Magnificent Mosaic
Modern Masterpiece
Places of worship were and still are art works in themselves, created as edifices to deity as examples of the faith, creativity and unusual work ethic and patronage that achieved the final result.
In some of the oldest places of worship in the world, the workers and perhaps some unbelievers painted and carved and decorated the timber and stone detail with their own perception of reality and imagination that included the strange and grotesque. 1
In Disguise
If not on the outside, religion has always been an opportunity for people to place something creative of themselves inside the buildings and the area the congregation faces is sometimes a feature wall, decorated with sculpture, paintings or stained glass windows – Queanbeyan’s Uniting Church, opened in 1994, is no exception. 2
The modern Uniting Church and the beautiful Mosaic wall mural inside were created by Bryan Dowling and if there was only one Bryan Dowling in Canberra then it is the same architect who died a few years back during the construction of the five story Waterford Apartments. 3
The Uniting Church site is special because it is right in the centre of town and also houses the initial tiny old Methodist church built in 1860, and the extensions that followed, which are still used for worship each Sunday by the Samoan congregation. 4
Private detective
It often takes someone else to initiate a spoken question, to which an answer has never been sought even though the question has silently lurked in the deep recesses of the mind over a long time.
And so it was that at the Hospital AGM held at the Uniting Church a couple of weeks ago that holder of the Queanbeyan Hospital-history collection, Nancy Monk, asked what the mural behind the alter was made of. 5
From a distance the mural ‘feels’ like it could be tapestry and this is partly because of the colour and design, which merges, especially if your getting old and squinting your eyes to see more clearly and partly because of the unusual shapes and large size of portions of the mural, which don’t look like regular bathroom tiles but which a ‘real feel’ proves are tiles, but not destined for the bathroom. 6
Inspired view
“Curiouser and curiouser,” (sic) and like Alice in Wonderland a mini investigation ensured. 7
It was at a general meeting of the Uniting Church congregation that a decision to proceed with a new building was made and the concept to include a feature that not only implied “this is a church”, but said, “this is a Church in Queanbeyan” was also agreed to. 8
The congregation talked long and hard about the special and uniqueness of Queanbeyan until Merran Toone, inspired by the view from her kitchen window said, “the hills frame our community on all sides” – everyone felt the same and wondered if a mosaic could be made from a photo. 9
Muted computer
After a computer outline of the photo the architect Bryan Dowling’s task was to develop the design detail and he chose colours that were stronger than the more muted tone that was expected. 10
Tiles were sourced from Melbourne for the project. 11
Photo from Bungendore Hill taken in 1993 looking South West across Queanbeyan over the top of Jerrabomberra Mountain to the ranges beyond, is displayed in the Uniting Church foyer and is worth a peak as the view, which inspired the mural, is now hidden by natural and man made growth. 12
Pic of the pixs
Many photos were taken and considered and Geoff McCubbin’s photo got the nod. 13
Master tilers Terry Short and Craig Fitzsimons’ workmanship made this magnificent, modern, multi-layered mosaic, mural, a design reality that meshes all elements of the project together. 14
A natural wooden cross extends out and hovers just above the layer of tiles marking the town and extends up into the layer’s of tiles depicting the mountains. 15
Mark or Luke?
Five scriptures from the Bible: Psalm 121, Luke 6:12, Luke 19:41, Mark 16:6 and Isaiah 40:3 were selected to interpret the mosaic and another scripture added by the most recent and present Pastor, Reverend Kevin Dilks, Isaiah 52:9 encapsulates some of humanities most sublime desires which cross all boundaries:
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation”. 16
Amen to that.
END
Footnotes:
1. Most art books on Gothic Cathedrals show samples of this art work.
2. (i) Uniting Church. Queanbeyan Uniting Church Opening Program - Meditation on the Mosaic. Queanbeyan Uniting Church, (Self Published) 26 March, 1994. (ii) The Queanbeyan Age, Uniting Church opening, 1994.
3. Connee-Colleen. Queanbeyan Outlook with Connee-Colleen, Magnificent Mosaic © 2008, The Queanbeyan Age, 22 August, 2008, p 25. [OL.154]. (Bryan Dowling was the architect for Queanbeyan’s Waterford Apartments on the corner of Atkinson and Waniassa Streets, Queanbeyan).
4. McCubbin, Geoff. Queanbeyan Uniting Church - A brief history. Corner of Crawford and Rutledge Streets Queanbeyan. c1994.
5. The modern Uniting Church is a multi-use facility and can be hired for some activities.
6. Size of Mural … x … .
7. Lewis Carroll. Alice in Wonderland. Biddlington, Priory Books. p 8.
8. Connee-Colleen. Interview: Geoff McCubbin’s recollections of the project. 2008.t. 2008.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid
13. Geoff McCubbin’s framed photo is on the wall in the foyer of the Uniting Church.
14. Connee-Colleen. Interview: Geoff McCubbin’s recollections of the project, 2008.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
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NB: (i) CLICK on REFERENCE (at top of page) for more details on footnotes, and (ii) CLICK on GLOSSARY (at top of page) for meanings of some words.