the distance. It might be Gethsemane, but this doesn't look like betrayal to me." Print edition. Decatur Focus: Local Artist Participates In Art In Motion Exhibition, features article and photo of Winged Victory oil painting (above) by Becki Jayne, August 1994. Print edition. Decatur-DeKalb News Era: Decatur Artist Reconsiders Traditional Religious Themes by Dolly Purvis, Lifestyle Editor. Feature article and photo of Triumph of the Light oil painting (above) by artist Becki Jayne. Print edition, August 1994: "Making sense of her concept of religion is central to Becki Jayne Harrelson painting. There's no denying the influence of Christianity on the images she leaves on canvas. In fact, the artist openly admits to copying from the Old Masters and their depictions of religious material." "But Harrelson said her work expresses a much more universal concept of the struggles, including social and political conflicts, that face everyone as they make their way through life. Harrelson's Triumph of the Light, currently on display as part of the Spruill Center for the Arts' "Art in Motion '94," is an example of Harrelson's concept of human's striving for equality. The piece was inspired by the vote recently cast in South Africa." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Dreamer Series, announcement of Harrelson's exhibition at Eddie's Attic with photo of Winged Victory oil painting, August 1994. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Best Bet, photo of Triumph of the Light oil painting announcing the "Art In Motion" exhibition, August 1994.