My Christmas card for 2012 features words from a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke and some details of Fra Angelico’s famous fresco – a confluence of ideas from the same titles, but disparate elements coming to the fore. Rilke’s poem, Annunciation, of 1899, is a beautiful, bewitching expression of the angel’s point of view. It […]
The Annunciation’s inspiration Read More »
The Virgin Mary is a compelling and complex character for any believer, particularly a woman of the mid-nineteenth century. On the one hand, she was the ideal of femininity – gentle, nurturing, compassionate. If ever there was a woman who was great through love, it is the Madonna. On the other hand, as both mother
Julia Margaret Cameron and her Marys Read More »
In The Modern Public and Photography, part of a review of the Paris Salon’s 1859 exhibition, Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) wrote his famous diatribe against photography’s growing presence in the art world. Having first published on the occasion of the 1845 Salon, Baudelaire was now, as he wrote his last review, witnessing the first time that
On Baudelaire Bible-bashing photography Read More »
An early birthday treat last week, went to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar in Cardiff. Preparatory work involved watching the original 1973 film, and listening to the album from the film (not the original 1970 release). Loudly. Fantastic music writing, odd time signatures, full rock soundscape, and emotive story-telling.
Jesus Christ Superstar on stage and in film Read More »
Storm, above, was a commission produced in 2008 for friends of mine. I produced a little text to go with it, which included the prayer from Jonah 2:1-7, and the following paragraph: This prayer illuminates the moment Jonah decided to stop running away from God, to turn and surrender to Him. This is also the
Questioning Jonah again Read More »
At the UWE Art-Design-Media degree and postgrad show, a mix of artistic practices on display makes for an inspiring trip out. There’s an abundance to see, too much if you want to watch all the films which pop up across all disciplines. However, I did sit down to 24 minutes of Jane Lee’s xxiv film.
Jane Lee at UWE MA show Read More »
For more images and information about the work, click here. This series of 14 artworks was shown at the Bible and Spirituality Symposium, held at Glenfall House, Cheltenham (29th – 31st May, organised by University of Gloucestershire and Bible Society). Part of my PhD in visual theology, these photographic prints and photo-based installations explore the
Elemental exhibition report Read More »
Today, Maundy Thursday, is the day in the Christian calendar which prepares for its biggest celebration at Easter. The story of the passion, Jesus’ final hours culminating in his death and resurrection, is one that I re-told in my series The Passion – 12 stations originally produced for exhibition in Bristol Cathedral in 2006. This
Success in Church Times competition Read More »
Work can be so confusing. I can spend hours trying to pin down, pull out, work through, and emerge frustrated from one particular focus, only to find that another piece resolves itself in the space of a couple of minutes when I wasn’t even looking. This piece was originally a greyed-out dud of a firework
Sneak preview of new work ‘Cloud’ Read More »
My summary points from a talk given to the spouses of vicars-in-training earlier this week: Art is not just decoration for the more serious business of the Word – background visual element to church life. Art is part of the Word. Incarnational, material. Christ is the image of God, holding everything that is created together.
Manifesto for the arts Read More »
