In planning the icon’s placement for the west wall of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Kitchener-Waterloo, I’ve tried to come up with something that is visually pleasing with the structure already present within the Nave. Mostly, I’ve built upon the ratios possible within φ (the golden ratio: which is when, “the sum of the quantities to the larger quantity is equal to the ratio of the larger quantity to the smaller one” – Wikipedia ).
One thing I hadn’t realized before I measured was that the two sections of wall between the existing pillars are not of equal width. After trying a couple of different solutions, I think it would be best to place four icons in the longer section, and three in the shorter. This will allow the wall to be balanced throughout, and the icons to be of a good size.
I’m proposing that the final icons should measure 2′ (61.0 cm) x 1¾” (4.4 cm) x 2’8″ (81.3 cm) (L x W x H). This will make them quite large as free-standing panel icons, however many examples of icons this size, and even larger, have existed in churches; especially as processional icons. In fact, I was fortunate enough to see a few such examples at the Onassis Cultural Center in their, “The Origins of El Greco: Icon Painting in Venetian Crete” exhibition during my trip to New York last month.
Given that, according to this plan, the west wall will now require seven icons, we may have to adjust the current time-line of this project. However there are already two factors that will have impact upon that plan: Our late start in the project and the changing of my mind regarding the panels.
Every few years I have a moment of intense frustration regarding the time it takes to write an icon in the traditional manner. But, time and time again this attitude is corrected (in this instance, it was my MFA critique!) and I remember what a privilege it is to create genuine icons. The decision to create the wooden panels will add months to this project; but centuries to the icons.
For now, I will continue to spent 8 hours a week on this project (as originally intended).
I welcome any comments, or thoughts, from the parish.
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