AN ARTIST from Earley made an impact at an arts festival over the August bank holiday weekend, even though she couldn’t attend.
Emma Major, who has appeared on Grayson Perry’s Art Club, a Channel 4 series celebrating creativity, created a giant artwork for Greenbelt’s Sunday morning communion service.
It was the 50th anniversary event for the popular festival which attracts those of faith and no faith each August. Held at Boughton House near Kettering, the event features an eclectic mixture of speakers, artists and performers. This year’s line-up included former prime minister Gordon Brown, humanist Andrew Copson, comedians Josie Long and Milton Jones, and former Reading Evening Post reporter Chine MacDonald.
A centrepiece to the weekend is its communion service, parts of which will be seen on Songs of Praise later this month.
Hosted by David and Carrie Grant, it saw Azariah France Williams reflect on some of the challenges posed by the climate emergency.
The art project by Ms Major – a licenced lay minister at Earley St Nicolas church in Sutcliffe Avenue – formed part of the service. Charged with the task of creating a digital painting that would also become an interactive piece that festivalgoers could take part in, it was a collaboration with artist Louise Crookenden-Johnson.
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Attendees were invited to create a tissue paper flower which was representative of a prayer. These were gathered to form the giant piece of art as the service continued.
The finished artwork was an image of an angel, fitting with the theme of the service Anyone Seen An Angel.
Ms Major was delighted with how the service had gone and said: “Greenbelt Festival asked me several months ago if I’d be willing to create a piece of art, on the theme of angels, gifts and thanks, which could be made by everyone at the Sunday morning Communion service. I couldn’t quite believe I’d been asked and of course I said yes.
“I spent a few days in prayer, painting about how thankful I am for God with me every day, about the blessing that is Greenbelt and the gift of friends who I’ve made through the festival. The result is the painting.
“I gave my artwork to the amazing artist Louise, who figured out a way to make the painting LIVE at the Sunday service, from tissue paper flowers made by the thousand or so people at the service, saturated in their prayers.”
Although ill-health meant Ms Major was unable to attend, the service was live streamed, so she was able to watch from her home.
“It has been such an honour to be able to offer my creativity, to see Louise make it possible, and a joy to watch it come to life thanks to everyone’s flowers of prayers and the amazing team of volunteers,” she said.
Emma’s artwork can be seen on the Sunday, September 17 edition of Songs of Praise, broadcast on BBC One. She is also taking part in the Wokingham Art Trail over the same weekend.
