Christ’s College Chapel unveils young artist’s masterpiece
First commission in 500 year history

Catalogue with essays by Sir Nicholas Serota and Rowan Williams, plus an interview with Sir Anthony Caro.

 

This Easter Sunday (24th April) will be a very special occasion for Christ’s College Chapel in Cambridge University, as it unveils a new altar reredos by the current Leverhulme Artist in Residence Tom de Freston (position previously held by Ruth Padel). This will be the fruition of an exciting and developing collaboration.

The service will be Anglican Choral Evensong with special choral music by the College Choir. There will be readings from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible which is 400 years old this year. A sermon will be preached by the College Chaplain. In the course of the service, there will be an unveiling and dedication of the altar piece and a short conversation between the Chaplain and Tom de Freston about the work of art. There will be a reception in Hall for all following the service.
 

The Revd Christopher Woods, College Chaplain said: “In this Chapel, we have had the great Caro sculpture of ‘The Deposition’ in our midst for ten years. Now, in 2011 we have also have the de Freston altarpiece: new reflection for our time on the human reality of falling to the depths of despair, yet rising again abundantly to life and hope again.”
 

Tom, who also previously held the Levy Plumb Visual Arts Residency at Christ’s College has been working on the paintings for two years and is delighted to be bringing the installation to the Chapel:
“The two paintings are intended to offer a binary narrative, one of rise and fall. They are made with the very particular demands of the Chapel in mind, and will hopefully provide a visual and spiritual fulcrum to the space” said Tom de Fresto n
 

A catalogue has been published by Green Pebble to accompany the installation. It includes a forward by Sir Nicholas Serota and essays by Rowan Williams, Ruth Padel, Graham Howes and Jaya Savige, amongst others.
 

For any further information or to book a place, please contact Tom on tasd2@cam.ac.uk or 07966025099. Places are limited so please RSVP.
Quotes from the catalogue
“De Freston's solution is a powerful and original one: it is (put very simply) to juxtapose a passive and an active image in a physical medium that seems to be like deep water.”
The Most Revd Rowan Williams
“Tom de Freston’s sketches for the chapel project fulfil brilliantly what we need
from any backdrop to an altar. Their images are about the flesh but also how
to go beyond it.”
Ruth Padel
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Notes to the editor
NON-FLASH photography only (and filming) will be permitted during the service. Interviews and more formal photographs are welcome after the service. The service will begin at 1800 and will finish by 1920 on 24 April 2011.
www.christs.cam.ac.uk and www.christschapel.co.uk
For a copy or an e-copy of the catalogue please email tasd2@cam.ac.uk
To see more of Tom’s work visit: www.tomdefreston.co.uk