Each month we will be giving you the opportunity to learn more about the faces of our community, in a regular feature sharing the positive work of individuals, charities and organisations.
Faces of our Community will be released at the end of each month, with the Cathedral’s monthly E-Newsletter. For January we are joined by James Blackstone.
James Blackstone is an Anglican artist with a background in teaching and ministry. James works under the business name ‘Saint Dunstan Icons’. Based in Shrewsbury, UK, James has been studying under Aidan Hart. James is currently undertaking an artist residency, The Art of Worship, within a custom-built studio in the Cathedral’s North Transept until March 2022.
Artists do not put their signature on their icons. Why not?
There seems, at first sight, good reason to sign an icon. For an icon - whether it is made from tempera pigment, or carved wood, or from the glass and stone - is hand crafted throughout. Throughout the process of its making, an icon bears the physical imprint of the artist; so a signature would seem a natural way for the artist to register the work as her or his own.
Why then do iconographers not write their name on their work? In considering this narrow question, I think it is possible to say something larger about what it means to live in Christian community and in the community of the Cathedral Church of Chichester in particular.
For the name that is written on any icon, and all icons, is not the name of the artist but the name of the person depicted. That name might then be St Wilfred, or St Richard of Chichester. It might be Mary, the Mother of God. These names, and the names of all the saints and angels together, are significant only by relation to the One whose name is above all names, Jesus Christ (Philippians 2.9).
The iconographer empties him or herself out before the ultimate name of Jesus Christ. This might be individually self-destructive were it not that Christ first and always empties Himself out for us first (Philippians 2.6-8). And He calls us to have this same mindset for each other (Philippians 2.5).
In community we are encouraged to think that we do indeed have this mindset, or mind, of Christ (1 Corinthians 2.16).
If we were to try out this self-emptying mindset merely in the name of another individual like ourselves, we would surely corrupt each other through confusions and abuses of power. But if we attempt this only in the name of Christ, and without thought for our gain (ref. Matthew 20.20-28), then we are at least in accord with the calling of faith.
So the iconographer’s reticence about putting their name to an icon is a register of service to the One above all names, who names each of us for all eternity (Revelation 2.17). And Christ’s own signature is surely read in the bonds of self-emptying service within community: here is love which cannot but speak its name (John 13.35).
The Dean, Chapter, Friends and whole community of the Cathedral have been greatly generous in inviting us and welcoming us since we arrived on site earlier this month to work in the north transept. We are very grateful to know, and be part of, the love of Christ here.
Please visit us at any time from Tuesday to Saturday until the last week of March 2022, and especially between 1.00pm and 2.00pm, when we open up the doors fully. It’s a real joy to meet people.
Header image: James Blackstone, Saint Teresa (detail) Egg Tempera Icon.