Christ Among Us

29 December 2007

As we look back at 2007, one of the stand-out events locally was the art exhibition ‘Christ Among Us’.  It took place in Bristol at The Grant Bradley Gallery in Bedminster.  Bristol-based Catholic artist, Geraldine Farrell curated the exhibition.  She tells us more.  

At a time when Christian art is invariably excluded from the mainstream establishment, the Christian artist faces many difficulties including lack of patronage and suitable places to exhibit and to invite others to share in their vision of faith. However, for six weeks from April to June 2007 I was grateful for the opportunity to curate an exhibition in Bristol, which was inspired by the original ‘Christ Among Us’ exhibition held at Westminster Cathedral in 2006.

The title was the original idea of Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, and in his words, “It is a privilege and vocation to show the face of God to people with whom we live”.  Artists from various disciplines including abstract and figurative painting, textiles, stained glass, photography, poetry as well as traditional and contemporary icon painting, brought their own interpretation of the ‘sacred’ to the exhibition. All artworks looked resplendent on the walls of the spaciously airy and characterful Grant Bradley Gallery. It was such a blessed occasion that was supported by many good wishes.

Artists from Christian Arts, and The Society of Catholic Artists mingled with the many invited guests who made their way along the main galleries, through the Dark Gallery where beautiful stained glass creations by June Standing and her students Julia Jamieson and Maria Beddoes, were to be seen illuminated in the darkness, giving the impression of something mystical and magical happening, like unexpectedly finding jewels in a cave. June has taught stained glass for many years and through her artistic interpretation and absorption of spiritual themes she has encouraged several of her students to take up stained glass professionally. Junes piece ‘DNA’ shows amazement for God’s creation that holds the information and beauty in the double helix. Maria Beddoes work entitled ‘Icon’ allows the viewer to respond personally rather than prescriptively to the image. Julia Jamieson textural glass entitled ‘Meditation’ used as an aid to meditate focuses the mind of prayer to our connectedness in the Holy Spirit.

Positioned on the ascending wall of the staircase was Paula Widdicombe’s large quartet of silk textile panels entitled ‘Creation’ that hovered gloriously over the exhibition giving impact and gravitas to the show. Paula uses various techniques in her colourful wall hangings, which incorporate hand made felt and silk paper that she dyes herself. A richness of surface is achieved through maximising the impact of her abstract and stylised works of art by layers of appliqué. Paula states that her underlying interest through all her recent work is in primal creation and evolution, the interaction of the spirit and the materially created universe. Two more felt hangings were situated on the mezzanine entitled ‘The Way To The Centre’ and ‘Incarnation’ and incorporated sumptuous gold stitching.

On to the mezzanine, where large cosy leather settees were conveniently positioned as resting places to sip good wines whilst perusing the whole scene from (the God’s) on high.   Here, displayed so the viewer could also see them from the foot of the stairs, were Helen Armstrong’s framed digital prints which drew much curiosity to her cleverly contemporised presentations of Bethlehem in the title ‘Back Street Nativity’ and ‘Roadside Calvary’ depicting the magnitude of the Crucifixion by way of a local motorway sign.  Helen sees like a true artist, and as an artist Helen finds the ‘Other’ in every day life, such as jet vapour trails, sunlight falling on net curtains, reflection in a train window, all of which evoke an awareness of what lies beneath the surface. Although as an artist she deals with the surface, as a trained counsellor she looks beneath the surface to see what is happening.

James Lynch presented a preliminary study for a much larger work, in acrylic and mounted behind glass entitled ‘Christ in Majesty’, a very bold and colourful head of Christ that appealed so much to the Parish Priest from Wells that James gave permission for it to be copied and used as an aid for teaching the children who were taking their first Holy Communion at SS Joseph and Teresa’s Church. James says his religious paintings are strongly influenced in their imagery with the visual experience of Morocco where he spends long periods of time.

Descending the stairs to the main galleries was John Armstrong’s painting entitled ‘Sanguis Christi Inebria Est’ which was admired by many for both it’s excellence of painterly application and for the manner of its abstract interpretation and execution of its title’s theme. Using tonal ranges of hot pink and slithers of green and text, John painted a cruciform composition that draws the viewer to ask questions? John’s other painting ‘Christ Healing the Blind Man’ was much cooler in tones of blues and violets interprets by an ethereal impression of the healing we can all receive from the Crucified Christ with whom nothing is impossible. John also conveys a oneness with the creator through his art, which seeks to open people’s eyes to an understanding of the joy and love of God.

John Thompson exhibited his paintings ‘The Paralytic’ and ‘Christ in Oxford Street’ seeks to convey the similarity between Christ among the pressing crowds of the first century and his hidden presence among the bewildered crowds of today. John was raised in 1930’s Palestine, where there was a colourful bustling seaport and a multitude of traditions that co-existed in a harmonious manner, notably Arab and Jewish. Vivid memories remain as he shares them with the world through his art.

We were all very privileged to have Lucy Calcott exhibiting with us, her three framed poems entitled ‘Holy Mountain’, ‘Mary’ and ‘When He Died’, all of which will be included in her book of poems when it is published.  As Lucy says she is searching for a spiritual truth in her poems, which will find resonance with others. What can I say about Lucy’s work, it’s beautifully poignancy, touched me deeply, meeting me at places that I’ve been to before but was not able to express in words. Lucy’s words engaged so many people’s imagination throughout the exhibition; touching their hearts like close friends do.

Silvia Dimitrova was born in Pleven, Bulgaria where she won a place at the prestigious School of Applied Arts at Troyan, aged thirteen. Following on to study icon painting in Sofia, she says she learnt that icon painters are messengers; windows to another world. Silvia’s work expresses a continuing vitality of an ancient tradition of religious art, as seen in her Icon ‘The Face of Christ’ which was exhibited beautifully along with two of her other icons in a large glass case that focused the viewer’s eye on the sacred and preciousness of the Icon.
 
Michael Felix Gilfedder’s work is provided by the stone which abounds on the Outer Hebrides islands of Eriskay, South Uist and Benbecula, where he lives and works as a teacher of sacred art. Michael says the stone, which abounds on the islands in both natural and man-made formations, provides the background inspiration for his work. The subject for his work has its roots in sacred poetry, passed down through an oral tradition and collected under the title ‘Carmina Gadelicia’.  Gilfedder’s contemporary icon paintings are a breath of fresh air, following the long tradition of Christian art.  They seem to touch the past and ignite the present with a real sense of mission, connecting our very being again with the mystery of God Almighty, as seen in the paintings ‘Guardian Angel’ and ‘The Blessing of the Boat’. Currently, prints of Michael’s paintings are on sale at the Grant Bradley Gallery.

Finally, two of my own paintings entitled, ‘The Annunciation…. and the angel left her’ an interpretation of Luke’s gospel. The painting depicts Mary in deep wonderment at the angel’s message to her as she cradles so tenderly the little white feather in her hand symbolising the presence of the Holy Spirit. Several people who attended the private view commented that the painting spoke to them of their own ‘White Feather’ encounters. The other painting entitled ‘Awake O Sleeper’ was painted directly as an emotional response to hearing the powerful ancient homily of Holy Saturday, when God commands, “Awake O sleeper, I did not create you to be held prisoner in hell”. “Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead”. “Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image.”

I was delighted that the preview night of the exhibition was so well supported and attended by the priests and religious and parishioners of the Clifton Diocese as well as nuns from Somerset and two Benedictine monks, one from Oxford, the other, an icon painter from Slovakia who expressed that they found the show both beautiful and thought provoking. Father Gregory Grant gave a strong and supportive address of encouragement to the artists, which was received with much appreciation.  

Visitors who came from far and near were eager for the artists to share with them the secrets of their techniques and the inspiration that motivated them to translate the Christian story into visual imagery.  It was a sparkling night where Christian artists gathered together with the united aim of bringing the ‘Word’ in the form of the Sacred Image to the World. Amen.                                                                          

For the next six weeks the exhibition was visited by hundreds of people, mums and their babies, school children, business people, shoppers and local artists, all of whom expressed interest and delight that this very special exhibition was hosted by the Grant Bradley Gallery, which has become a place of culture, and a favourite meeting place for the people of Bristol. The good news is that several pieces of work were sold, (artists have to make a living!). If any one is interested in purchasing a work of Christian art for themselves, to donate to a church, a place of worship, or  retreat and study centre, all the artists who took part in the exhibition take commissions or have work immediately available for sale. If any one is interested in becoming members of The Society of Catholic Artists or Christian Arts, please contact me for further details.  

Geraldine Farrell

To see some of the exhibition images click in the images panel on the right.  

As we cannot see her work - here is Lucy Calcott’s poem ‘Holy Mountain’.

I pause at the holy mountain
watching the crest
 
of the white moon
splinter dust
 
I light a cndle
in the cave of myself,
 
watching the angled
twists of the day
 
weave an umbilical
into history
 
I scoop the earth
into my hands
 
sift it
through my fingers,
 
sense the carbon
on the curl
 
of my tongue
I taste ancestry
 
The giant wings
of God
 
swerve close.