Mark your diaries! Transept, a group of artists and theologians connected to ITIA (The Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts) here at the university, is holding its annual art exhibition online over a period of two weeks from 19 March through 2 April.

After a year of confinement and restriction, the spring 2021 exhibition will explore themes related to in/break — “a breaking in: inroad, invasion, interruption, incursion.”

Certainly we can all use a welcome ‘in/break’ in our current lockdown life – an interruption of whatever ‘this’ is for each of us – and Transept is providing a creative INbreak and OUTlet to interrupt that ‘this-ness’.  We were determined not be ‘interrupted’ from what has been become our creative outlet in exploring relevant themes inspired by work at the intersection of theology and the arts.  ‘In/break’ emerged from conversations that had a common undertone of ‘break’ as we discussed life in a pandemic that seems never-ending: longing for a break, sensing that restrictions are bound to give soon and ‘break’ in our favour, observing systems and patterns breaking and giving way to adapted structures, feeling broken ourselves, or even WANTING TO BREAK THINGS.  The visceral sensation of ‘break’ in these discussions reminded us all of our ‘in/breaking’ God who interrupted all things in the universe to dwell with us, Immanuel.  That was precisely the inspiration needed to process this very strange ‘this-ness’ in such a time as this.

The result is this year’s online exhibition, In/break.  After having to quickly adjust our Time and Again exhibition to an online venue last year, we are well poised to offer a rich and insightful event featuring various art genres on two online platforms: Transept’s Facebook page and the Transpositions (the online journal of ITIA) website.  Visit both for a unique and compelling experience as we wrestle with this time and our theme, finding hope in our in/breaking God.  You will recognise several of the artists from our very own congregation: Ewan Bowlby, Liz Crichton, Dan Drage, Karen Kiefer, Letizia Morley, Jane Pettegree and members of our choir!

The following events, all on Zoom, will help us mark and feature various aspects of the theme and of the artwork.  Watch for Zoom links on the event page at tinyurl.com/Transept2021 or Transposition.co.uk, or contact ap335@st-andrews.ac.uk or kmk9@st-andrews.ac.org for more information. We hope to see you!

Opening Night

Friday 19 March, 8 to 9pm

A welcoming to the event with meet-and-greet, and a discussion of a few of the artwork to be displayed.

An IN/BREAKING evening of Playback Theatre

Tuesday 30 March, 8 to ~9.45pm

Mosaic Playback, my own online playback theatre company, will interact with participants and the art of In/break for an evening of insightful, playful and poignant entertainment as we ‘play back’ your experiences of ‘in/break’ – the theme and art works!

RSVP if you would like to attend: kmk9@st-andrews.ack

Panel Discussion

Wednesday 31 March, 8 to 9pm

Three panelists will discuss art from exhibition, followed by interactive Q&A.

Closing Night (Good Friday)

Good Friday 2 April, 8 to 8:45pm

A quite evening of art reflection, reading, and a Good Friday musical performance.