The earliest recorded history comes from civilizations built on slaves. Those civilizations left behind spiritual ruins, many of which can be visited today. In that period, the smartest and most creative often served the emperor or the church. Sometimes they were one. Today, the smartest and most creative have a myriad of options, thankfully.
The early period creatives realized that grand architecture was a spiritual attraction. It wowed. The spiritual experience is a neurochemical phenomena, and those soaring buildings, music and ritual make it happen. Those creatives set about building stunning temples, many with architectural innovations, to inspire. The proportions of the Parthenon, the arch of the Grand Mosque, the buttresses of Notre Dame, the extent of the Tōdai-ji, Pueblo kivas.
So church architecture is its own genre. Modern examples include Gaudí's Sagrada Família, Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple, Louis Kahn's First Unitarian Church.
Artists are sampling churches. Damien Hirst has made kaleidoscopic compositions of famous stained glass work. And in Portland, artists Matt Henderson and Van Pham, living in a church, have traveled to churches all over the country which have been repurposed. The new churches are rock gyms, donut shops, band rehearsal studios, residences and more. Their project is Xhurch.
In past years they created the alien nativity scene, one of Portland's most perfectly formed art events. Tonight they bring their reports of Xhurches to you.
Accompanying the Xhurch field trip images and video are performances and art by Golden Retriever, Earth & You, Brenna Murphy, Scott Mayoral, Bike Temple, Emily Pothast, David Golightly, Guru Rugu, Sisters of the Lattice, and the Institute for New Feeling.
Where? Well, in an xhurch: Alberta Abbey.
M.A.S.S. IV + Xhurches Symposium at Alberta Abby. Advance tickets https://www.boxofficetickets.com/bot/wa/event?id=255713. 126 NE Alberta Street 8PM by donation to $15
