NOTEBOOK SPOTLIGHT: Canopy Compass Rose A church or chapel speaks of orientation. Through the language of architecture, aspect, and direction, you are invited to reorient yourself with the divine. Here in Trinity College’s Chapel, the late 18th century Grade II listed building only became a space for collective worship in the 1960s, and prior to this it was […]
A sacred canopy in college Read More »
Back in February, I found myself applying for the gift of a Methodist pulpit, which was being offered to an artist(s) by The Fishermen’s Chapel in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. My proposal met was met with enthusiasm, and follows below. Since then, with thanks to Trinity College, I have also been given two Methodist pews from the
Let the pulpit meet the pews Read More »
I’ve spent a lot of time over the last month analysing the iconographic language of photographs by Julia Margaret Cameron. Her photographs of Mary are undoubtedly tied to the realism of a posed, dressed up model who is trying to look like a biblical Mary. But the question I keep coming back to is how
Saying Christmas louder than words Read More »
NOTEBOOK SPOTLIGHT: Finding Freedom Originally produced for the Corner Art Prize 2001, where this piece won First Prize. Held at Church on the Corner in Islington, London, the competition asked for visual or sculptural responses to the following Bible passage, Matthew 6: 19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
Finding Freedom in Bristol Read More »
I like the moment when Jonah goes ‘off-grid’ in the belly of the whale – a sort of drowning that actually ends up being a complete transformation, because, of all places, God shows up. It’s a vivid story, which I’ve always loved because Jonah decided to go off-grid on his own terms in the first
In the belly of the whale Read More »
A beckoning space just outside Trinity College’s library prompted an invitation from librarian Su to bring something to the walls. Since I’m a library fan, having worked in my share of Bristol libraries and been a student in most of them too, it had to be book related. But there are books, and then there
Is there an eagle in this class? Read More »
For the forthcoming Images, Icons and Idols conference at the University of Manchester, I hope to present a paper with the title and abstract below. Forming part of my doctoral research, this paper will contribute to a chapter on the iconic characteristics of the photograph, particularly as they relate to the interpretation of biblical texts:
Photographing Jesus Read More »
Dear Bible Society I’m writing this open letter to ask you to reconsider your approach to photography and the Bible, as suggested by the above poster. You ask for the public to send in photographs to enable you to produce a 2014 Scripture Calendar, with the aim of matching inspirational Bible verse to image. You
Open letter to Bible Society Read More »
The word of the Lord came to me: “Daughter of man, take up a lament concerning England. Say to England, situated on an island in the sea, home of a glorious football team known to all peoples, ‘This is what FIFA says: You say, O England,“I am undefeated in victory.”Your domain was on the emerald
Lament for England (in the style of Ezekiel 27) Read More »
Commissioned for Trinity College Chapel, Bristol, in 2010, this 2.5m-wide print hung for a term in the apse of the chapel, at a time when students were studying aspects of eco-theology. Below is the transcript of my presentation of the piece at the time: The title of this piece is a quote from the NRSV
‘See, I am making all things new’ Read More »
