tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529016898634168069.post6743391567575229826..comments2024-01-09T18:12:48.883+00:00Comments on Phil's Treehouse: commission4mission exhibitionPhilip Ritchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05912352719196616923noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529016898634168069.post-33863244121280887952009-11-07T20:03:46.338+00:002009-11-07T20:03:46.338+00:00I agree that most of what has been included in the...I agree that most of what has been included in the exhibition is fairly mainstream Christian imagery. Our exhibitions, and this one in particular, are aiming to showcase work which our artists think could be commissioned by churches and that tends to lead them towards traditional icongraphy. As a result, at least one artist who has tended to produce more rigorously abstract work in the past produced figurative work for this exhibition, which I thought was a shame. We were also unable to incorporate, because of their size, two mosaics of graffiti-style words which were less traditional. We had asked for mainly small works for this show because of the numbers exhibiting and the space restrictions but still ended up trying to fit in alot of larger pieces, which probably didn't help the overall look and feel of the show. <br /> <br />However, I think that the show does include some very original pieces and surprising pieces. Peter Webb's 'Architect's arguing over the Tower of Babel' is a wonderfully detailed and witty take on a rarely depicted or imagined aspect of the story which was included in an RA Summer Exhibition some years ago. Colin Burns' oils are entirely devoid of recognisable Biblical or Christian imagery but evoke a sense of calm and reflection that would befit a church or prayer room. Caroline Richardson's glass work 'Broken-Hearted' is, I think, a strong statement which works well with popular rather than explicitly Christian imagery. 'The Leader' by Joy Rousell Stone and Henry Shelton's two 'Stations of the Cross' pieces by the energy of their brushwork and their semi-abstract nature evoke a powerful sense of the violence of the Passion.<br /> <br />Our Study Day today also included further debate on the issue of traditional vs challenging imagery. For commissions, we are led to some extent by the commissioning church in terms of their vision for the space but that doesn't always mean that they will go with the safest option. The 'Stations of the Cross' that Henry Shelton is creating for St Pauls Goodmayes are the most abstract and minimal in terms of imagery that he has produced, with Christ represented throughout only by the crown of thorns.Jonathan Evenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04271900336455993298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529016898634168069.post-50403258545033737792009-11-06T22:08:19.944+00:002009-11-06T22:08:19.944+00:00Hi Jonathan, I enjoyed the exhibition, good to see...Hi Jonathan, I enjoyed the exhibition, good to see the wide variety of art mediums being used. I guess there are quite a few larger items that couldn’t be exhibited because of the logistics. My one comment would be that most of what I saw was what I would term fairly mainstream Christian imagery and I wondered if there was some more challenging material. I assume that if the work is being commissioned by churches they are less likely to go for something more controversial.Philip Ritchiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05912352719196616923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529016898634168069.post-63889712813306325292009-11-05T16:15:04.282+00:002009-11-05T16:15:04.282+00:00Thanks Philip. Grateful for your support.Thanks Philip. Grateful for your support.Jonathan Evenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04271900336455993298noreply@blogger.com