Dreaming Down Under #4 – Tiberius Presides

I did mention last time that Tiberius was going to join us and as you can see join he did.  What a beautiful bird and I am told, by Alicia his owner, that he will live for about a hundred years.  I was a bit concerned for my ear but he was incredibly well behaved and sat on his perch learning the rudiments of iconography.  He also sat with us around the refectory table and shared lunch. From the photo above it looks like he is in charge and I am certain he thinks he was.

Karl- very happy with his first ever gilded halo.

As for the class, it is now over and I have never smiled so much and so continuously.  What great students.  The focus increased all week and on Friday some were in early to catch up on details. The amount of food being procured and brought in also increased as the week went on and we were wondering how  all the cakes would be eaten- somehow they were.

At 10am Fr. Stewart and Sarah came in to bless the icons as he had to be away on a retreat that afternoon.  The icons, though not quite complete were looking good when all lined up together.  We have been working on a version of the Sinai Christ with some extra buildings so they can have some experience working on converse perspective.

Blessing of the icons by Fr. Stewart

After the blessing there was tea before we got back to work.  There were many demonstrations and then work – this pattern seemed to keep everyone up to speed and for once most people reached the finishing point.

All the while there were little cheep cheeps coming from another addition to the altar- a chick incubator.  Alicia’s bantams were hatching and two emerged during the day.  This was very special and what a symbol.

Teacher with two hour old chick

The whole week was a success, some of the locals and various husbands and family members came in to see what was going on and they seemed surprised at what was actually happening.  I forget that often most people do not know what to expect.

I was asked point blank to return next year and one of the students was about to get her diary out to sort out the dates so I was committed. Since then I have had another invitation to run a course further south, so it looks like a definite plan – hurrah.

Group photo-all finished and many smiles

So I guess when I get back I will go on a few specialist courses myself so I can pass on some more skills.  Below are some more photos of this most unusual and wonderful icon course.

Thank you to all the students who just made it so beautiful with their wonderful attitudes to each other and to me; to my sister whose enthusiasm and professionalism setting up the scheme has been incredible, her husand, Don, who helped set up, take down, wash up and lay out wonderful luchtime tables and to Stewart and Sarah whose encouragement and support made it happen in the first place.

Demonstrating

Sanding bole prior to gilding

Tony’s birthday

The class hard at work