The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts (ECVA) has launched a
new online multimedia feature, "Visual Preludes 2006: The Videos."
These videos offer a multimedia experience based on the Visual Preludes
presented during daily Eucharist services at the 75th General
Convention of the Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio, June 13-21, 2006.
They are available for viewing over the Internet at
http://www.ecva.org/wordimage/multimedia.htm.
Nine separate videos, geared to Convention's daily worship themes,
combine visual images and music to create an atmosphere for meditation
and reflection. The Preludes are suitable for private viewing, group
meditation and liturgical settings.
During each day's Service of Holy Eucharist at Convention, the videos
were projected onto large screens erected near the altar. Images flowed
continuously during Communion and before and after the service, with a
single image onscreen during the Liturgies of the Word and Eucharist.
Live music accompanied the videos at their presentation in Columbus.
Online at the ECVA web site (http://www.ecva.org), the images blend with
music from ten different contributors.
The Preludes are the product of artists and musicians within the
Episcopal community who have donated the use of their work. The 123
visual artists range in age from 15 to 96; as a community their
heritage spans black, white, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian
roots. They reside in 55 dioceses across 38 states. Their images
include painting, sculpture, photography, stained glass, fabric arts,
jewelry, printmaking, and mixed media. Their expression ranges from
medieval icons - some with non-traditional subjects gleaned from
natural science and contemporary society - through the Stations of the
Cross expressed in digitally manipulated images from current news. The
ten musicians' offerings range from chant to cello to didgeridoo, an
aboriginal wooden flute often described as the oldest musical
instrument on earth.
The Visual Preludes 2006 exhibition series was created by a national
team of three curators, a music consultant, a video director, and a
producer, all in partnership with the Executive Offices of the General
Convention of the Episcopal Church. Their original purpose was to
create an atmosphere for worship at General Convention.
The mission of ECVA is to encourage artists, individuals,
congregations, and scholars to engage the visual arts in the spiritual
life of the church. ECVA values the significance of visual imagery in
spiritual formation and the development of faith, and creates programs
to support those who are engaged in using the visual arts in spiritual
life. For more information, visit http://www.ecva.org.
For additional information contact:
Brie Dodson
Director of Communications, The Episcopal Church & Visual Arts
(703) 786-6668
communications@ecva.org
Mel Ahlborn
Producer, The Episcopal Church & Visual Arts
925.631.1387
925.699.4457
mahlborn@ecva.org
Dan Hardison
Editor, The Episcopal Church & Visual Arts
(910) 815-6661
editor@ecva.org
