Humans have a thirst for symbols, a requirement for ritual, a longing for liturgy. Those who cannot acknowledge that will make no sense of the $60,000 sculpture project launched in Christchurch:
A large $60,000 sculpture will be built over the next three months on a central Christchurch site left empty by the earthquakes, but it will be burnt just two weeks after it is completed.
The sculpture, made of timber recycled from demolition sites, will be 40 metres long, 25m wide and over 6m high when it is completed in June on the former site of the Convention Centre on Kilmore St.
Once completed, people will be encouraged to pin photographs or write messages on the sculpture relating to things they want to let go of. At the end of the two weeks, the sculpture will be moved to a field on the Canterbury Plains and burnt to the ground.
The sculpture is associated with solstice (yes, the Press is confused about solstice). There is a connection made with the Burning Man festival.
The church is given great symbols and rituals, around birth, and sex, and leadership, and initiation, and death, and seasons, etc. with water, and food, and wine, and oil, and touch – that go to the very heart of being human. Yet we so often attenuate the symbol and debilitate its efficacy. We use minimal water – and wipe it off as soon as possible. We talk, and talk, and talk, and talk – either swamping the symbol in our verbosity, or extinguishing any potency left in the symbol by our incessant, rationalistic chattering explanations and interpretations.
In a country that many claim is one of the most “secular” in the world, we are constantly soaked in religious language and images. Spirituality and what it means to be human is as alive here as anywhere. The church’s growing disconnect with this has led to its displacement by blessing rites, tapu lifting, karakia, and “god boxes” as mainstream in our culture. It should not surprise those of us still in touch with the yearnings of ordinary Kiwis that the sculpture is called The Temple for Christchurch (note the unapologetic use of the definite article).
The Temple will be a key part of creating a healthier, happier and stronger Christchurch.
It also does not surprise me that the job description for the Director has echoes of how I understand the vocation of priest – and, really, of Christians generally.
Have you watched my thoughts on liturgy clearly connected with this reflection? [You can embed it on your own, or your community’s website. You can make it the basis for discussion – and hopefully some change]
Call me a philistine in more ways than one (art, spirituality), but something inside of me shudders at the thought of $60K being spent then burned soon after. Why not just withdraw the cash from the bank and burn it? Wait, I think that is illegal!
What was the budget, Peter, for getting a man yesterday to sit on a couple of seats in England? Blessings.
[In a culture where we so quickly say cash is god, if we in the church aren’t reflecting on the reality that for many there is something greater – we are sorely letting our heritage down]
There is cash which is an investment in the ongoing life of the church as God’s movement on earth and cash which is (apparently) extinguishable in an unusual manner. I suggest the occasion you speak of is the former and not the latter.
The quote I give from the organisers, Peter, “The Temple will be a key part of creating a healthier, happier and stronger Christchurch” understands itself more in your former than in your latter category. Blessings.
Two other traditions, that I know of, utilize art as form of healing, art – which is later destroyed. Interestingly, both use sand-paintings:
The Navaho of the southwestern US:
http://www.anthro4n6.net/navajosandpainting/
And Tibetan Buddhist Mandalas:
http://www.mysticalartsoftibet.org/mandala.htm
“Nothing new under the sun” – as the Bible tells us. 😉
Thanks for making the connection to Mandalas. Blessings.
Sometimes going to an extreme is what it takes to let go of issues that are affecting and afficting us to the extent of making us ill. These days when the world spends enormous amounts of cash to pay and retain corporation presidents, $60,000 seems paltry in comparison. Our emotional and spiritual health and happiness cannot be bought at any amount. Healing through artistic expression is how I thank and praise God and he meant for us to use our gifts in this way.
Thanks, Brynn. Blessings.
Not sure why a temporary recycled timber construction needs to cost sixty thousand dollars? Or why the ceremonies for new church leaders should cost much for that matter…I think largely that perception will create a barrier in modern countries, people see the ‘tradition’ as silly and archaic, the old ‘them and us’ divide, proof the church leaders are out of touch with reality ( Here are explanations for some of the traditions in the inauguration of Archbishop of Canterbury http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21876249 ) Art projects can be seen the same way, surreal, especially if people have ongoing practical problems and poverty- great artists do not need a substantial budget to create!
After 9/11 there were lots of boards etc placed in parks etc across the US for people to express their emotions and come together symbolically. People here often create their own memorial sites following a natural disaster or tragedy.
I have listened to some of your sermon on liturgy Bosco, still thinking about language & liturgy.
I love the idea of this work, Bosco. The enacted drama speaks so clearly into our life in Otautahi at this time.
I have thought about this a few days wondering whether it was worth a comment. Reading TracY Pace I have to say i fully agree with her. I see both a Pope and an Archbishop of C to some degree trying to make their elevations more relevant, more , if you like, with it y et maintain the basic traditions. i suppose I have mixed feelings about what should be maintained. There was an absurd comment by a columnist in “The Australian” that essentially said Francis would have shown true humility by waring the red mancha and accepting all the age old requirements of the Vatican and its Master of Ceremonies,
As for the sculptue I hink the concept finishes is absurdity manifested and a complete waste of money.
I see greater integrity in the new Pope’s simpler requirements than any pompous ‘traditions’, this is Jesus we’re supposed to be following, not some emperor!
Also much artistic integrity in Christchurch for example by the man who placed the little cardboard praying booths around as both a spiritual and artistic endeavour ( wonder how they have fared? )
But I really don’t think the churches can be ‘with it’ in terms of connected to wider societies when the wider society often has more good in it than a church does…maybe that’s always been the case ( hence the Bishops in palaces & not living amongst ordinary people )and tradition takes on a rose-coloured hue once the pertinent issues of an era are no longer our own…
But today issues such as disease prevention, preventing unwanted pregnancy, education, child protection, equality and compassion- these are all being better handled in secular society in many countries in recent years, whilst there are people praying and reading the Bible and yet teaching nonsense or manipulating others in these matters.
People will only build so many pyramids…