I am very pleased and honoured to be a participant in this project.
Ghost of Gone Birds
The Camden Migration Festival
The Forge
3 - 7 Delancey St, Camden, London NW1 7NL.
26th September - end October
"Te Aroha o te Koreke""For the love of the New Zealand Quail"
Whiti koreke, ka kitea kow!Haere whakaparirau i a koe, haere whakamanu!
The quail springs up, you're found!Go and get yourself wings, go and turn into a bird!
The Black Robin and Archangel Michael
The Black Robin lives in the Chatham Islands off the east coast of Aotearoa, New Zealand and like many birds they have had an immense struggle to survive as a species. The Black Robin had succumbed to the introduction of pests like rats and along with the destruction of their habitat stood very little chance of survival. Extinction seemed inevitable for the robins. In 1980 there were only 5 individual birds left in the world! They existed on a windswept scraggy rock called Little Mangere Island and of these 5 there was only two females and of these 2 only one was fertile. Her name was 'Old Blue'. With the plight of the robins being so dire the New Zealand Wildlife Service had to act quick. Don Merton an experienced conservationist set in motion a plan to move the remaining birds to Mangere Island and have eggs from Old Blue incubated by Tomtits. Through trial and error and over a number of years the Black robin population slowly increased. Today there are about 250 Black Robins all descended from 'Old Blue' who lived to the grand old age of 14 which is a remarkable feat when the average life expectancy for the species was between 4 - 10 years. Thanks to Old Blue, Don Merton and Kiwi innovation the Black robin continues to be still with us today.
In this icon dedicated to 'Old Blue' we see her take flight as Archangel Michael the protector of the universe oversees and guards the whole of creation.
Prints are available here
This triptych commissioned by the Bishop of London, depicts three smiling women from the congregation of St John on Bethnal Green Church, seated around a table.
The women reflect the diverse nature of the congregation at St John's as well as the local East End community.
Each woman is a wife, mother, and grandmother, a person of faith and a committed hard working member of their church, something I wanted to celebrate. The three women also symbolise in part the important role of women – particularly older women – in the Church of England.
The opened hand of Mother Pearl is held out to greet the viewer to the table, a place of fellowship and hospitality while Mother Becky and Mother Miriam look on. What offering do you the viewer bring to the table? The stars on the table cloth symbolise the many descendants of Abraham. The colours the three women wear represent the Christian liturgical seasons and the gold leaf a belief in the 'sainthood of all believers.'
Prints of the 3 Mothers are available here
Regan O'Callaghan St Paul and the Huia 2008, Saint Paul's Cathedral London, art residency, Koru, tent, religious icon, egg tempera, gold leaf
Saint Paul and the Huia
In 2008 I had the great privilege of being based in a studio at St Paul's Cathedral. The Canon's had commissioned me to write an icon of Saint Paul and so for the next year I worked away in a room in the north of the cathedral accessed by entering a cleaning cupboard in the Minor Canon's vestry and climbing a winding staircase up into a room that seemed quite hidden and forgotten by time.
Regan O'Callaghan Saint Paul's Cathedral London stair well
The icon was dedicated on the 16th November 2008 at Evensong by the Bishop of London and is displayed in front of the high altar of the Cathedral.
Below is a description of the icon.
"Saint Paul is seen holding his letters upon which Saint Paul's Cathedral is carried. Above him is his tent and on his shoulder an exotic bird. The Huia, an indigenous bird of Aotearoa ( New Zealand ) is clearly not a typical orthodox image, but I have included it for an important reason. The Huia, above all other species in the forest, was sacred to Maori. It was believed a gatekeeper to the seventh heaven and was also closely associated with the great chiefs of the land and only chiefs of distinction could properly wear its tail. When it became rare, Maori declared it 'tapu' (sacred) but sadly this was not enough to save it as its tail feathers became sought after in Europe as well. The Huia became extinct in the early part of the 20th century. As well as its plumage, the Huia's call was very beautiful. The Huia that sits on Saint Paul's shoulder, reminds us that even though its song has been silenced, we are all still called to listen for the inspired beauty of God's song found in creation and Holy Scripture. The flowers on St Paul's tent encourage us to smell the sweet scent of heaven. St Paul himself looks directly at you the viewer. He waits to hear what you have to say. His hand which is about to bless points towards heaven and also appears to be waving. The swirling pattern on his right side is the 'koru'. This is an image inspired by an unfolding fern frond and it symbolises eternal life.
High Altar St Paul's Cathedral.
www.nzherald.co.nz/arts/news/article.cfm?c_id=544&objectid=10697341
www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/07/14/offscreen_feature.shtml
Patronal festival Saint Paul, icon, huia, gold leaf, saint paul's cathedral
St Paul Patronal 2011 - Day of the Phoenix
Photo by Graham Lacado.