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L to R, Jennifer Ashworth as Cunegonde (double cast with Amy Foote), Baker Peeples as Voltaire, Rick Williams as Pangloss and Sam Faustine as Candide. Photo by David Allen, 2014
Coventry's Cathedral is a unique synthesis of old a new, born of wartime suffering and forged in the spirit of postwar optimism, famous for it's history and for being the most radically modern of Anglican cathedrals. Two cathedral's stand side by side, the ruins of the medieval building, destroyed by incendiary bombs in 1940 and the bold new building designed by Basil Spence and opened in 1962.
It is a common misconception that Coventry lost it's first cathedral in the wartime blitz, but the bombs actually destroyed it's second; the original medieval cathedral was the monastic St Mary's, a large cruciform building believed to have been similar in appearance to Lichfield Cathedral (whose diocese it shared). Tragically it became the only English cathedral to be destroyed during the Reformation, after which it was quickly quarried away, leaving only scant fragments, but enough evidence survives to indicate it's rich decoration (some pieces were displayed nearby in the Priory Visitors Centre, sadly since closed). Foundations of it's apse were found during the building of the new cathedral in the 1950s, thus technically three cathedrals share the same site.
The mainly 15th century St Michael's parish church became the seat of the new diocese of Coventry in 1918, and being one of the largest parish churches in the country it was upgraded to cathedral status without structural changes (unlike most 'parish church' cathedrals created in the early 20th century). It lasted in this role a mere 22 years before being burned to the ground in the 1940 Coventry Blitz, leaving only the outer walls and the magnificent tapering tower and spire (the extensive arcades and clerestoreys collapsed completely in the fire, precipitated by the roof reinforcement girders, installed in the Victorian restoration, that buckled in the intense heat).
The determination to rebuild the cathedral in some form was born on the day of the bombing, however it wasn't until the mid 1950s that a competition was held and Sir Basil Spence's design was chosen. Spence had been so moved by experiencing the ruined church he resolved to retain it entirely to serve as a forecourt to the new church. He envisaged the two being linked by a glass screen wall so that the old church would be visible from within the new.
Built between 1957-62 at a right-angle to the ruins, the new cathedral attracted controversy for it's modern form, and yet some modernists argued that it didn't go far enough, after all there are echoes of the Gothic style in the great stone-mullioned windows of the nave and the net vaulting (actually a free-standing canopy) within. What is exceptional is the way art has been used as such an integral part of the building, a watershed moment, revolutionising the concept of religious art in Britain.
Spence employed some of the biggest names in contemporary art to contribute their vision to his; the exterior is adorned with Jacob Epstein's triumphant bronze figures of Archangel Michael (patron of the cathedral) vanquishing the Devil. At the entrance is the remarkable glass wall, engraved by John Hutton with strikingly stylised figures of saints and angels, and allowing the interior of the new to communicate with the ruin. Inside, the great tapestry of Christ in majesty surrounded by the evangelistic creatures, draws the eye beyond the high altar; it was designed by Graham Sutherland and was the largest tapestry ever made.
However one of the greatest features of Coventry is it's wealth of modern stained glass, something Spence resolved to include having witnessed the bleakness of Chartres Cathedral in wartime, all it's stained glass having been removed. The first window encountered on entering is the enormous 'chess-board' baptistry window filled with stunning abstract glass by John Piper & Patrick Reyntiens, a symphony of glowing colour. The staggered nave walls are illuminated by ten narrow floor to ceiling windows filled with semi-abstract symbolic designs arranged in pairs of dominant colours (green, red, multi-coloured, purple/blue and gold) representing the souls journey to maturity, and revealed gradually as one approaches the altar. This amazing project was the work of three designers lead by master glass artist Lawrence Lee of the Royal College of Art along with Keith New and Geoffrey Clarke (each artist designed three of the windows individually and all collaborated on the last).
The cathedral still dazzles the visitor with the boldness of it's vision, but alas, half a century on, it was not a vision to be repeated and few of the churches and cathedrals built since can claim to have embraced the synthesis of art and architecture in the way Basil Spence did at Coventry.
The cathedral is generally open to visitors most days. For more see below:-
This was in the St James Barton underpass, where graf gets cleaned off very quickly, so this was the most ephemeral of poems. It reminds me of Frank in Kim Stanley Robinson's 'Science in the Capital' trilogy.
"When I wish I was dead -
and I hate my friends
I must repeat this till
the end
I still have a home
even if my
home's a VAN!"
Story short: Walking to work, I noticed a tiny envelope blutack'd onto a subway wall with “Read Me” written on it.
I took a shot (as you do) and put the envelope in my pocket. Inside the envelope was a small note that said: “Not to spoil the ending ~ but everything is going to be alright.”
I've no idea who placed it there or why. Random Acts of Optimism.
"For me optimism is two lovers walking into the sunset arm in arm. Or maybe into the sunrise - whatever appeals to you."
-Krzysztof Kieslowski
Taken over the fields in West Hythe.
The yellow rose can indicate strength and are encouraging for someone going through a difficult time such as when healing from illness or surgery. This one was photographed at the end of a session, so not with a particular intentionat this point, but I see this one as hope against adversity. The strength and optimism of the yellow/orange rose fighting its way forward and not giving up.
You wouldn't know by her smile, but the cancer has spread to her eyes, brain, spine, and lungs. I don't think I've ever seen her more optimistic than she is today.
Lighting Info - Beauty Dish - Camera left.
Shine
- composites exploring the nature and sources of an intangible human ideal and associated verbs that transpire a symbiotic relationship... that is; both a source and a result of optimism.
To play is to live.
“Optimist: Person who travels on nothing from nowhere to happiness." ~ Mark Twain
Seeing a silly sign like this brings me to laughter. Hope you're having unexpected delights today too.
optimism
a tendency to take the most cheerful view of things;
the belief that good must ultimately prevail.
April 6, 2010.
day ninety-six.
New generation will always to come,
All we have to do is parenting them
Raise them ....
and bring them up.
But let them choose their own way ...
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I've posted this photo a few days ago but I can't resist myself not to make this pict into a selective colors image.... so here we are.
A photography assignment... depict "emotions" without people
By the way, the more you drink the more optimistic you get. :P
'Tis a tad blurry because it took several tastes to get it to the right level. Oh crap, drank too much, oh crap, need to drink more... repeat several times. Lol.
Every driveway and sidewalk in the neighborhood has a pinwheel with a note this morning. Hope, Peace, Love. Thank you, mystery neighbors.
CC week 4 is Visual Weight & Balance
Ultimately, the pessimist may be right, but the oprimist has more fun. Something tells me this lone fuchsia blossom is a true optimist.
Photo by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions.com
Documentary image of the Make-a-Wish Foundation event for Miles (battling leukemia whose wish was to "be Batman"). SF declared November 15th "Batkid Day" and the city came together to make the wish come true...
More info: sf.wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/i-wish-to-be/wish-to-be-b...
The story behind the shot is here.
Shot with Nikon D700 and 105mm F2.8 Sigma © Craig Richardson 2012. All rights reserved.