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Silly Tuesday: Gurutz Aldare (retired)

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 17 March 2009 in Art & Design and Portfolio.

From 2000 to 2004 this was St. Peter's High Altar. It was executed by Eduardo Chillida, a renowned Spanish Basque sculptor. The overseer of the church was kind enough to lift off the veil a bit. (At lent, all liturgic treasures are veiled. They will be shown again at Easter.)

This altar is retired. 'Someone', the overseer didn't know who, suddenly sidelined it and interdicted its further use. And now you can find it literally on the sideline; a has-been altar who had to make room for a very modest desk that now serves as main altar. Chillida's work is now an art object only.

Silly, huh!

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

Hehehheheh hahahaha how can you have a 'has been altar????? What a silly concept and perfect for Tuesdays silliness!!! Thank you for the laughs and joining in the daft old day:-)

17 Mar 2009 5:35am

@Linerberry: Welcome to my world. :-)
Jesuits are directly reporting to the Pope, so I guess the culprit must be found somewhere in the Vatican. I'd like to know the justification for this, though...

MrsAmber from United Kingdom

It may be silly..but its a great photo still!

17 Mar 2009 9:49am

@MrsAmber: Mysteries of the Vatican! Thanks a lot, MrsAmber!

Manel from Girona, Spain

Thanks a lot for Eduardo Chillida promotion. Congratulations for your arquitectonic portfolio, very professional.

17 Mar 2009 10:45am

@Manel: Many thanks, Manel, much appreciated! I'm glad you like my work.

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

Its such a beautiful piece of work, it deserves to be shown. The Vatican operates like any such large corporation.

17 Mar 2009 11:30am

@JoeB: Roma locuta, causa finita. / Top brass orders. / Par ordre mufti.

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

Gorgeous piece and space and light. I really like this...beautiful.

17 Mar 2009 12:21pm

@bluechameleon: I think I have to look further for veiled objects, the fall of the folds is just too pretty. :-)

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

wonderful piece of work

17 Mar 2009 2:05pm

@Jen: I was really glad we were allowed to see it, instead of having wait until Easter.

WABIKOJA from Shiga, Japan

Really nice light. You've captured a mood.

17 Mar 2009 2:28pm

@WABIKOJA: These opal glass panes and veiled stained glass windows helped a lot. It was a perfect ambient lighting.

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

Cinemagraphic. My first association leaps to Ingmar Bergman.

17 Mar 2009 10:39pm

@Twelvebit: The most Protestant looking Catholic church I know of. :-)

Observing from North West, United Kingdom

Well it could have been worse...... they could have sent it back to him :-O

18 Mar 2009 12:13am

@Observing: I think it was already paid. :)
To have patience in (and with) the church is a virtue - maybe this altar is going to be re-established in a few years. Or fifty. Or hundred.

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

I like the composition here.

18 Mar 2009 12:21am

@Ana Lúcia: Light was tricky here!