Easter Path

As lovers of all things Mystic and Otherworldly here at thee Nook we wanted to try something a bit different this Easter, so on Good Friday we went on the Easter Path walk around Brighton. Organised by Beyond, the walk was a contemporary interpretation of the Easter message, loosely based on the Stations of the Cross, using a series of art installations set up in shop and church windows across Brighton.

Our first stop was outside the Brighthelm centre, where a digital photo montage was used to illustrate the betrayal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. I think most of us can in some small way relate to that ‘lying awake all night completely alone and dreading the next day’ feeling – as the rest of the world sleeps on oblivious. Somewhere during this dark night it is said that Jesus was in such agony his sweat was as great drops of blood falling to the ground. I wonder what that must have felt like?

The photo montage itself started life in Glasgow during anti war demonstrations; Jesus is shown in the garden surrounded by modern images of authority while he considers the cup of suffering that lies before him. He is alone in his awareness of what is to come while Judas is represented as a dark shadow behind him.

‘Jesus is Condemned’ was the title for the next piece at Sydney Street Bikes in the lanes. The image displayed here was of a pair of waxen hands bound in rope and this shop was chosen specifically for the iron railings permanently guarding the shop window.  Our guide, Martin, explained that the image of a God being bound and restrained by human hands is a very powerful one that shows us how cruel the human race can be and how much power we have. This got me thinking about Jesus as someone who had been judged to have broken the law and the way we punish crims in our own society.

We then made our way to Daves comic shop for the display called Jesus receives the Cross. This consisted of a cross made  out of comics from a series called Final Crisis, featuring a force known as the God Killer. I don’t know much about this series myself but the location seemed a good one in as much many good comics feature similar themes involving redemption, death and resurrection.

Framework was the shop used for the next installation, Jesus Falls Three Times; a contrast to the invincibility of comic shop heroes, as we were once again reminded of the frailty of Jesus as he stumbles through tiredness. Still in the lanes we then made our way to Bell, Book and Candle for the next stop, called ‘Jesus meets his mother’. The exhibit in this window was a simple but thought provoking one, highlighting how it must have felt for both sides to meet in this way. I think most of us  close to someone who has been bullied, mistreated or beaten up often feel terrible at what their loved one has endured and here we were left to wonder what his mother must have felt at seeing her son treated like this.

In all there were twelve stations on the walk and at each one we were given time and a chance to reflect on different events leading up to the crucifixion. The walk finished at Fishtail Neon, a wonderful place on the seafront dedicated to all things neon that creates, among other things, light installations from recycled fairground rides and displayed here were some fantastic multicoloured crosses celebrating the resurrection.

I thought this walk was a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the Easter message and what I liked best about it was the unscripted spontaneous feel that came with trying to ponder on Deep Stuff while surrounded by the hustle and bustle within the sights and sounds of a busy city. Scattered as they were across Brighton, tucked away in shop windows, each one of the displays brought a life of their own to the Easter story in a very open and accessible way.

For those unable to make the walk, all the exhibits from the Easter Path plus a few extras are being brought together to be exhibited at the Old Market on April 26^th from 7pm, with bar open from 6.30pm. There will also be a visit from Siku, the artist who created The Manga Bible and he will be talking about his work.

For more information: www.beyondchurch.co.uk