www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Upcoming Monastery of St. Catherine Exhibit at the Getty Museum

http://www.getty.edu/visit/exhibitions/future.html

Holy Image, Hallowed Ground: Icons from Sinai
November 14, 2006�March 4, 2007
The Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai, Egypt, is the oldest continuously operating Christian monastery in existence. The basilica and fortified walls were commissioned by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the 6th century. This exhibition features a selection of artistic treasures from Saint Catherine's, which possesses one of the world's finest collections of Byzantine icons and manuscripts. Forty-three icons, five manuscripts, and several precious objects used in the celebration of the liturgy are on view. Icons from Sinai reveals the central role of icons in Byzantine spiritual practices and conveys their vital function in religious celebrations. It also shows how the monastery's geographic and historical position as a major pilgrimage destination engendered its astonishing collection of icons and books. The exhibition, accompanied by a major scholarly catalogue, features a film about the monastery and the site, including footage of Greek Orthodox Easter services.

Anybody who lives in the LA area or it going to be around anytime in the upcoming months should check it out. Admission is free!

Sounds fascinating. Is it a traveling display? If so, is there a schedule? Here's a link to St. Catherine's library http://www.geographia.com/egypt/sinai/library.htm

There are a couple of good looking events occuring in St Louis in November and December in Byzantine studies under the auspices of the British "Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies". Those might be something I could attend. Maybe Diak can come as well.

http://www.byzantium.ac.uk/frameset_events.htm

CDL

http://www.getty.edu/news/press/center/sinai_release06.html

According to this museum press release it isn't traveling. It sounds like this event was organized specifically between the Getty Museum and the Monastery. In that sense I'm disappointed that other Eastern Christians around the country won't get the chance to see the exhibit . On the other hand, I'm so excited that this exhibit is going to be so close to where I'm living .

I have just returned from a trip to Los Angeles, where I visited the Getty exhibit. Here are a few facts worth knowing, if you are considering going.

. It is true that it is only being shown at the Getty, then will return to Sinai. (While there I encountered a small group of religious from St. Isaac of Syria Skete who thought it well worthwhile to make the trip all the way from Wisconsin.)
. There is a parking fee at the Getty of $8 per carload of people, but no admission fee for the museum itself.
. There is a hotel that shuttles guests to the Getty, Los Angelenos.
. The Getty is accessible from the 405North interstate, coming from the L.A. Airport. Follow signs, of course. It is not far from the exit for Wilshire Boulevard. I assume there is also a way coming south on the 405, but don't know that for a fact.

The exhibit has 42 icons plus additional religious artifacts from the monastery. In the gift shop adjacent to the exhibit (There are several exhibits running simultaneously in several buildings, including one of French medieval illuminated texts.) are exhibit books in paperback and hardback, $50 or $70 respectively. There are 11 different postcards of icons available for purchase at $1 apiece, as well as additional books, CDs, DVDs, etc. that are not directly associated with the exhibit itself, but pertain to eastern christianity. There had been an exhibit DVD, but it sold out, and is now only available for downloading from the Getty's website. The video within the exhibit ran about 10 minutes, but the original DVD is supposed to run about 27.

On the whole, I found the exhibit worth the effort to see it. I learned some additional things about iconographic techniques and subject matter I might not otherwise have encountered.

Big Question. What are the dates for the exhibit to remain at the museum? Im traveling down there at the end of next month.
Hopefully they will still be there and I can see them.
Stephanos I

The exhibit is at the Getty through the 4th of March. It is very much worth seeing! I arived at opening time(10am) and had the exhibit to myself for about 45 min, it was wonderful!!

I almost forgot! There was a docent-led tour of the exhibit at 3pm the day we were there. It was to last an hour. Unfortunately, we were there much earlier, so it wasn't practical to hang around until 3. It would have been nice to tag along on that, too.

Thank you Monk Moses.
Hopefull I will get to see it when Im at the LA Congress.
How's the cooking going and the grape vines.
Hope to drop by and see all of you.
Stephanos I