26/03/05

Ohakune weekend

26/03/05 - road to Waterfalls

Walk to Waterfalls - near Ohakune (all of us look like we're trying out our 'catalogue C&A' poses for the camera!)

26/03/05 - road to Waterfalls

Me during Easter weekend in Ohakune.

Matt's parents own a beautiful batch at the base of the main north island mountains - ideal location for ski-ing come winter.
This was my first visit to Ohakune - with Matt, Jared, their twin cousins & Mieke

Station 16

A body without a soul & spirit is useless

Station 15

Representation of a morgue

Station 15

Representation of body in the tomb (in a morgue)

Station 14

Station 14 - bathtub - constantly filling up with blood

Station 14

Station 14 - bathtub - constantly filling up with blood

Use of mechanical pump set on timer - to spray fine mist of simulated pump through a raised tap into the bath

Station 12

Station 11

Crucifixion

Three dimensional installation, using two walls of the corner of a room, to generate depth. People are encouraged to release a hammer, set on a pivot, which swings down and hits a nail into a dummy arm. As the hammer makes contact with the hand, a sensor is triggered playing a dramatic piece of music.

Station 8

Lamb to the slaughter

- Biased one sided game of table-football - Jesus verses the authorities

Station 7

Jesus stripped of his clothes

- like at a fair - where you put your head through the hole in the board to see yourself

Station 6

Photocopy of own hand.
Certificate (guarantee) of our sins being paid for

Station 5

Station 5 - crowd before Pontius Pilate calling for Barabus

Minuture speakers in each mouth - each yelling out different crowd noise/abuse in aramaic (incredibly powerful).
The participant had to walk through the installation - consisting of about 20 of these t-shirts, each with different sounds/ shouts coming from the mouth pieces (was incredibly powerful and scary - with noises coming from all directions!).

Station 4

Station 4 - Peter's denial - based on Tui advert (part 3)

Station 4

Station 4 - Peter's denial - based on Tui advert (part 2)

Station 4

Station 4 - Peter's denial - based on Tui advert (part 1)

Tui - local beer producer use this style of advertising on billboards around NZ

Station 2

Station 2 - mini labyrinth simulating Jesus in Garden of Gethsemene

Each person takes a candle, walks through an entrance and then procedes around the maze. At the centre is a pool of water containing other lit candles. People are encouraged to offer a prayer - whether it be a friend in need or a hurt in their own life. Then the person follows around at set route out of the maze.

Station 1

Station 1 - The Last Supper

People are welcomed at the start of the interactive exhibition, given a little bit of background of Stations of the Cross, and the intended experience.

Then people are encouraged to share a 'kiwi barbeque' - a hot dog & RedBull! .. simulating the last supper

Stations of Cross - Hamilton Easter Art Exhibition

Some background info on 'Stations of the Cross':

Over Easter time, a number of churches in the Hamilton/ Auckland area pulled together (with a number of contributors from folk in Gateway) to put on a 'Stations of the Cross' exhibition in an events hall in the town centre. Organised by YFC (Youth For Christ), this was its second year in Hamilton having been modelled on a exhibition in Auckland.

Bascially consisting of a series of pictures and installations representing the scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident or scene. Particularly contemporary in approach - being very expressive and passionate drawing on both visual and audio senses. Some of it was quite intriguing, revealing and hard-hitting with the intention of really drawing in and capturing the heart and attention of the audience.

Above are photos taken using the low quality camera on my palm-pilot of some of the artwork/ installations on show - unfortunately not doing justice to the quality of work on show ... but providing a taste and flavour all the same.

The exhibition was open to the public (including lots of school parties) during the week leading up to Easter. And being high in quality, pretty post-modern and low on cheese, as well as being well advertised on the radio and in the press - meant quite a lot of non-churched people made the effort to attend it.

'Stations of the Cross' has been taking place for centuries in its original form with its Catholic roots.

Traditionally there would be 14 Stations taking you on the journey of Jesus' last few days/hours from the Last Supper through to his resurrection.

The original specified Stations were as follows:

1. Christ condemned to death;
2. the cross is laid upon him;
3. His first fall;
4. He meets His Blessed Mother;
5. Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross;
6. Christ's face is wiped by Veronica;
7. His second fall;
8. He meets the women of Jerusalem;
9. His third fall;
10. He is stripped of His garments;
11. His crucifixion;
12. His death on the cross;
13. His body is taken down from the cross;
14. laid in the tomb.
    

The aim is you walk through each station in turn, through a prescribed pathway forming what could be termed a Labyrinth - giving time at each station to reflect/ appreciate & allow God to speak... as you focus on each piece.

The theme of stations does not have to be confined to a set list (certainly the one at Hamilton didn't).

I would be really keen to see churches in Southampton get behind a similar project perhaps next year (whether it be a Community Church project/ 24-7 or something else).

Not sure if 24-7 already do something similar ... it could be something we pulled together with them on?

I found the whole experience really stimulating and powerful.

Would need an awful lot of planning and preparation, plus a range of different contributors (there were about 26 different contributors at the Hamilton display with a curator).

Anyone up for getting involved???

14/03/05

Day trip to Picton (South Island) 6

14/03/05

Day trip to Picton (South Island) 5

14/03/05

Day trip to Picton (South Island) 4

14/03/05

Day trip to Picton (South Island) 3

14/03/05

Day trip to Picton (South Island) 2

14/03/05

Day trip to Picton (South Island) 1