Plymouth Magazine-Winter24-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 7
Early this fall, a call went out to artists
to participate in a collaborative art
exhibit in the Plymouth Gallery. Artists
were invited to visually interpret one of
the “O Antiphons”. A total of 15 artists
agreed to participate in the exhibit, and
their work is hanging in the Plymouth
Gallery through Jan. 18. Each artist chose
one antiphon as their inspiration and
interpreted their chosen verse in very
personal ways.
Artist statements are available for most
works. Some works are clearly realistic,
some are abstract or nonrepresentational,
and many fall somewhere within that
spectrum. All works have been created
for this exhibit.
With the number of responses to the
call for artists, and the range of unique
interpretations, the order of works may
seem disjointed based solely on visual
flow. While the antiphons provide a
framework to the exhibit, the artist’s
visions may not provide a smooth
line from one piece to the next. All
interpretations are valid, although
many may be unexpected. The viewer
may need more than one pass through
the exhibit to absorb the collaborative
melding of ancient and new.
The value of art, especially in a church,
is the beauty of a shared experience
in multiple mediums. The Plymouth
Gallery exhibit brings a visual
interpretation of word and music.
The 15 participating artists have brought
a modern sensibility to human emotions
that are innate throughout time. This
hymn has endured through so many
centuries because of its vulnerability
to interpretation. The vulnerability
remains valid, although its appearance in
the Gallery may be surprising.
While we may be drawn to one piece or
another, it’s not ours to like or dislike,
but to accept and evaluate. We should
not deny the state of today’s world while
longing for what once was. But there is
comfort in knowing that we have endured,
and our Advent seasons continue to
portend hope of something better.
Vespers Translation:
Participating artists:
Below are the dates and Latin
translations for the historic antiphons
read in Vesper services centuries ago:
( fine art and graphic design)
December 17
English: O Wisdom
Latin: O Sapientia
December 18
English: O Lord
Latin: O Adonai
December 19
English: O Root of Jesse
Latin: O Radix Jesse
December 20
English: O Key of David
Latin: O Clavis
December 21
English: O Rising Sun
Latin: O Oriens
Elsie Brault
Tilda Brown Swanson
Mickey Carlson
Marcy Davidson
Jan Davison
Sundi Fitz
Beth Hirst
Gene Hollingsworth
Pam Hyde
Mariah Jade
Michael Liu
Bill Staplin
Laura Todd
Melynda Van Zee
December 22
English: O King of the Nations
Latin: O Rex gentium
December 23
English: O God who is with us
Latin: O Emmanuel
Plymouth Magazine 7
