16/08/2011

The Chapter House of York Minster will become home to a collection of etchings, drawings and poetry by local artist Jane Kennelly and poet Nigel Forde starting today until 5th September this year.

The exhibition panels in Still Leaf: to a stonemason are designed to relate comfortably to each of its sides and to echo the medieval symbolism of plant species. It is also intended as a discreet and unobtrusive complement to the architectural structure of the Chapter House.

Kennelly said, ‘The exhibition is essentially quiet in tone - it is neither spectacle, nor tour de force. Nigel Forde's poem Still Leaf perfectly captures this spirit: how plants, despite often having their own existence away from human intervention, can none the less be meaningful. It is an exhibition where the spectator is invited to ponder their significance in a contemplative setting.'

Kennelly also has familial ties to the Minster as her paternal grandfather worked as a stonemason.

Kennelly and Forde have both worked in York for many years and appreciate how great a part the beauty of the Cathedral plays in the everyday life of the City as well as on special religious and ceremonial occasions. Their hope is to show how the fabric of the Minster can be an enduring inspiration to creative works, in bringing a sense of harmony and peace to the City.

The focus on the carving will enrich people's knowledge of the component parts that were executed by craftsmen to an overall scheme that directed the mind to the glory of God. Their work draws attention to the need for a reappraisal and an attention to detail that today's cultural levelling often overlooks.

Entry to the exhibition is free; however, normal admission fees to the Minster still apply. The exhibition also complements the current conservation work ongoing at York Minster. Visitors are encouraged to take a tour of the Minster, visit the Masons' Lodge on the southeast lawn and plan ahead to see the Works Department during the Stoneyard Open Day on 19 August.

For more information about the artist, visit www.art-connections.org.uk.  

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