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What we are showing here are works from an art exhibition that was part of an event in the Church of St John the Evangelist’s “Festival of Spirituality” which is put on every year at the time of the annual Edinburgh Arts Festival. It involved a month-long art exhibition that ran 6– 9 August. Each of the participating artists had agreed to create a work on the theme of the sacred especially for this event. There was also a four-day long event from 6-29 August with a variety of speakers, panel sessions and music, all falling under the rubric of “Finding the Sacred in the 21st Century.”

In some circles in the contemporary world the word ‘sacred’ is apparently problematic, usually because it is thought to entail something having to do with religion. However, the ‘sacred’ has little or nothing to do with dogma or doctrine. As human beings we are continually involved in the process of trying to locate our finite selves within infinitude. The process of finding the sacred simply means to be in the process of attempting to gather up the fragments, to bind together the finite with the infinite, so both form one great whole; thus, finding the sacred is a process that touches everyone, whether believer or atheist.

It must be said that the sacred indeed seems to be difficult to locate in the space/time of the early 21st century. The main reason the sacred is so hard to see or feel has everything to do with the fact that most of us live in an environment that is continuously bombarded with images generated by the media. Even if we do not watch television, we are still subjected to advertisements in magazines and newspapers, on billboards, on the walls we pass while walking, on public transportation, on the radio, and lately, even when we go to the theatre to watch a film. These images do nothing to connect us with the sacred; rather, they actively function to dis-connect us from it. Unlike many of the events on offer at a cultural endeavour like the Edinburgh Arts Festival, it was hoped that this event would actively and explicitly function to help people re-connect with the sacred. All of the talks, images, poetry and music presented will be geared toward forging a connection with what poet Adrienne Rich referred to as “the rockshelf furthering all that is.” 

An event like the one we organized in Edinburgh required the dedication and energy of more than one person. Andy Green, Director of Kempock Digital agreed to be the business manager for the event and a member of the Advisory Board which was also comprised of John Blue (business manager of the Glasgow Phoenix Choir), Jack McLean (columnist for The Herald and Scotsman on Sunday), Cordelia Oliver (author and art critic), Peter Searle (theatre consultant), and Avril Paton (artist). George Wyllie (artist and sculptor) was an ex officio advisor.

The end result is that our Advisory Board, our Artists, Speakers, and Musicians have created a meaningful, vibrant community and we wanted to contribute at least some of that wonderful spirit to the 2005 Merchant City Festival.

 

You are cordially invited to come and be a part of it!