The Tomb of St. Francis Xavier

                 The Tomb of St Francis Xavier

I attended a lecture on March 11 discussing the remains of St Francis Xavier. The lecture talked about the importance of the condition of his body after death and its symbolic nature to how the remains were put on display. The lecture covered detailed pictures of the tomb, the panels, and the pedestal that are hold his body.


              Rachel Miller

The lecture was conducted by Rachel Miller. Rachel attended the University of Pittsburgh and she is a PhD candidate. Her research explored St Francis Xavier and his travels spreading Christianity throughout Europe. St Francis Xavier was born in 1506. He studied at the University of Paris in 1525. He began his travels to Rome in 1539 and departed for India in 1541. He later died December 3, 1552. During his lifetime St Francis Xavier initiated missions in much of India, Asia, Malaysia, and Japan, He was the first to create a Christian mission in the area of Japan. He was known as "The Apostle to the Indies,"


                                Golden Goa

The lecture discussed much about the travels of St Francis Xavier in the Indies. One of the major questions that Rachel asked herself was, "What can representations of Xavier reflect about the region?" It was interesting hearing her discussion the region because there was this image of "Goa Dourada," or Golden Goa which express a wealth and prosperity of Goa. This was an image that represented festivals and an area that was a positive reflection of Christian influence.


     The outside of the tomb of St Francis Xavier

The lecture discussed the importance of the trade of silver material among merchants during this time. The panels on the tomb seen above were made of silver. The project of building the sarcophagus for St Francis was directed by Father Marcello Mastrilli. It was discussed, in the lecture, the symbolic nature of the silver in the sarcophagus. The silver panels were symbolic of the depiction of the imagery of Golden Goa. The silver panels showed depictions of St Francis Xavier's travels to sanctify the region. What I found interesting was that the panels could be rearranged which was unlike European pieces before. It was also symbolic that before the body of St Francis Xavier was visible because the silver panels would have been left open. His body was perfectly preserved which symbolized the pureness of Portugal and Christianity unified by showing his (in)corrupt body.


     Panel from the sarcophagus of St Francis Xavier

The panels on the sarcophagus were very detailed and lavish in silver. Some images on the panels depicted St Francis Xavier as a supporter but also a protector of the people of Portugal. He was often shown baptizing new followers of Christianity on the panels. In one of those panels it shows him baptizing three Kings who were seen as pagan.


        Tomb of St Francis Xavier with pedestal

Later on after the remains of St Francis Xavier began to fall apart, there was attempt to hide the body of St Francis Xavier and the silver panels were closed. After the silver panels had been closed, the sarcophagus was displayed above the viewer in between the viewer and heaven by placing the sarcophagus on a pedestal as seen above. This was an attempt of the Jesuits to take away the attention from the body of St Francis Xavier. The pedestal itself has different symbolism then then original sarcophagus. he pedestal illustrates St Francis Xavier as a universal saint rather than the protector of Portugal. The pedestal contains marble, bronze, and alabaster which are materials that are Florentine. This image takes away from the imagery of Golden Goa that was originally depicted with the silver of the sarcophagus.


           St Francis Xavier preaching to followers

It seems to me interesting the combination of materials in the tomb for St Francis Xavier from the original sarcophagus to the pedestal that was later added on. The imagery of the saint in the lecture painted an image of the importance representations that showed people converting under the word of St Francis Xavier. The power in the images was to show the influence of spoken word. The topic of her discussion showing the contrasting views of St Francis Xavier seem to create a contradiction. The original installation showing him as a saint and protector of Portugal and the new installation competing by showing him as a universal represented saint. It brings to mind that if the importance is in showing the influence of his spoken word in conversion to Christianity, then why show views contradicting the view of this great saint. As a viewer the original images of St Francis Xavier and Golden Goa paint a more vivid picture of him as a saint. Knowing the background now it makes me wonder what the images make a viewer think about the region in modern times?

Art Hotel

                           "Art Hotel"

I was lucky enough to attend the Art Hotel exhibit in downtown Sacramento, The event was put together by various artist who joined to turn an old hotel into art. In addition to the art itself being amazing, what else really still gets me to this point was that all that wonderful art was displayed in a space and was only available for view for a short time. I can see why the line was so long day in and day out to be part of the lucky group to take a view into this experience. The only part of the experience that was bitter sweet was the fact that the viewers were only allowed twenty minutes to view all the floors of the hotel. 

It was interesting walking into the hotel because we were led up the stairs into a hallway and then left free to walk around the hotel. There were art works all over the hotel, The artists didn't just add pieces  around the hotel, they fully immersed the entire hotel room to room, wall to wall, floor to floor. It gave the viewer a chance to not just look at each art piece as you would a gallery, but to walk through the art. Experience the art. The viewer then becomes a piece of the multitude of art around them as the explore the hotel.

 

It was a great experience to see a building transformed into art. The entire space was utilized. Even the stairs were used to create a work of art. I almost didn't notice it at first because I had to get an entire view of the stairs to see the piece. It takes a different view to take something that we have been accustomed to such as stairs and turn it into a a drawing. The hotel brings something to mind, using a familiar space, a building, to bring attention to the art that exist all around us. Art can be seen in anything if one has the eye to explore it, Having people walk through the space brings them to that attention that art does surround them just as it does surround them throughout every inch of the Art Hotel.

One of the rooms that really held my attention the most was the room that held the work by Franceska Gamez. On one wall was a painting of a woman. Its something about the flowing forms that seem to guide the viewer along the wall. The use of color both in the foreground and background of the image  bring me into the painting, I was so drawn by it that I came back to this room a few times. On the opposite wall were other paintings that seemed to hold the rhytem of the flowing forms that held me in the painting on on the opposite side of the wall, The artist works well with combining form with a sculptural like element that really draws me into the piece. Especially with the frist image its almost as if the image is a discussion of all the twists and turns that metaphorically enter ones mind. 

       "The Uniersal Recipient"

                     Dave DeCamilla, "Just in Case"

Dave DeCamilla, "Just in Case Case", enamel on wood and toy gun

There were also sculpture pieces in the exhibition. The sculpture pieces ranged themselves in what forms they took. From hand crafted pieces such as with wire to found items in nature such as rocks. Its interesting how the sculpture pieces speak to different dialogue such as the rocks speaking to the environment and topology and the wire forms speaking to human interaction with others such as with the uniquely made weapon placed on the wall. I wasn't sure I fully got the message but the combination of the elements in that room made me think about looking at ourselves and how we react to others in a given environment. 

 

There were also interactive pieces that allowed the viewer to be part of the piece whether physically or by placing themselves in the environment and reacting to the work. One piece was a projection built into a wall in which a viewer looks into a given area that gave them a projected city to look at and in return the their face was projected on the wall inside the space. The image above shows a woman looking into the installation and the second image is of her husbands projection who used the piece after her, 

Another piece that took the viewer out of the two dimensional space was one of a room that seemed to be empty because it was pitch black. Before we even entered that room there was a door that warned us not to look inside. Then right next door was the dark room with birds on the wall accompanied by sound of birds and an ambient blue light.  I thought this piece was interesting because the artist led the viewer to believe the space would be frightening, yet it looked very interesting and was an interesting place to stand in for awhile. I got a sense of vastness and nature although the birds didn't really exist. 

Overall it was an experience seeing a diverse selection of art from contemporary artist. I know the exhibit wasn't up for very long, so it makes me appreciate the art i got to see first hand. It took me awhile to understand, as an artist myself, that we have to separate ourselves from the work because not all work is kept like in a museum, The value in the art was the experience of seeing it while it was available for view and taking away from it the time we shared being immersed in that space of art from many different backgrounds. It was really a moving experience that I took with me to see a building itself turned into art and see the space around us in a different way.

Pump up the Volume

                          Pump up the Volume

I viewed an exhibit called "Pump of the Volume by Jane Dickson and Joe Lewis. The exhibit and its artwork display the celebration of hip hop's growth into a global movement from its earlier movements in the South Bronx. The exhibit contained a diverse selection of artworks ranging from paintings, portraits, and vinyl covers etc showing the extend of the influence and culture of hip hop music.

 

                       Jane Dickson

                               Joe Lewis

One of the first things that drew me to the exhibition was the music that I could hear flow through the gallery. I love hip hop music. It has always been a strong part of my life. The culture of hip hop extends through life no matter ones origin. The artist mention in their artist statement speak to the influence of the South Bronx and how global the culture of hip hop is of that area. From her vision and influence of the culture working on projects at Fashion Moda in the South Bronx, Jane Dickson created City Maze in 1980 with Graffiti artists. 

                                City Maze

 

     KRS 1 at the Amphitheater 

                                 Whigga Pleez

The great thing about the work of Dickson and Lewis was the large amount of culture that the viewer is immersed in within this art space. I found myself thinking back on memories looking at this art work, There were so many art works from artists I remember growing up listening to such as KRS 1. This gallery reminded of what real hip hop was. It was music that had meaning. Music that had a tempo. You couldn't just stand idly by, your body had the move to the music, feel the music. 

 

    Black Frost

 "Neva Me." Black Frost

One thing that had really brought the gallery full circle for me was the night that Black Frost performed. He was an old school type rapper who performed some of his own music. Its not just enough to hear about the culture of hip hop, one hasd to be immersed in the music itself. It was great to have the opportunity to listen to him speak on the mike, To hear hip hop how it use to be, where the artist uses the mike like a tool to tell a story. When I spoke to him I asked him why he called himself Emcee J.O.C.K. and he said J.O.C.K. was an acronym for Judicious, Omniscient, Creative, and Knowledgeable. His name just as powerful as the words of real hop hop music.

 Black Frost and I

Its something to hear the recording of a song, but to hear something first hand of an artist presenting you with a piece of themselves is really quite an experience. It was also great to speak to the artist himself and see how much soul he has in the art of hip hop. he brought with his his own history such as old magazines, album covers, and tape cassettes that showed how much of his life is in hip hop culture. That was history and in that history of music lies the art in music because his collection of music tells a story. Hip hop to me is life. Whether it be listening to music of today or sticking to the old school music that started it all, I love the way hip hop makes me feel. The music flows through the body and mind. It follows through time and will always be something that moves me. 

 

                  Collection of hip hop magazines

 

               Collection of Music, Tape Cassettes