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Showing posts with label feature article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feature article. Show all posts

Sunday, 14 August 2022

Artlyst - Heavenly Visions: Churches As Spaces For Contemporary Art

My latest feature article for Artlyst explores interest among galleries and curators in showing contemporary art in churches:

‘From early on in their history, churches have regularly been spaces in which art was displayed and valued. That continued in the modern period, although the extent to which this so became somewhat obscured and the relationship between churches and artists became somewhat fractious. Nevertheless, there are many examples – from past and present – of churches showing contemporary art, whether as permanent commissions or in temporary exhibitions/installations.

Alongside, more recently, has also been an interest among galleries and curators in showing contemporary art in churches. Such site-specific exhibitions or installations evoke contemplative and meditative encounters with contemporary art seeming to offer audiences a secular experience of mindfulness and awe, and artists the opportunity to engage meaningfully with the unique architecture and atmosphere of the space in which they exhibit their work.' 

While many examples exist, in this article I consider four recent, current or forthcoming projects which illustrate a range of approaches: Jaume Plensa: In small places, close to home, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield; Dawn Ng: Into Air, St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate, London; Heidi Bucher: Metamorphoses II, Muzeum Susch, Susch, Switzerland; and Joana Vasconcelos: Tree of Life, Sainte-Chapelle De St. Vincennes, Paris.

My other pieces for Artlyst are:

Interviews -
Articles -

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Posted by Jonathan Evens at 22:01 0 comments
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Friday, 22 July 2022

Church Times - Betty Spackman: The art and the conversation

My latest feature article for Church Times is an interview with Betty Spackman surveying her career and work:

'“In some branches of — particularly Protestant — Christianity, there has been a history of discouraging, or even disallowing, involvement in the arts, particularly the visual arts, and for my generation it was a very difficult struggle to find affirmation as an artist of faith. Thankfully, there is now more freedom and acceptance of the arts in the Church — but, of course, now there are new issues to deal with.”

While not a pioneer in the art world, in Christian circles “I was perhaps one of the early artists of faith exploring some of these things — and was pretty alone at the time.” People such as the German artist Joseph Beuys were “among many who brought together all the things I love: material, performance, social engagement, installation, etc.”.

Such artists “were a constant inspiration, and were challenging both intellectually and artistically”, but were already on her radar, “because these were ways I was already beginning to work”.'

Read my Artlyst interview with Betty Spackman here and a diary piece including her latest work 'A Creature Chronicle' here.

My other feature articles for Church Times are here, here, here, and here.

Other of my pieces for Church Times can be found here. My writing for ArtWay can be found here. My pieces for Artlyst are here and those for Art+Christianity are here. See also Modern religious art: airbrushed from art history?

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Carolyn Ahrends - Becoming Human.
Posted by Jonathan Evens at 07:31 0 comments
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