This roundel is at the top of the St Frideswide window made in 1858 by Edward Burne-Jones for the Latin Chapel of Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. It fits within an ancient iconography that connects ships, church and community in a metaphor of the human journey through life.
I’ve seen some lovely stained glass at Moulton and elsewhere but I haven’t yet discovered whether there is any among the 14 churches in this project made by an artist of the calibre of Burne-Jones. But it wouldn’t surprise me: churches are full of art that you’d usually have to go to a museum to see.
Community artist, writer, researcher, trainer, consultant, policymaker – I’ve had many roles since I started work in community arts in 1980, but always in the hope of protecting human rights. I work independently, mostly in Europe, from my home in France. I always work with others, accompanying them, sometimes guiding, in the journeys they want to make. My latest, perhaps my last, book is about the history, theory and practice of community art: it’s free to download from www.arestlessart.com
View all posts by François Matarasso
The Light Ships 