A fitting finale

Liverpool's Biennial of Contemporary Art began yesterday so the city art galleries are in full swing welcoming visitors. Tate Liverpool has several displays and exhibitions that were worth a look. The Walker Gallery has the John Moores Painting Prize as a feature.

The Walker's extensive collection of Victorian High Art was also of interest, as was Tate's 'Mondrian and his studios'. But the day's highlight was without doubt Grayson Perry's 'The Vanity of Small Differences'.

Perry's six large tapestries take their inspiration from art history and address the issue of class in British society. Visually stunning, witty, and perceptive, the series tells the story of Tim Rakewell. This fictious character makes his way through life in six scenes beginning with 'The adoration of the cage fighters' and ending with '#Lamentation'.

The catalogue with it's foldout plates of each of the six works is beautifully made and proved irresistable.

Unmissable. What a way to finish.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool

Liverpool's Roman Catholic Cathedral is extraordinary. Opened at Pentecost 1967 it has provoked a range of responses over the years and was at one point in danger of being demolished due to it's leaky roof and other structural problems. These have been addressed, new work has created an impressive approach to the main entrance, and the place is stunning.

When first opened the building was felt by many to be stark in it's modernism. Almost half a century later the worshipping community have dressed the bare walls with glorious banners, works of art have been commissioned or acquired, and the original concept enhanced in so many respects.

Impressive, inspiring, and a tribute to both those with the original vision and their successors who refused to take the easy option and abandon hope.

Heavenfield

More walking in the Hadrian's Wall area, this time taking in Heavenfield and St Oswald's church.

Oswald was Northumbria's most successful and very devout Christian king. At what is known as Heavenfield he defeated a Welsh Army by praying before the battle with his troops, raising a cross on the hill where the little church now stands and holding on against the odds. For this, as well as for his encouragement to the spread of Christianity in the early seventh century and his apparent kindness to his own people he is revered.

Within in few years of this great victory Oswald was killed in another battle. It was a messy end but his head eventually made it to Durham where it's buried in Cuthbert's tomb.

Found some paintings by local artists on sale in the Hadrian Hotel at lunchtime. Two lovely views of the castles at Alnwick and Bamburgh, close to Lindisfarne. Oswald spent time on Holy Island where he was converted to Christianity.

At the time of Oswald's battle Hadrian's wall was still a structure of significance that afforded protection to the Northumbrian troops. Today it's no more than a few stones and a tourist path. Northumbrian Christianity has fared rather better and the churches in the area remain places of sanctuary welcoming visitors who come now in peace.

Hadrian's Wall

Sunshine, stones, steep hills, sheep.

No paintings.