A reflection on Art in the Close

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, shares a reflection about the Art in the Close exhibition featuring works by John Maine and Lynn Chadwick.

Watch the video message above and read the full text below.

"From its foundation in 1096, Norwich Cathedral has always been a place which engages with the arts and creativity.

The Cathedral building itself is a wonderful example of Norman architecture. Inside, it's a home to sculpture, paintings and textiles, as well as being the setting for the Cathedral's own rich, musical tradition.

The latest example of the Cathedral engaging with the arts was launched just a few weeks ago at the beginning of September, when in The Close we launched a series of sculpture exhibitions by John Maine and Lynn Chadwick.

I'm standing next to one of the pieces by John Maine now. It's sculpted from Scottish granite. On this side, the granite is still rough and unprepared just as it came from the quarry.

But as we move round, we see that on the other side the granite has been polished to create this beautiful, lustrous black surface on which these designs have been inscribed.

It's a wonderful example of how an artist like John Maine can see the potential in the stone to draw from it something beautiful.

In the same way, Christians believe that God, as our Creator, sees the potential in us and longs to draw forth from us all that we were created to be.

And we in turn, as those made in God's image, made to be creative, are called into the world to ensure its beauty and potential can be released, enjoyed, and shared.

It's my hope that this contemporary exhibition of sculpture, together with the art already in the Cathedral, can inspire us to be creative and to respond to the love of God, our Creator."