‘Haute Sphere’ Nativity artwork debuts at Cathedral Dec. 7

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The Tidings:
**‘Haute Sphere’ Nativity artwork debuts at Cathedral Dec. 7 **
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The U.S. debut of “Haute Sphere,” a contemporary interpretation of the Nativity scene conceived by architect Sylvain Dubuisson and crafted by French porcelain manufacturer Bernardaud, will take place Dec. 7 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
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A public presentation conducted by Archbishop José Gomez begins at 7 p.m. for “Haute Sphere,” which bears witness to the union of design and the technical and artistic savoir-faire of porcelain craftsmanship to present a modern perspective on the Nativity.
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“Haute Sphere” is a geodesic dome hand-crafted of 48 triangular panels of bisque porcelain with stars made of porcelain with platinum finish affixed to its interior and measuring 12 feet in height. Its impressive central feature is an engraved circular porcelain disc “aureole” with 24-carat gold
that rests on a bed of sand.
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The piece has variable lighting that dramatically illuminates the scene and is enhanced by pre-recorded chants in Aramaic — the language spoken by Abraham, Moses and Jesus — that lend a meditative quality evoking the mystery of the Christmas season for the spectator.
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This unique work was developed after Bernardaud was requested by the Church of the Madeleine in Paris to reprise a European tradition that dates back to the 13th century. In December 2010, it was first displayed at The Church of the Madeleine.
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http://www.the-tidings.com/images/stories/gallery/2011/1202/cathart/cathart2.jpg

And unto us a golden CD is born!
 
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
At least the dog in the nativity at saint Patrick’s cathedral is more subdued :o
 
It figures that it would happen at that concrete box.
 
didymus said:
This unique work was developed after Bernardaud was requested by the Church of the Madeleine in Paris to reprise a European tradition that dates back to the 13th century. In December 2010, it was first displayed at The Church of the Madeleine.
Click to expand...
Well, at least the Cathedral knew what it would be receiving. :o

The French company which produced this installation has a video about its making. The audio is in French, but subtitles are in English. I found the comments by the artist and the priest who commissioned the work interesting.

The artist was concerned about how to represent a well known tradition in the abstract. But while contemplating its construction, he was inspired
Then suddenly something became evident with the transcription of the mystery. Which is to say, that all the figures that are at the heart of the scene are characters that are represented by the materials. The wood, its texture and perfect craftsmanship, represent Joseph. The voile symbolizes Mary, who protects the scene with tenderness. And there is a the luminous radiance in the center that is represented by the halo.
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The priest, Daniel Ponsard, curé of the Church of the Madeleine, had this to say
The Church of the Madeleine receives 600,000 visitors each year. It is a symbolic monument of Paris, as well as a religious one. Given its presence in the community, we felt that for a creche it would be good to call upon a contemporary artist… to do something different from what was done in prior years. It was Bernardaud, our neighbor on rue Royale, who proposed the architect Sylvain Dubuisson to design its creche.
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In discussions with the pastoral council, we asked: Why not? It had been tradition to ask those residents of the neighborhood, the artists, retail businesses, and often the couture designers, to mount a Nativity scene for Christmas. Truthfully, it was with a certain impatience, curiosity, and perhaps anxiety that I asked myself how this work will be received by the public. It is a risk we take, but in life one must learn to take risks.
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bernardaud.fr/index.php?id=uk41&video=_00c10dd81848c6839a08d8fc1b817880
 
I can’t see the voile, nor the wood, but definitely the centerpiece. I kind of like it. I wouldn’t put one in my home, nor recommend my church get one, but I do see something different. Christ is God. The traditional scene emphasizes that God was made man. Which is what Christmas is all about. But, to me, this one emphasizes that God was made man, and is still God.

I used to ridicule modern art, but came to appreciate it one day when a group of my friends were looking at a strange piece in the museum, a woman on a stack of chairs in a bedroom while two alligators snapped at her feet. Each friend interpreted it differently, obviously from their own particular troubles. I now think that it’s a quick way to get insight into people.
 
marthaferretti said:
the-tidings.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1843%3Ahaute-sphere-nativity-artwork-debuts-at-cathedral-dec-7&catid=113%3Alocal&Itemid=402
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The U.S. debut of “Haute Sphere,” a contemporary interpretation of the Nativity scene conceived by architect Sylvain Dubuisson and crafted by French porcelain manufacturer Bernardaud, will take place Dec. 7 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
Click to expand...
I’m ‘pro-Choice’ on this conception. :rolleyes:
 
I’m not a fan of it but if people out there like it then I guess it works…
 
scratches head

I suppose there’s a modern-art explanation to go with this somewhere, isn’t there? 😛

Looks nice though. 🙂 It gives me that cool, magical artifact sort of feel. 😃
 
They wasted money on that…and then decided it was a nativity scene?!? Modern “art” really tends to confuse.
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
scratches head
I suppose there’s a modern-art explanation to go with this somewhere, isn’t there? 😛
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Of course there is! 🙂

The company which produced this installation has a video about it. The audio portion is in French, but English subtitles are provided. I will quote from some of it.

The artist who conceived the work was anxious as how to represent a well known tradition in the abstract. But while contemplating its construction, he was inspired
Then suddenly something became evident with the transcription of the mystery. Which is to say, that all the figures that are at the heart of the scene are characters that are represented by the materials. The wood, its texture and perfect craftsmanship, represent Joseph. The voile symbolizes Mary, who protects the scene with tenderness. And there is a the luminous radiance in the center that is represented by the halo.
Click to expand...
Fr. Daniel Ponsard, curé of the Church of the Madeleine in Paris, commissioned the work. It was displayed in his church last year. He had this to say about it:
The Church of the Madeleine receives 600,000 visitors each year. It is a symbolic monument of Paris, as well as a religious one. Given its presence in the community, we felt that for a creche it would be good to call upon a contemporary artist… to do something different from what was done in prior years. It was Bernardaud, our neighbor on rue Royale, who proposed the architect Sylvain Dubuisson to design its creche.
Click to expand...
In discussions with the pastoral council, we asked: Why not? It had been tradition to ask those residents of the neighborhood, the artists, retail businesses, and often the couture designers, to mount a Nativity scene for Christmas. Truthfully, it was with a certain impatience, curiosity, and perhaps anxiety that I asked myself how this work will be received by the public. It is a risk we take, but in life one must learn to take risks.
Click to expand...
bernardaud.fr/index.php?id=uk41&video=_00c10dd81848c6839a08d8fc1b817880
 
Dale_M said:
Of course there is! 🙂

The company which produced this installation has a video about it. The audio portion is in French, but English subtitles are provided. I will quote from some of it.

The artist who conceived the work was anxious as how to represent a well known tradition in the abstract. But while contemplating its construction, he was inspired

Fr. Daniel Ponsard, curé of the Church of the Madeleine in Paris, commissioned the work. It was displayed in his church last year. He had this to say about it:

bernardaud.fr/index.php?id=uk41&video=_00c10dd81848c6839a08d8fc1b817880
Click to expand...
Father P wished to have "something different.’
He got his wish.
 
Maybe you should look at some old Catholic art. Father was showing us his pre-Vatican 2 chasuble, where the decorations were placed on the back instead of the front. Mary was represented as a Lilly and God was a dove. I can’t remember the other symbols. Does that seem silly and ridiculous too?
 
Dale_M said:
Well, at least the Cathedral knew what it would be receiving. :o

The French company which produced this installation has a video about its making. The audio is in French, but subtitles are in English. I found the comments by the artist and the priest who commissioned the work interesting.

The artist was concerned about how to represent a well known tradition in the abstract. But while contemplating its construction, he was inspired
Then suddenly something became evident with the transcription of the mystery. Which is to say, that all the figures that are at the heart of the scene are characters that are represented by the materials. The wood, its texture and perfect craftsmanship, represent Joseph. The voile symbolizes Mary, who protects the scene with tenderness. And there is a the luminous radiance in the center that is represented by the halo.
Click to expand...
I find the explanations interesting. It definitely has a minimalist slant in it’s concept and form.

Many will not be surprised to find that not all artists subscribe to this sort of thinking, and there is a movement of artists, philosophers, and theologians moving toward a restoration of art.

The following resources may prove edifying for those interested in the subject of Art.

The Art Renewal Center:

artrenewal.org/

Christian Art and Culture: Discusses the impact of Christian art on culture.

sensustraditionis.org/ChristianArtCulture.pdf

Letter of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Artists:

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_23041999_artists_en.html

Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Artists:

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2009/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20091121_artisti_en.html

KAIROS: The Sacrament of Iconography by Brother Aidan

ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/SACICON.TXT
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incense said:
Maybe you should look at some old Catholic art. Father was showing us his pre-Vatican 2 chasuble, where the decorations were placed on the back instead of the front. Mary was represented as a Lilly and God was a dove. I can’t remember the other symbols. Does that seem silly and ridiculous too?
Click to expand...
I’m not exactly sure what a “pre-Vatican II chasuble” is. 🤷
 
I like it! it’s very warm for such a sparse piece, much more thoughtful and less cheap n cheesy than the giant record-breaking nativity scene recently linked. Not that cheap n cheesy doesn’t have a place at christmas but this is a nice change.
 
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