The Altar and Temple of Heaven:Kristie Hilliard

Kristie Hilliard
William Blake Group
Altar and Temple of Heaven




General Description
The Altar and Temple of Heaven was built in Beijing, China during the reign of Emperor Yong Le and was completed in 1420. In China, the emperor was regarded as the Son of Heaven and he was also considered a liaison between Heaven and Earth. Because of this, it was very important for the people to show respect for his spiritual connection between Heaven and Earth so they had ceremonies where they showed respect for the source of the emperor’s spiritual authority. These ceremonies were held at the Temple of Heaven.

Architectural Design
The Temple of Heaven covers an area of 2,700,000 square meters and has two altars, one on the inside and one of the outside. The major structures of the Temple’s roadways are spaced out in north and south axis’s. The altars and temples face the south because it is the source of temperature weather and abundance and the north was influenced by evil sources. The building is square on the southern end and semi-circular on the northern end, with the round shape symbolizing heaven and the square shape symbolizes earth. The main building of the Temple is the inner altar. The Circular Altar and the Imperial Vault of Heaven stand on the north of the inner altar, while The Hall of Prayer and The Huang Gan Hall face south. They are connected by a 360 meter long corridor. The Hall of Prayer is very colorful and it is 38 meters high. The eaves of the hall are comprised of blue tiles because the sky is blue and it is symbolic of Heaven. The symbolic layout and design of the temple had a significant influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries.

Harmony with Nature
The temple is considered to be sacred ground. Chinese people believe that heaven and earth are connected so they built the temple as a way to connect or find harmony between earth and heaven. In this way, harmony with nature and earth is shown.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects
Since the temple was built as a place where heaven and earth unites, the use of the round shapes to represent heaven and the square to represent earth are essential to the building. The circular and square patterns are repeated throughout the structure of the temple. The temple also has two walls that extend the circle and square shapes. The taller wall is semi-circular and it is longer than the rectangular wall, which represents the earth. This is likely because heaven is superior to earth. The blue tiles that are in the Hall of Prayer are also symbolic because they represent the sky, which is blue, and it also represents heaven.

Also important in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is a circular column that represents summer, fall, winter, and spring.

How it is used by Worshippers
Although the Altar and Temple of Heaven was originally built for the emperor of China, it was still built as a place for worship where the people could come and worship to get a feel of the connection between heaven and earth. The emperor conducted ceremonies for sacrifices to heaven and the people came to worship heaven and also pray for good harvests.

Sources
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/881
http://www.beijing-travel.cn/Beijing_Attractions/Temple_of_Heaven.htm
http://www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/attractions/temple-of-heaven.shtml
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/china/beijing-temple-of-heaven
http://www.360cities.net/image/the-hall-of-prayer-for-good-harvest-beijing
Schlesier, M. L. (2005). Deities and Places of Worship. Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach. I/ed (pp. 258). Mason, OH: Thomson.

Profile of a Sacred Space by Jennifer Hyde

Notre Dame du Haut, Le Corbusier, 1955

General Description. Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France was designed by Le Corbusier. Built from 1950 to 1955, the chapel commissioned by the Catholic church was a bold move in the modern expressionist period.

Architectural Design. The chapel at Ronchamp is one of Le Corbusier's most extreme modern buildings. It is mainly constructed of cast concrete. Le Corbusier uses massing of walls from four inches to twelve inches thick to develop the sense of subtraction in his design. The heaviness of the building is juxtaposed by delicate uses of light. The light is very controlled through punched windows in the exterior that allow shafts of colored light to flow into the central nave. There are two smaller chapels on each side of the nave that pierce its massive structure. The light is controlled in the two side chapels through skylights. The only color on the building is found in the glazing which allows a very controlled setting in the interiors. The entire design is inspired by The Modulor. Modulor dimensions have been found throughout the design not only in space planning but in details such as the grid on the floor and the Mondrian-esque window designs. Le Corbusier breaks up the massive feel of the chapel by use of membranes such as the alternating concrete membranes found on the roof and texture of the pivoting metal door.

Harmony with Nature. The environment surrounding the site played an important role in Le Courbusier's design. Although it has been argued that the building moves away from the local vernacular of the small village of Ronchamp, the building is in direct response to the hillside on which it resides. The plan consists of four rounded walls which respond to the 360 degree panoramic views one experiences from the site. The chapel can be seen from miles away. The curved forms act as synonyms to the never ending landscapes.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects. The design references three Christian symbols by its resemblance to a dove's wings, praying hands and the shape of a boat. Le Corbusier references the absent sea with the exterior water basin. Le Corbusier believed that although opposites, mountains and the seas were complimentary. The building itself becomes a colossal structure which plays the role of monument on the hillside. Specifically placed windows shine light on important sculptural pieces in the interior of the chapel. Also, the pulpits become additive sculptures to the building making them stand out as significant.

How it is used by Worshippers. The site has been a pilgrimage destination since the twelfth century. The church previously on the location had been rebuilt many times until it was finally destroyed during World War II. The chapel is innovative in its ability to house a few worshippers in the nave and chapels or to host as many as 12,000 pilgrims on the exterior lawn. This is achieved through strategic placement of the altar and pulpits not only inside but on the exterior of the building. This allows the chapel to then become a backdrop for the pilgrims. Designed specifically for pilgrimage, Le Corbusier developed a course of travel up the hillside which takes the worshipper first past a dolmen like hill, then between the youth hostel and parish house where the view of the chapel then rises out of the ground as your final destination point. The pilgrim passes through a ziggurat like altar to the east and the bell tower to the west which then guide the worshipper in a counterclockwise walk around the chapel with planned vignettes at every corner where they eventually find themselves on the lawn with outdoor altar and pulpit.

The Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp could be seen more as a sculpture than architecture though it has and will continue be a momentous pilgrimage for Christians and admirers alike.


Sources:

Gans, Deborah. Le Corbusier guide. 3rd ed. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2006. Print.

Lazzari, Margaret, and Dona Schlesier. Exploring Art with Infotrac A Global, Thematic, Approach. 2nd ed. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004. Print.

"Notre Dame du Haut, or Ronchamp - Le Corbusier - Great Buildings Online." Architecture Design Architectural Images History Models and More - ArchitectureWeek Great Buildings. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .

Profile of a Sacred Space: Stonehenge: Lisa Kenaston

 General Description
When looking at the ruins of Stonehenge, though still grand, it is evident that the remains are part of what was a magnificent architectural megalithic structure. Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, England and is visited every year by droves of people coming to admire or worship the remains. There is an ongoing debate of what went on at this site back in the days of the Pagans up until now.
 Architectural Design
Stonehenge was built in what was believed a total of three stages. The first stage consisted of a bank that has a circumference of 320 feet and a series of Aubrey holes were dug with a circumference of 288 feet. This also included a causeway, which led into the structure. Phase two consisted of the placement of four station stones in line with the circle of Aubrey holes and the Q and R rings. The Q and R rings are newly discovered aspects that were recently found during excavation of the site. They are two separate rings formed by holes dug into the earth. Phase three is the most prominently visible aspect of the structure. In this phase a ring of Sarsen stones with lintel tops were built that has a diameter of 97 feet. This was followed by bluestones that formed an inner ring. Next there was a series of stones that form a horseshoe structure. There are also three other large stones that are placed strategically in the structure. One of these is a Heel stone, which is placed in the causeway before passing the exterior bank. A Slaughter stone was also placed in line with the ditch and the Aubrey circles after you enter from the causeway. An Alter stone can be found in the center of the structure. Many of the stones that form the central structure have fallen or are missing.



 Harmony with Nature
Some of Stonehenge’s most memorable moments are during the Summer Solstice. As the sun rises on the Summer Solstice the rays of light come flooding down the causeway. The light reaches the Heel Stone and floods all around it. The sunrays end at the Alter Stone in the center of the structure.

 Symbolism and Sacred Objects
Stonehenge has been seen as an astronomical device. Some theorists say that Stonehenge is a representation of the Pleiades constellation. The Avon River also mirrors the positioning of the Milky Way.

 How it is used by Worshippers
Other theorists believe that Stonehenge is a place to worship those who have died. In all of the Aubrey holes that have been excavated remains have been found. Each Aubrey hole is the sight of several cremated bodies. There is thought to be hundreds more buried through out each phase of the building of Stonehenge. The remains of pig and cow bones have also been found all through the grounds of Stonehenge. This may hint at animal sacrifice, which may have been for the dead that were buried here. The indigenous people may have believed the dead were responsible for providing a good harvest. It is believed that sacrifices and gatherings were thought to be made during the Summer solstice.

 Sources

http://libproxy.uta.edu:2066/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9412200616&site=ehost-live

http://libproxy.uta.edu:2066/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=37206108&site=ehost-live

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/stonehenge/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge

http://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/Summer Solstice Galactic Alignment.html

Profile of a Sacred Space: The Great Pyramid by Javelo Jones

General Description:
The Great Pyramid of Giza, also called the Pyramid of King Khufu, and in Greek Pyramid of Cheops, is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt, and is the first of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is the last remaining the only surviving one substantially intact. The pyramid was built as a tomb for Fourth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu and it too over 20 years to complete, finishing around 2540 BC. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years, but was not the first, furthermore was not the first true pyramid. What makes this one significant is because of its architectural advancement and the effort needed to build it.

Architectural Design:
Similar to pyramids constructed after it, it encompasses all of the standard elements of the pyramid complex, though most have since disappeared. The finished pyramid included a superstructure and substructure and enclosed with a wall of Turah limestone, which surrounded a court paved in limestone. The casing stones, 144,000 in all, were so brilliant that they could literally be seen from the mountains of Israel hundreds of miles away. After the Great Pyramid was initially sealed, its original entrance was hidden and faced with smooth limestone and blended in so well with the surrounding casing it was invisible. The base covers over 13 acres with a volume of around 90,000,000 cubic feet. You could build 30 Empire State buildings with its masonry. It stands 454 feet high, equivalent to a modern 48-story building. Each of the four triangular sides slopes upward from the base at an angle of 51 degrees each side has an area of 5 1/2 acres. The joints between adjacent blocks fit together with optical precision and less than a fiftieth of an inch separates the blocks. The cement that was used goes against chemical analysis, and with all our modern science and engineering, we would not be able to duplicate the pyramid. The Great Pyramid is the only pyramid to contain both ascending and descending passages. There are three known chambers inside which are arranged centrally, on the vertical axis of the pyramid. After entering, an 18 meter corridor leads to a split, one way leads to the lowest and unfinished chamber, which is cut into the bedrock of the foundation. It is the largest of the three other passage leads to the Grand Gallery where it splits again. One tunnel leads to the Queen's Chamber, while the other intersects with the descending corridor. An antechamber leads from the Grand Gallery to the King's Chamber.

Harmony with Nature:

While being the oldest structure on the face of the earth, the Great Pyramid is the most accurately oriented, being laid out almost exactly due north, south, east, and west. It is built to face true North. The Pyramid is located at the exact center of the Earth's land mass. That is, its East-West axis corresponds to the longest land parallel across the Earth, passing through Africa, Asia, and America and the longest land meridian on Earth, through Asia, Africa, Europa, and Antarctica, passes right through the Pyramid. Since the Earth has enough land area to provide 3 billion possible building sites for the Pyramid, the odds of it's having been built where it is are 1 in 3 billion.

Symbolism and Sacred Object:

A quote by William Fix in his book "Pyramid Odyssey" summarizes what many have thought and believe about the Great Pyramid as follows:

...men are capable of perceiving the Pyramid in an astonishing number of ways. Some have thought the Pyramid was an astronomic and astrological observatory. Some have thought it functioned as the equivalent of a theodolite for surveyers in ancient times... Some think it performed as a giant sundial... Some think it records the mathematics and science of a civilization which vanished... Some think it is a huge water pump. Others have thought it was filled with fabulous treasures... One early investigator came away convinced it was the remains of a huge volcano. Another thought the pyramids were Joseph's granaries. Some thought they were heathen idols wich should be destroyed. Some believe the Pyramid captures powerfule cosmic energies... Some think it is a tomb. Some think it is a Bible in stone with prophecies buld into the scheme of its internal passages... Some think it was a mammoth public works project which consolidated the position of the pharaoh and the unity of the nation. Some think it was built by beings from outer space. Some say it was a temple of initiation. Some hold that it was an instrument of science. Some believe it is an altar of Guild built through direct Divine Revelation. And today, judging by the uses to which it has been put, some apparently think it is an outhouse.

The Great Pyramid has an array of various geometric, geophysical, astronomical, numerical, and prophetic interpretations or coincedences made by explorers, authors, and visitors to the Great Pyramid over the last couple of centuries, such as the Great Pyramid having been used as a sundial, to the calculation of the speed of light, to the prediction of the exact dates of the birth of Adam, when the nation of Israel fled Egypt, and the life of Jesus. Some believe the existence of the Great Pyramid implies that God exists because achieving the pyramid's design with the characteristics it posseses would require one to change the size and shape of the earth, the alignment of the planets, and even components the solar system which would require power beyond human imagination.

Sources:

Great Pyramid of Giza Research Association: http://www.gizapyramid.com/index.html

Romer, John (2007). The Great Pyramid: Ancient Egypt Revisited. Cambridge University Press.
Winston, Alan. The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza in Egypt: An Introduction: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/greatpyramid1.htm

The Great Pyramid Part One: The Ancient Mystery Unraveled: http://www.greatpyramid.org/aip/gr-pyr1.htm

Hunkler, Tim G, Symbolism and Coincedences of the Great Pyramid
http://www.hunkler.com/pyramids/pyramid_symbolism.html

At the Museum with Wajiha Hyder

Looking through the Susan Rothenberg exhibition at the Modern Art Museum, her painting ‘the chase’ caught my eye. It was simple, yet curiosity built up in my mind. It was drawn in 1999 and had a mixture of several colors in a swirl. I couldn’t figure out why this was drawn. I learned that it was a picture of dogs killing a rabbit. It depicts several dogs frantically following or desperately escaping each other. It had heavy, dense brush strokes. In ‘The Chase’, the swirl shows frenzied action and almost a state of chaos. Oil paint was used to create this painting, it had a shiny look to it. The colors were strong and mixture of few colors was used. Some colors such as the dogs stood out, the rabbits however were hard to be seen for the background behind the rabbit was the same color. I feel like this was because the rabbit is running out of the picture while the dogs together chasing each other has become the focal point. The main chase moved from chasing a rabbit to the dogs running around each other. Through the use of color, Rothenberg brings out the energy and heat in this chase. We sometimes, in life forget our goals and end up running around in circles. We forget that what we are chasing was never what we wanted in the first place. Some get off this track of life, others continue circling within this cycle. In the painting, there is a white whorl in the middle. Its calm and leads us to see that there is nothing within this cycle in the midst of an almost uptight almost frightening situation. This is mainly where our eyes are drawn and is thus the focal point of the painting. It lets us see everything around that focal point for nothing seems to happening within the circling. The lines are shapes are not apparent, but that is like most paintings drawn by Rotherberg. There is much action and movement and that is shown with the texture. It was both smooth and rough when seen from different angles. I could not decide at first what to say about the texture but I realized it was because of her brush stokes. That was what was giving it the motion in the painting but led me to miss see the actual texture. The artist seems to have created ‘The Chase’ out of a bigger story because everything is led outside of the canvas. There is much imagery in this piece. One thing I read about Rothenberg was that she never liked to finish her paintings and everything she painted was what she saw or had seen. She also in most of her paintings admits to adding part of her own imagination to finish the piece. I feel like she left the middle up to our own interpretation. The dogs are running in this cycle misleading themselves. The one who was being chased, the rabbit, is running away out of it soon to learn that he has escaped the dogs.

At the Museum with Lisa Kenaston

The Torment of Saint Anthony is Michelangelo’s first painting and is currently being displayed at the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth. Michelangelo’s painting was created with egg tempera and oil on a wooden panel. Egg tempera is a fast drying paint, which can give an artist less time to change strokes after they have been made.

The painting has a glossy look with some areas that are a little more matte. The painting consists of Saint Anthony in the foreground, which is positioned towards the top center of the canvas. St. Anthony is surrounded by demons while below them is a gloomy landscape of hilly countryside with a waterway, which covers the other half of the canvas. These images create balance through out the canvas. There is also rhythm with the repetition of the demons surrounding St. Anthony. This circle surrounding St. Anthony may represent the never-ending struggle with temptation. The demons around St.

Anthony create a sense of tension in the painting. St. Anthony and the demons are the images with the most emphasis, which implies that they are the focal point of the painting.There are implied lines resulting from the demons gaze burning into the image of St. Anthony. While St. Anthony’s eyes are unchanged not affected by the demons wrath. The strokes that make up the images seem to have all kinds of direction and are short and distinct. The lines that were made can also be attributed to the type of paint used. The shapes in the work are organic but do contrast in the sense of fury up above compared to the calm that is rendered below. In regards to size of individuals, some of the demons are as big or bigger than St. Anthony and they out number him nine to one. Though St. Anthony’s size is not overpowering those of the demons he seems very proud and sure of his actions, while the demons look frustrated.

The sky is almost completely blanketed by the struggle that takes place up above. The larger image of St. Anthony and the demons in the foreground show aerial perspective when compared to the distant land below. The layering of St. Anthony and the demons with the landscape behind gives depth to the painting.

A source of light seems to be coming from the background and the horizon. This light source is natural and seems to lightly and gradually cast shadow as it reaches the foreground. This shadowing creates more boldness in the foreground, which also adds to the depth of the imaging. This also puts more emphasis on St. Anthony and the demons.The colors that dominate in the foreground are black, reds and browns, which make up St. Anthony and the demons. Below cooler colors are used to make up the scenery below. This also helps contrast the rage above compared to the tranquility below with the use of warm and cool colors, which also make up atmospheric perspective.Overall this painting has seemed to stand the test of time and was restored beautifully.

ResourcesThe Kimbell Art Museum websitehttps://www.kimbellart.org/exhibitions/exhibition-details.aspx?eid=69

At the Museum with Kristie Hilliard

I went to the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth and the work of art that caught my immediate attention was called Earth Spirit. Earth Spirit is a tomb figure that stems from the Northern Wei dynasty and continued into the Tang dynasty. The purpose of these tombs was to ward off any evil spirits who threatened to intrude.

Lines are not heavily included in this tomb image, although there are a few lines present. The black stripes on the forearms and forelegs are linear and the flames emerging from the creatures head, shoulders, and right leg are representations of lines. The most important lines, the ones emerging from the flames, are curved, short, and thick. They are utilized to emphasize the rage that the Earth Spirit feels toward the evil spirit it has subdued. I believe that there is an implied line that starts from the Earth Spirit’s hand and ends at the evil spirit’s body. Once they come in contact the line is complete.

The objects in the artwork are volumetric. There are spheres present in the eyes of both creatures and circles are present in the ears of the Earth Spirit. Also, there is a big circle in the center of his chest as well. The creatures in this work of art are strong, intimidating, and grotesque. They are huge monstrous beings and their size creates a sense of coercion.
Space was not really an issue for the Earth Spirit. It was closed inside of a glass box so it did not fill my space at all. In regards to the spacing of the objects, however, there was no space left between the two creatures. The Earth Spirit captured the evil spirit and had it pinned down so there is no space between the two creatures.

The source of light for Earth Spirit was provided by the museum. There was a light switch that could be adjusted to turn the light on and off.

The colors chosen for Earth Spirit set the mood for the artwork because it consists of earth tones entirely. There are mixtures of browns, grays, gold, and a small hint of black. The artist chose these colors because they are representations of the earth and bright, bold colors would have probably distracted the purpose of the piece representing the earth.

The texture of the tomb is rough and rugged in certain spots but it appears to be smooth.
The balance of the objects is definitely asymmetrical. They are on two different levels with the Earth Spirit being up high and the evil spirit being down low. They are clearly unbalanced.
When I first looked at Earth Spirit, my eyes were immediately drawn to the flames coming out of his shoulders and the look of intensity in his eyes.

Rhythm is not present in Earth Spirit because there are no repeated patterns or decorative ornamentation. The tomb is a sculpture that can be seen in the round. It is not placed up against the wall. It is on display in the center of the museum. It is a three dimensional sculpture.
The Kimball Art Museum was founded on the concept, “an art institute for the people of Texas.” It is named after an industrialist and art collector, Kay Kimball. It is located in a museum district, making it a very welcoming structure in a welcoming environment.