ICONS at MIXA STUDIO
M. Jessing "Nativity" Icon on wood 20x14" 2007 M.Jessing "Trinity" Icon on wood- 20x14" 2007*
*St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Michael Jessing - Biography
Selected Exhibitions
"Contemporary Myths," Canton Art Institute, Ohio, 1987
"Urban Allegories," Queens Hall, Edinburgh, 1993
"Urban Allegories," Maclaurin Gallery, Ayr, 1995
"Illustrations to the Book of Psalms," Bookcase, Carlisle, 1997
"Illustrations to the Book of Psalms," St. Giles, Oxford, 2002
"Icons and Psalms," Festival of Spirituality, St. John's, Edinburgh, 2004
Icons and the Artist
The jewel like quality of icons have a deep significance to many people. Leonid Ouspensky writes in his book The Meaning of Icons, that for Orthodox Christians icons are "at the very essence of Christianity, since Christianity is the revelation by God - Man, not only of the Word of God but also of the Image of God." The word icon means "image" in Greek. Icons are focal points for prayers and meditations, taking the veiwer outside of normal space and time.
Michael Jessing, influenced by quality graffiti, sees in icons the anonymity and craft that he experiences in the"writings" on the streets of New York and other cities. Indeed, icons are often described as being written. Normal conventions of modeling and perspective are often ignored in favour of inspired form and space. That inspiration comes, to the icon painter, from traditional iconic images and through a spiritual approach to their creation.
The artist has been painting icons for ten years and currently gives workshops and talks on them. He has also completed illustrations to the Book of Psalms in which the iconographic influence is often apparent. A book of twenty two select illustrations is now available.
For further information contact Mixa Studios at 01721 723569 or [email protected]
Upcoming Exhibitions and Workshops:
5th Nov - 15 Jan 2008 - "Icons- Nativity and Beyond," Bookshop at the London Centre for Spirituality
8th Dec 2007 - Icon Workshop, Tullie House, Carlisle
Dec 2008 - "Iconostasis", Carlisle Cathedral