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Reliquary (rel
e-kwer e) n. -
A shrine for keeping cherished objects that
have survived the passage of time
or keepsakes associated with an inspirational person, place, or event.
(for more information click on links above)
History of the Reliquaries:
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After leading art and
healing workshops at the South Carolina Cancer Center for over 8 years, it
became evident that more people needed to have access to this experience.
This community needed a way to name the un-nameable, a place to put their
fears to rest, a place to honor the healing of mind, body, and spirit.
These Reliquaries have afforded thousands of individuals to privately
express what is in their hearts without fear of judgment. Knowing
this, allows the feelings of fear, anger, isolation to be assuaged and
transformed into strength, perseverance and hope.
Over the past four
years, viewers of the reliquary have written thousands of hand written
prayers, intentions of wellness, and messages of hope as well as placing
sacred objects and photographs within the Reliquary. The basic act of
placing objects, writing these prayers, folding the paper and placing them
within the reliquary, is an act of healing - an authentic, private heartfelt
expression. These actions when joined with past and future thoughts, form
an ongoing circle of healing and linking everyone to a larger spiritual
community.
In 2001, a web based magazine, Belief Net, featured an article on the
work I was doing within the art and healing field and featured the Reliquary
of Healing at the Cancer Center as an innovative work of art that promotes prayerful contemplation and reflection.
To reference:
www.beliefnet.com/story/58/story_5801_3.html
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Commissioned Reliquaries
2003 -
St. Stephen’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lexington, SC
Reliquary of Faith
2002
- Palmetto Baptist Baptist Hospital, Columbia, SC.
Healing Shrine – 8th Floor
Oncology Floor
2000 - South Carolina State Museum, Columbia, SC
Reliquary of
Healing in honor of World AIDS Day, (12-1).
1999 -
South Carolina Cancer Center, Columbia, SC
Healing
Shrine - 3rd Floor Nurses Break Room,
South
Carolina Cancer Center, Columbia, SC
Reliquary to
Survivorship - Warren Atrium,
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An Example of a Christian
Reliquary of Faith
Commissioned by St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church in 2003
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Faith, the cornerstone of our
spiritual foundation, is a force we all
hold close to our souls.
"It is my
hope this reliquaries will offer this
congregation a new, different
way to
pray that will somehow nurture
a more personal connection
with God while
drawing this church
community closer through
a shared experience.
To begin,
gather
your soulful prayer with intention, write it on a piece
of prayer
paper
and then fold several times, making sure your words
are folded towards
the inside. Your prayer can be place directly
within the reliquary or
dropped in the slot where your Pastors will
gather them. Your individual
prayer now becomes part of a community
prayer song,
silently singing its way
to the heavens." hdh
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The inside of the
reliquary is composed of green and blue glass reminiscent of the stained
glass within the main cathedral of St. Stephens. If you look closely
you will find symbols and images seen every Sunday embedded within the walls
of this reliquary. The steps leading upwards towards the “Sacred
Circle” hold symbols of the Christian faith – stones represent the strong foundation of the church as
well as the stones that were cast against St. Stephen, the butterflies point
to the beauty and transformation held within our spiritual convictions, the
doves characterize the freedom found within the holy spirit, the plant
material signifies the growth and everlasting nature of our faith, the empty
walnut nut shells stand for the concentrated potential the seed once held
that now has been offered to the world, and the small ceramic ‘baskets”
signify the importance of filling ourselves and then emptying ourselves out
into the world.
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The Sacred Circles
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The
Reliquary of Faith holds interchangeable center circles. In some traditions
this is known as a mandala, a sacred circle, a symbol of eternity, a shape
with no beginning, no end. Many cathedral stained glass windows are
composed within this mandala shape, for example the Rose window above the
altar in this church. There are
four Sacred Circles to align with the four liturgical seasons of the
church. Each circle is suspended by an evergreen vine reminding us of the
importance of renewal and the promise of life everlasting.
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Advent –
The colors of advent are royal blue and
silver pointing to the night sky where the Silver Star shone brightly
through the dark. This reminds us of the arrival of the Christ child,
the one born of light. The swirling texture of the outer circle
symbolizes the night sky and winds of creation. The center circle, composed
of mica, mirrors the reflective aspect of the star and the anticipation,
expectation, and the longing for the arrival of the King of Peace, birth of
Jesus.
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Lent – The colors of lent are royal purple and
scarlet. Lent is a time to reflect on inner penitence and
reconciliation. The twisting lines surrounding the inner circle
visually remind us to take the time to examine and evaluate our lives, to
commune and wrestle with God in a private way and to “fast” from the beliefs
and actions that keep us from getting closer to God. At this time, we
remember the sacrifices that Jesus made for us. The scarlet ladders
are representative of the blood Christ sacrificed for us so that we could
have the opportunity to inwardly, step up and into a closer relationship
with God. The inner circle is composed of tumbled glass, worn smooth
over time, symbolizing the softening of our sharp human edges through living
a conscious heart lead Christian life.
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Easter –
The colors of Easter are white and gold
representing the purity, light and joy of this season. The third day after
the crucifixion, the joy of the resurrection and the miracle of the
ascension of Christ into heaven gave humanity victory over death. The
golden upward rising swirls of the larger circle represent the spirit of
Christ crossing the threshold of this life into a new heavenly life, full of
bright beginnings. The nails of the center circle represent the sacrifice of
the crucifixion and the betrayal of Christ by his followers.
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Pentecost -
The colors of Pentecost are green
and sienna. The wind swept flame-like forms of the outside circle represent
the fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit as they appeared to the disciples
gathered in the upper room. The green mosaic circle represents the
spiritual growth the disciples experienced while being filled with the Holy
Spirit, transformed with new life. Green glass hearts encircle the central
symbol of the Holy Spirit and remind us of the spoken words, “I will give
you a new heart and put a new spirit in you”.
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The back of the Reliquary
holds a walnut cross
that is surrounded by baptismal seashells and fragments of green and amber
stained glass. Amber and green were chosen to represent the spiritual
growth that can transpire through our earthly experiences. Prayer ribbons
flank the central image holding symbols of Christianity. Below the row of
“stones”, encircled by green glass fragments, written words humbly empress a
thought that will surround each prayer with the hopes that we all will have
the serenity to accept the things we can not change, the courage to change
the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference. On the sides
are historical ions devoted to Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, the four
apostles.
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