It was very moving to walk through the Cathedral with the unusual aim to find a piece of history that I would not usually look for. I have walked down the corridor of the Cathedral dorms, admiring architect, paintings, windows, but not specifically thinking of their meaning. Hundreds of years, history and people have passed through the Cathedral seeing these windows, but like me, not actually appreciating the windows meaning.
Finding Rosamond’s window in the Saturday morning light was breath taking. The magnitude of the window and the positioning to me, struck me as important and special. Of course having anything dedicated to anyone is humbling enough, but Rosamond’s window struck me as important and grand. This made me feel that the dedication must have been a high commendation for the time and the fact that she was so young to receive such an honour leads me to believe that her station in society must have been recognisable.
Michael Landy, which created the performance Breakdown, commented in an interview how dependent we are as a society on our material belongings an implied that this is unnecessary. I personally disagree. The objects and memorabilia’s are a part of someone’s past and the making of their future. Monuments and dedications such as Rosamond’s window prove that even though there may not be recognition from on lookers, they can still appreciate the beauty of the memory. Rosamond’s window reflects a large part of her life, which was her belief in the church. The window would have acted as a comfort to those who knew her and missed her.
I documented the window through film and pictures as I will definitely be including the window in my performance. I believe it reflects the magnitude and affect her death caused to the city and her home town, which needs to be highlighted to respect her memory.
YouTube (2008) theEYE – Michael Landy – Break Down. [online] San Bruno: YouTube. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hYUnkW4sNA (Accessed 1 February 2015)