Messages out of the blue
Susan Robson and Helen Meads write about the background to a creative initiative on ‘interpreting a Skyspace’
In the Friend of 23 August Judy Kirby wrote ‘Quakers like to think of James Turrell, the installation artist, as theirs’. It often seems like that. James Turrell and his work have become increasingly well known in the UK in the past few years and 2013 shows a positive effulgence of his work worldwide. Judy also reflected: ‘Sad to recall, then, that the opportunity to have a permanent Turrell Skyspace in the roof of Friends House was missed last year.’ This view is not hers alone and the regret is still sharp in some people.
Yorkshire Quaker Arts Projects have been commending the Deer Shelter Skyspace since 2007. We are aware of the still simmering differences of view regarding the roof of the Large Meeting House in Friends House. We discussed the Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) decision with staff at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) and one of them suggested that they would like to show ‘all those people in London’ the reality of the Skyspace, perhaps hoping minds would change. It was clear that the YSP staff had little idea about Quaker purposes, testimonies and tradition. Since then it has become clear that many Quakers have very little idea about Skyspace experience, or historic Quaker understandings of art and architecture. So, out of this has come a plan.
Next March Yorkshire Quaker Arts Projects are holding a study afternoon ‘Messages out of the Blue: Interpreting a Skyspace’ in which knowledgeable speakers will explore the experience of Skyspaces from the different perspectives of art and Quakerism. There are five excellent speakers, and it will finish with a colloquium of speakers and participants. Then, those who wish will be able to take part in a ‘sitting at sunset’ session, which is only available two or three times a year. There is already considerable interest from Quakers interested in art and we hope that in exploring the links between Quakers and Skyspaces, the session will improve understanding and explain the different views underlying the BYM trustees’ decision. It is our intention to film and record the study session and make it freely available on the internet before Yearly Meeting Gathering in 2014 and the subsequent opening of the refurbished Large Meeting House, so that it will all be available to a much wider audience.
The Deer Shelter Skyspace in Yorkshire is one destination within a whole country estate that is now arranged to enable a response to art. The installation itself is to encourage contemplation, wordless thought and distinctive visual perception. Its style and structure brings Quaker Meeting houses to mind. In the daytime the only distraction from the contemplation of the plain or the inward is the sky in the aperture. At dusk and dawn a special effect is created, which is intended to draw the outward eye and requires expense and attention to achieve. Quaker architecture has always been more about usefulness than beauty or re-telling a faith story, as cathedral carving does. Inspiration comes with our response within and the faith story is carried in our hearts and experience.
Our opinion, now, is that the plans of the trustees will give us a compromise that includes the same inspiration, light and sky. But these will not distract from processes of waiting, discernment and deliberation in which we Quakers and others will use both thought and words. If sadness remains, come to the study session, visit a Skyspace as often as you can, but look forward to how we Quakers will wait together under the skylight, to see if there is any difference in our faithfulness.
For further information: www.goinsidetogreetthelight.com/events.
