Cambridge University to unveil young artist’s masterpiece on Easter Sunday
 

Cambridge University to unveil young artist’s masterpiece on Easter Sunday
 

• Christ’s College Chapel will reveal contemporary altarpiece to sit alongside sculpture by Sir Anthony Caro
• Catalogue includes forward by Sir Nicholas Serota and essays by Rowan Williams, Ruth Padel and Jaya Savige

This Easter Sunday (24th April) Christ’s College Chapel in Cambridge University, will unveil a new altar reredos by the current Leverhulme Artist in Residence Tom de Freston.

The unveiling will take place during a special service of the Anglican Choral Evensong and is the fruition of an exciting collaboration.
 

Tom de Freston, 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. He said: “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”.

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.”

A catalogue has been published by Green Pebble to accompany the installation. It includes a forward by Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate, an interview with Sir Anthony Caro and essays by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, poet and writer Ruth Padel, Professor Graham Howes and poet Jaya Savige.
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, Christ’s College Alumni

“Tom de Freston’s sketches for the chapel project fulfill 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

 

Press Contact
For further information, images or a copy of the catalogue please contact Tom de Freston on tasd2@cam.ac.uk or 07966025099.

 

Notes to editors
On Sunday 24 April, there will be a special service of the Anglican Choral Evensong with 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 for all following the service.
Press are invited to attend the service, please RSVP to: tasd2@cam.ac.uk/ 07966025099.

Photography and Filming
Prior Press Accreditation Essential:
Filming and photography (non flash only) will be permitted throughout the service.
To arrange special access for photographers and broadcast crews, including interviews with the artist and College Chaplain, please contact Tom de Freston: tasd2@cam.ac.uk/ 07966025099.

Christ&rsquo ;s College, Cambridge
www.christs.cam.ac.uk
www.christschapel.co.uk

Tom de Freston
www.tomdefreston.co.uk