Association of Masonic Arts

Association of Masonic Arts

Founded in 2013, the Association of Masonic Arts is actively involved in laying the groundwork for a far greater appreciation of the significance of the Masonic Arts, and its recognizable material culture in Western history and beyond. Though the beautiful objects of the Craft have long been a focus of great fondness for Masons, the serious potential in using the wider appreciation of its themes and symbolic meanings has been under-appreciated as a simple way of bringing all those connected with Masonic traditions together. The AMA will strongly pursue the goal of fostering greater research, dialogue, courteous debate and vigorous application of basic artistic enthusiasm towards a higher purpose. History is clear from all periods of world history, and particularly in the West,  that the Fine Arts can be a very pragmatic and virtuous means of mending differences, while at the same time increasing appraisal of the best of human nature, or at the very least ameliorating the worst. This potential in the Masonic Fine Arts has seriously been under-used in the Masonic community considered in its broadest sense, as all those connected to Masonic traditions by diverse initiative vow.

In pursuing this high purpose, the Association of Masonic Arts in no way seeks to challenge received acknowledgments and distinctions in regard to recognition. Rather, it seeks to use the simple and virtuous enthusiasm that so many feel toward the beautiful objects and arts of Freemasonry as a useful and clearly harmless way of providing a space for dialogue in a forum of artistic appreciation. Therefore, the purpose and intent of the AMA have a deeply unified viewpoint of diverse possibilities that are always present when human beings engage in any appreciation of the Fine Arts.  This is its only purpose, and will ever remain so. The arts traditionally speak to higher ideals, and appreciation of those ideas can be employed for virtuous purposes. The ideals embraced by the Directors and Members of the AMA are simply those of Freemasonry more generally considered—fraternity, human respect for liberty, equality, and fellowship.

To this purpose, it must be made clear that the Association of Masonic Arts is not and never will seek to be or become a Masonic Lodge, Conclave, Encampment or Rite. Its goal is to be a forum and potential source of information and research for any serious person who appreciates and holds generally to the ideals of Freemasonry. The AMA will also seriously undertake to correct distortions in society about the nature of Masonic ideals, as expressed in its arts and material culture. It will do this by interacting with the media in a lively way to make sure that casualness, sloppiness or malice are not allowed to sully the beautiful meanings of the Craft’s symbols. While ever-mindful of important traditions of ritual secrecy in the Craft, the Association will pursue research and dialogue which can make clear basic Masonic intents in a way that can use the Masonic Arts for a greater force for good in society.

Since so many recent and very popular works  of different media, both of fiction, as well as popular movies have used Masonic symbols in varying ways, from good, to perhaps harmless, to the truly unfortunate, the AMA will seeks to use the unity of its forum amongst diversely initiated members to find some common-ground to provide needed critical response. Thus the AMA will seek through dialogue between its members, to identify the proper road for response to any distortions of Masonic meanings and symbols in popular culture. So the AMA seeks simply to develop the potential of a common spirit of appreciation among its members which can provide a potential protection for Masonic meanings in the hurly-burly of society and media. Its unique position as a venue for Masonic arts appreciation and research will always have a wider purpose while being respectful of the Landmarks of the Craft and Masonic decorum. In the ultimate sense, the AMA aims to be helpful parts of the Craft’s goal of increasing fellowship between people, and effectively using unified organizational means for this purpose.