The Cathedral Ark Exhibition: a reaction in poetry.

Ark is Chester Cathedral's exhibition of 90 pieces of modern art called Ark.  It is a great space for art and I particularly liked the thoughtful ways the pieces were presented, sometimes emphasising the traditional pieces already there, sometimes presenting an interesting juxtaposition that made me notice both old and new a little more.

Here, for instance, is the cast of an eagle in bronze by Elisabeth Frink posturing at another, older eagle in another lectern

Eagle Elisabeth Frink

while Antony Gormley's exquisitely-carved foetus in a highly polished surgical bowl is placed in a glass box of other small and heavy objects

Home and Away by Antony Gormley

David Mach's 'Vessel' with its millions of carpet tacks each laboriously tacked onto wood in the cloisters where the monks once worked

Vessel by David Mach

and Emily Mayer's 'Final Voyage-Precious Cargo (a dead dog crammed in a suitcase)

Final Voyage by Emily Mayer

is placed on an old-fashioned hearse in the Chapter House

Final Voyage by Emily Mayer

I was pleased to learn that the calf in Damien Hirst's 'False Idol'was stillborn with its golden hooves representing the golden calf that the Israelites worshiped while Moses was busy receiving the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.  

False Idol by Damien Hirst

Particularly suitable for the nave then, as was Jon Buck's 'Ark: High and Dry' (its intricate patterning set off by the equally intricate patterns on the screen to the choir)

Ark: High and Dry and Jon Buck

and  'Noah and the Raven'.

Noah and the Raven by Jon Buck

There were many representations of birds including Geoffrey Dashwood's Peacock

Peacock by Geoffrey Dashwood

and, outside, Anthony Abraham's dove.

Figure with Bird 1997Anthony Abrahams

Figure with Bird (Haiku)

She stands, while a dove
settles on her outstretched hand.

After chaos, calm.

Chromosomal Dance 2009 by Sue Freeborough

Chromosomal Dance.
Your Y, my X.
We shuffle, melt 
recombine.

Becoming 2017 by Sue Freeborough

Becoming.
Your copper, my tin.
Each time  
a new alloy.

The Patriarch, Jambo 1995 by Ralph Brown

The Patriarch, Jambo.
Stand tall Silverback.
Parts of you have 
traveled the world
like dandelion seed
taking root.

Jambo (detail) by Ralph Brown

But your strongest part
- that sat bridge-like over the child -
would have died with you
except for this
memorial in bronze.

Narcissus

I hear that it's a test.

Draw a spot 

and at a certain age 

we know, as humans,

that the mark is on our skin

when we see it on ourselves.

The Birth of Consistency by Angus Fairhurst

For some of us

this is just the start

an endless inspection 

of face and smile

at the end of a stick

or mirrored in a pond.

The Birth of Consistency (detail) by Angus Fairhurst

A reflection of words then -

or an image of a contoured pout

crafted from pigments

and held for the click.