Illuminations (Newton)

“Illuminations” is an installation/exhibition inspired by a recently discovered manuscript, the Salzinnes Antiphonal, scribed in 1554 at a convent in what is now Belgium. We exhibit high-resolution photographs from the manuscript, reproductions of the paintings on 12 banners suspended mid-air, and tools/materials for making a medieval book. We offer food and drink that replicates the diet of the nuns in that particular convent,in that particular time and season. Clothed in habits from the order and the era, CC’s women chant the hours in the medieval monastic day, telescoped down from 9 hours to about 2.5, so that each hour lasts about 15 minutes. In between the chanting of the hours, the audience is invited to walk around, inspect, read, listen to scholars, eat and drink. Scholar Judith Dietz, discoverer of the Salzinnes Antiphonal, will be present for Q&A’s.