LECTURES

Richmond is home to an abundance of art, much of it in the form of building murals which are freely accessible to the general public going about their daily business. While often undervalued, the concept of common grace can provide a rich foundation both for viewing public art in a new way as well as guiding the practice of patronage. This talk will mine the theology of common grace, but also suggest practical ways for individuals and communities to act as patrons of art here in Richmond. 

 Erik Bonkovsky, D. Min., is the founding pastor of City Church of Richmond located in the city center, where he has served since 2008. He and his wife Sarah, a literacy specialist at Riverside School, live in the Fan and have three children. Erik is a native New Englander who completed his academic work at Princeton University (BA in history, 1998), Westminster Seminary (M.Div in pastoral studies, 2001), and Covenant Seminary (D.Min in Faith, Vocation, and Culture, 2017).

Musicians know, and the rest of us suspect, that music is its own language. Music is able to convey powerful emotion and meaning in a way that mere words fall short. In this talk and concert, Composer David Jonghak Kim will share the journey of composing his original work for the keyboard called, “And I Sing.”  

In a very difficult season of life, Kim saw a beloved family member decline and ultimately die, struggled with his own health and dealt with his own inner battles of light and darkness. In this presentation, Kim will dissect the journey of “hope, sorrow and desperation” in this musical work of prayer, struggle and confession. 

David Jonghak Kim, VCUarts.  Kim is the 2025 Commissioned Composer for the Virginia Music Teachers Association (VMTA).  He has studied with, performed with, and taught master classes with members and professors from McDaniel College, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Kansas U, Juilliard and the New York Philharmonic.

Other lectures coming: 

Stephen Day, VCU Economics Education
Can We Solve Scarcity?

Angel Parham Adams, UVA Sociology
Why Study in Times of Turmoil?