Illuminating York Minster, 31 October - 3 November 2012
Links to photographs (hi-res, free of charge) appear at the bottom of this news release
Kaleidoscopic projections, 800 candles and some of the world’s finest medieval glass will help create a series of unique evenings at York Minster as part of this year’s Illuminating York festival.
The evening openings take place from 31 October to 3 November, with a promise that visitors will see York Minster in a whole new light, from the candle-lit Chapter House to a constantly-changing kaleidoscopic image being projected onto the South wall of the Nave, enabling visitors to become part of the evolving artwork. The Orb, York Minster’s brand new domed gallery displaying some of its stained glass masterpieces, will also be open, with colourful images projected onto its metallic exterior.
“York Minster was designed with vast expanses of glass to let as much light in as possible – which was expensive, ambitious and technologically challenging - permitting God’s light shine through, so being in a building like York Minster after dark is a very different, special experience,” comments event manager, Stephanie O’Gorman. “Our evening opening will combine contemporary art – with visitors walking through Andy McKeown’s Kaleidoscopia as it is projected onto the Nave wall – with an opportunity to look around The Orb, where visitors can get up close to some of our painstakingly restored medieval stained glass artworks for the first time.”
In a display that celebrates York’s 800thanniversary of the City Charter, and marks the feast of All Souls, when families would traditionally remember loved ones they have lost, 800 candles will be positioned on the floor of the Chapter House for visitors to light, creating a glowing spiral of remembrance each evening.
Other activities include storytelling in the children’s chapel and torchlit explorations of some of the carved animals around York Minster. Visitors with a good head for heights can also tackle the steps of the Central Tower, to enjoy views over the city at night.
Illuminating York Minster runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm (last admissions) from Wednesday 31 – Saturday 3 November. Admission prices are from £5.00 for adults, £2.50 for children. For more information, please call 0844 939 0015 or visit www.yorkminster.org
ENDS
For further media information or images, please contact Jay Commins on 07810 546567 or email jay@fim.org.uk
