The Blessed

Company of Heaven

An Icon Exhibition

of the

Uniting Church Icon Schools

At the Centre for Theology and Ministry 29 College Cres, Parkville

August 2014

Opening by the Moderator, Mr Dan Wootton

Sunday 27 July 2014 2.30 – 4.00

The Blessed Company of Heaven The name of this Uniting Church Icon Schools’ 2014 Exhibition acknowledges that our art

strives to catch a glimpse of God’s realm. In this heavenly place Christ and the followers of

the Way and the stories of salvation are remembered and reverenced. Throughout the

history of the church art has been an aid to our remembering that the church on earth is in

company with Christ and the saints who have gone before. Icons draw the faithful into

prayer.

During 2014 up to 50 iconographers have participated monthly in a day of painting

instruction and guided contemplation through our three Icon Schools. Twelve are learning

to paint their first icon.

This year is seeing some significant changes. Rob Gallacher has led the Schools since their

inception almost 20 years ago. He now shares the coordination and teaching with Peter

Blackwood. This has enabled Rob to help members explore possibilities of writing icons that

are distinctively Australian. We are now seeing our members moving away from rewriting

old icons and are now daring to write more original compositions.

Australian influences are very deliberate in many of these. This exhibition includes icons

with Australian flora, fauna, landscape and architecture. In some there is an exclusive use

of Australian ochres.

Claiming styles that reflect the iconographer’s culture is not new. Cultural motifs, artistic

styles, subject choices and features that give theological emphases are apparent in the

iconography of Asia, Africa and western European churches in recent years.

For some this will raise questions about what constitutes traditional Christian iconography.

The Uniting Church Icon Schools treasure the traditions of the Orthodox Churches and the

styles of Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian and Armenian icon writers. However, as an activity of

the Uniting Church we claim the freedom to develop these traditions, so that contemporary

Australians can connect with them more directly.

While some of our work may push the boundaries of some of the honoured traditions, two

things remain:

the art form of all the icons in this exhibition are painted with raw pigment mixed

with egg yolk and alcohol on wooden panel covered with linen, rabbit skin glue and

whiting; and

the hope of the artists is that their icons will draw the faithful into prayer with the

blessed company of heaven.

1.01 Coptic Pantocrator by April Blackwell

Adapted from the Coptic Icon of Christ, Ruler of All, by the contemporary iconographer, Stephanos of the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

2.01 Mother and Child by Wendy Langmore

18th century, Ethiopia.

for sale - $240

2.02 Ethopian Virgin and Child by Margaret Harper

Ethiopia - seen in a rock-hewn church in Lalibela . Italian influenced . This image is adapted from the model that was approximately 120 x 100 cm.

2.03 Mother of God of Clemency by Helen Whyte

A rewriting of an icon by the English iconographer Yvonne Bell.

for sale - $240

2.04 Mother of God - Hodigatria by Emma Taylor (first icon)

14th century adaptation from the Petrouskasis Virgin in the Tetrov Gallery.

2.05 The Mother of God by Pam Whitely

c 1280 from the Monastery of St Catherine, Mt Sinai.

for sale - $950

3.01 Archangel Gabriel by Marnie Rawlinson

By Giovanni Bellini, 1464-68. Alterpiece detail. Polyptch of San Vincenzo Ferreri Basilica of Santi Giovanni and Paulo, Venice.

3.02 The Angel Gabriel - God's by Helen Whyte

c 17th century Byzantine.

for sale - $250

4.01 Moses before the Burning Bush by Helen King

Early 13th century, Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt.

4.02 Prophet Elijah fed by a Raven by Helen King

c 1050-1100. The Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt.

4.03 St Matthew by Norma Gallacher

From the Book of Kells - 8th Century illustratd Bible written by Celtic Monks. Held in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

4.04 St George and the Dragon by Denise Bond (first icon)

Byzantine 15th-16th century.

4.05 Saint Nicholas by Helen Williams

Ukranian - adapted from Byzantine original.

4.06 St Fancis of Assisi by Marnie Rawlinson

The sermon of the birds (Australian) from "Techniques of Icon and Wall Paintings" by Aidan Hart.

4.07

St John the Baptist by Margaret McWhinney

John the baptiser or forerunner is often

depicted in Byzantine icons facing away to the side towards the One who is coming after him.

5.01 The Annunciation by Lois Brunt

Original composition with traditional image of Gabriel against a background of the Flinders Ranges and Mary as a 21st century young woman.

for sale - $200

5.02 The Annunciation by Marnie Rawlinson

From "Techniques of Icon and Wall Paintings" by Aidan Hart.

5.03 The Annunciation by Helen Blethyn

Icon is based on an Aboriginal theme colour wise.

5.04 The Annunciation by Jo Voight

Designed by the artist with inspiration from various sources including that of Aidan Hart.

5.05 Australian Annunciation by Rob Gallacher

Original composition, done in ochres from the Pilbara, with Aboriginal motifs, and an Asian Angel to reflect multi-culturalism.

6.01 The Nativity by Alison Bunting

Copy of icon written by Deacon Matthew Garrett, Pennsylvania, USA.

6.02 Transfiguration by Duncan Reid Russia, 15th century; based on an original by Theophan the Greek. Painted on a redgum slab. for sale - $475

6.04 Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem by Helen Blethyn

The icon is from a fresco in church of Omorph Ekklisia on the Greek island of Aigina. 13th Century.

7.01 The Crucifixion by April Blackwell

Written by a sixteenth century Russian Iconographer.

7.02 Australian Crucifixion by Rob Gallacher

Original composition, done in ochres from the Pilbara and Swan Hill, with symbols of Melbourne and Sydney instead of the wall of Jerusalem, and Aboriginal motifs.

7.03 The Entombment by Helen Blethyn

Moscow - early 13th century embroidered. The image is taken from a shroud placed on the alter at Easter. A gift from royalty to the Monastry of St Cyril of the White Lake.

for sale - $500

8.01 Pentecost by Peter Blackwood

Original composition with influence from William de Braile (English c 1250) from his cycle of bible images.

9.01 Christ and St Menas by Annette Packett

Sixth century Coptic, now in the Louvre. Menas was a soldier in the Roman Army (c 285-309) and martyred for refusing to recant his faith.

for sale - $300

9.02 Mandylion by Valerie Richardson (first icon) Based on late 15th early 16th century. Novgorod School, Russia. A legendary towel imprinted with the image of Christ's face that cures Abgar, king of Edessa.

for sale - $400

9.03 The Holy Trinity - Hospitality of Abraham by Janet Medard

c 1410 after original by Andrei Rublev, Moscow School, Tretyakov Gallery.

1.02 Coptic Pantocrator by Peter Blackwood

Christ Ruler of All in modern Coptic style with original background depicting the CTM chapel and participating colleges of the United Faculty of Theology. On permanent loan to the CTM.

Acknowledgements

For their contributions to this Exhibition, the Icon Schools are

grateful to the Moderator, Dan Wootton,

and CTM staff, especially:

Christina Rowntree – Artfull Faith Co-ordinator

Lorrayne Morton – Receptionist

Merryn Gray – Office administrator