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Viola Changes His Mind, Accepts Pope’s Invite

Published: September 18, 2009
ROME—Video artist Bill Viola has changed his mind and will be accepting the pope’s invitation to the Sistine Chapel in November.

The pontiff has asked hundreds of artists, writers, and musicians to meet with him in an initiative to rekindle “the special historical relationship between faith and art,” but Viola originally said he wouldn’t be coming because of his disagreement with Vatican and Catholic Church policies. Now he says he has rearranged his schedule so he can make it, noting in a statement the importance of “the connection between contemporary art and contemporary spirituality.” The event is intended to bridge the gap between spirituality and artistic expression, and some of the other guests expected are U2 front man Bono, Freedom Tower architect Daniel Libeskind, and theater director Robert Wilson.

Read more at Artnet.

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