Lux Aeterna: Building the Body of Christ

Exhibit Dates: Saturday April 1 –Saturday April 15.

The exhibit will be up for two Sundays (April 2 and April 9) and for the entire period of Holy Week

The Committee on Religion & the Arts (R&A) is gearing up for it's annual Lenten Art Exhibit.  Every year the committee commissions artists from the congregation to create original artistic interpretations of some spiritual text associated with Lent.

This year the committee will be using the lyrics from the choral requiem Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen. This musical offering will be performed by the Old South Choir and R&A committee wants to have a complementing visual offering that can be presented at the same time.

Commitment to the project requires the preparation of a visual work that can be mounted onto foam core.  This can be a written work such as poetry or prose (enlarged for visual presentation) or a work of art (such as a painting, drawing, quilt (or fabric art), watercolor, or photograph).

This is an open invitation to all members of the congregation. Previous work with some artistic media or creative writing encouraged, but not required.

If you are interested in participating, please read the additional instructions below,
select two text sections that you would like to work on (I cannot, however, guarantee that I will be able to honor first and second choices), decide what kind of visual work you want to create, and email your request for participation to tmkdirect@aol.com (or contact Tom at 617-983-3078)
                            Current Panel Assignments (filled as of 2/22/06)

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Instructions:

Each section needs to in some way build on the title of the exhibit: Lux Aeterna – Building the Body of Christ.

The subtitle: “Building the Body of Christ” can be represented in any way that you feel is appropriate with the passage that you select.  It could be something concrete and explicit as a representation of a human body, or something more metaphoric such as a house or a candle.

Contributing artists are encouraged to do whatever scriptural research they feel necessary to provide a scriptural basis for text that they have been assigned.  Rev Quinn Caldwell will be providing some initial research.  This can be found at the bottom of this page..

All art work for the exhibit must be completed by Saturday April 1.  Contributing artists are expected to participate in the hanging of the show on that day.  This time commitment will be from 10 AM to 2 PM.  The hanging work may be finished prior to 2 PM, but contributing artists should plan to commit to the full 4 hour time period.

The show opening will be Sunday April 2 and will stay up until Saturday April 15.  Contributing artists are expected to participate in the dismantling of the show on that day.  The time commitment again is from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Captioning and/or Titles:  Contributing artists are asked to create a caption or title for their work that can be posted along side the work when it is hung.  The captions and titles should be no more than 35 characters (with spaces). Each artist will be credited for their contributions on the exhibition’s introductory panel.  The text for this panel will be developed and reviewed by the R&A committee with input from all contributing artists.

If you wish to share your thoughts about how you see your work tying into the subtitle: “Building the Body of Christ” that might be used in the development of the introductory panel.

Work requirements:  Submitted artwork can be a written work such as poetry or prose (enlarged for visual presentation) or a work of art (such as a painting, drawing, quilt (or fabric art), watercolor, or photograph), or a three-dimensional sculpture (provided that it can be installed into the space).  If a three dimensional sculpture is contemplated, please clear all installation concerns with members of the R&A committee before starting to execute the work.

Mounting the Work: To make the best use of the space, the text below has been divided into 9 sections, there will also be one introductory panel.  This means there will be a minimum of 10 individual displays.  Since there are currently only 8 fabric panels on which the work can be displayed, the following mounting pattern will be adopted unless there is consensus to change the mounting pattern due to the mounting requirements for an individual work.

Free-Standing Easel – Introductory Panel
Panel 1 – ‘Introit’ section
Panel 2 – ‘In thee, O Lord, I have trusted’ section
Panel 3 – ‘O born of Light’ section
Panel 4 – ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ section – Part 1/2
Panel 5 – ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ section – Part 2/3
Panel 6 – ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ section – Part 3/4
Panel 7 – ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ section – Part 4/5
Panel 8 – ‘Lamb of God – Light Eternal’ section

Size Requirements:
For The ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ section:  The ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ section will be the main part of the exhibit and will use four panels.  The art associated with that section will be divided between 5 or more artists.  If there is sufficient interest, an individual text excerpt can be taken on by two artists.

Since we have 5 text excerpts that need to be displayed on 4 panels.  Depending on the number of people involved (and we could have two people working on the same excerpt) there could be as few as 5 art pieces or as many as 10 art pieces.  I don't know at this point.  So I am trying to be flexible.  The size options for these four panels are:
· 20x20 (square) - standard 1/2 panel size (two of these would fit on one panel)
· 20x30 (landscape) - enlarged 1/2 panel size (two of these would fit on one panel)
· 30x20 (portrait) - Normal portrait size (only one of these will fit on a panel)
The finished size requirements for this section will be decided once the total number of contributing artists has been determined.  Artists should expect to construct an artistic display that can be mounted onto foam core (without a frame).  If a contributing artist wants to vary the size from either of those two sizes, then they should consult with the Chair of the R&A committee.

For the Free-standing Easel, Panels 1- 3, and Panel 8 – Artists are required to provide a 20 x 30 inch (portrait orientation only) finished work.  As with the ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ the finished work will be mounted onto foam core without a frame. (Please try and FILL THE ENTIRE DISPLAY AREA).

For artists who are providing a written work, enlargements and background treatments are important since the work must be both legible from a distance and visually interesting.  Please consult with Elizabeth Tustian who will help you create an enlarged version of your work so that it can be mounted along with the rest of the exhibit.

Costs:
Contributing artists are expected to supply their own FOAM CORE and all their own materials for completing the work.  If it appears likely that the expenses for a work will exceed $50 then, the contributing artist should consult with the Chair of the R&A committee.

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Text and Panel Sections Panel 1
Introitus
(Introit)

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
A hymn befits thee, O God in Zion,
and to thee a vow shall be fulfilled
in Jerusalem:
Hear my prayer,
unto thee all flesh shall come.
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Panel 2
In Te, Domine, Speravi
(In thee, O Lord, I have trusted)

To deliver us, you became human,
and did not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Having blunted the sting of death, You
opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
A light has risen in the darkness for the upright.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord,
have mercy upon us.
Let thy mercy be upon us, O Lord,
as we have trusted in thee.
In thee, O Lord, I have trusted:
let me never be confounded.

Panel 3
O Nata Lux
(O born of Light)

O born light of light,
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
mercifully deem worthy and accept
the praises and prayers of your supplicants. Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost ones,
grant us to be made members of your Holy body.

Panels 4 - 7
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
(Come, Holy Spirit)

Part 1
Come, Holy Spirit,
Send forth from heaven
The ray of thy light.
Come, Father of the poor,
Come, giver of gifts,
Come, light of hearts.

Part 2
Thou best of Consolers,
Sweet guest of the soul,
Sweet refreshment.
In labor, thou art rest,
In heat, the tempering,
In grief, the consolation.

Part 3
O Light most blessed,
Fill the inmost heart
Of all thy faithful.
Without your grace,
There is nothing in us,
Nothing that is not harmful.

Part 4
Cleanse what is sordid,
Moisten what is arid,
Heal what is hurt.
Flex what is rigid,
Fire what is frigid,
Correct what goes astray.

Part 5
Grant to thy faithful,
Those trusting in thee,
Thy sacred seven-fold gifts.
Grant the reward of virtue,
Grant the deliverance of salvation,
Grant everlasting joy.

Panel 8
Agnus Dei – Lux Aeterna
(Lamb of God – Light Eternal)

Lamb of God,
who takest away the sins of the world,
grant them rest.

Lamb of God,
who takest away the sins of the world,
grant them rest.

Lamb of God,
who takest away the sins of the world,
grant them rest everlasting.

May light eternal shine upon them, O
Lord, in the company of thy Saints for
ever and ever,. for thou art merciful.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and
let perpetual light shine upon them.

Alleluia. Amen.

Translation @ Copyright 1988 by earthsongs.
Reprinted by Permission.

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Final Panel Assignments
as of 2/28/2006

Panel 1 Introit	MADDIE BURKE & LINDA JENKINS
Panel 2 In thee, O Lord, I have trusted	ELIZABETH TUSTIAN
Panel 3 O born of Light	ELIZABETH ENGLAND
Panel 4-7 Come Holy Spirit - Part 1	PATRICK LILLIS and MARRAINE KETTELL
Panel 4-7 Come Holy Spirit - Part 2	AMBER KENDALL
Panel 4-7 Come Holy Spirit - Part 3	THOMAS KEYDEL
Panel 4-7 Come Holy Spirit - Part 4	PAM ROBERTS
Panel 4-7 Come Holy Spirit - Part 5	THIA ODIORNE
Panel 8 Lamb of God - Light Eternal	ADRIANA REPETTO

E-mail Tom Keydel to Request an Assignment

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Scripture References Panel 1
Psalm 65:1-4:
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.

Panel 2
Psalm 31:1
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.

Panel 3
John 1:3a-5
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

I Corinthians 12:27-13:1
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.  If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Panel 4-7
[No direct Scripture references have been identified at this time.]

Panel 8
Isaiah 11:1-3
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;

John 1:29
The next day [John] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”