"Chalk" at Winchester Cathedral

I had a trip down to Winchester to attend the evening talk given by my friends Irena and Vanda, about their artwork in the exhibition.  I arrived quite early so I could have a good look round during the afternoon.

Actually I found it all a little unsettling.  I went into Winchester Cathedral and was uncomfortable in the atmosphere.  As you entered and made your way up the building, there were extensive monuments to various local armed services units.  A lot of remembrance of the glorious dead.  Although I am not a Christian, I expect a church building to be about the worship of God, not about death through war.  I found the labelling of the artworks to be unclear - I like a clear artist statement beside the artwork, and I like it to be easy to find.  There was signage, but it was small and insignificant, and I could not read it without my glasses!  This made me feel really middle-aged!

I met unexpectedly with friends from embroidery group, many years ago.  We went to the Winchester Museum to look at more exhibits there.  Had I not met Christina and Jackie, I would not have known the exhibition was at various different locations.  We made our way round the museum, and again found the exhibits were not clearly marked.  I had a leaflet that had an insert, that listed the exhibits, but Christina did not have the insert in her leaflet.  All three of us struggled to understand the significance of the artworks.

Christina and Jackie went home before the talk, as it was a long journey home.  I had booked overnight, as my purpose for being there was to hear the talk, and this event was from 6-8.30pm.  This completely changed my experience of the event.  I don't really get artwork about landscape, and fundamentally, this is what the theme "Chalk" is about.  But once the poets starting reading their works,  it completely changed the effect of the event.  I still don't really get landscape, but one poem in particular "One More Mile" was lovely.  As it was about the poet's father striding across the landscape, it gave me a narrative.  And people and narrative is what I do.

By 7pm, we moved from the Museum, back to the Cathedral.  Vanda and Irena's work "Laid to Rest" was very poorly lit, by the diffuse light focussed on an adjacent artwork.  However the event organiser offered a line of tea lights, which were supplied, and I lit.  This looked fantastic as the daylight completely faded and the tea lights were the main illumination.

Vanda and Irena gave a great explanation of what the work was about, and the significance of the materials they had chosen.  The feeling of the cathedral completely changed in this event.  There was atmospheric lighting, a community of artistic people, and genuine interest in the artworks and events going on.  We watched a performance piece by two white clad dancers - quite mesmerising.  The performers moved very slowly while poetry was quoted/read.  I had never seen anything like it.  The performers must have been very strong to hold some positions, and it gave the feeling of peace and power.  A thought provoking combination.