CHALICE
(2004-2005)
In many churches, it is traditional for the faithful to donate chalices in memory of a family member or a friend. The glass elements in these two installation projects function similarly. They present the fragility of life and remind us of the vitality, spirit, and sacrifice of those who have come before us. In the Newspace Gallery installation, Humble Cup is a modest vessel made of hand-turned and hand-cut wood from a walnut tree. Photo credits: Brian Forrest (Chalice); Josh White (Chalice at Newspace Gallery).
Chalice
Newspace Gallery
In 2005, Brucker’s first solo exhibition at Newspace Gallery opened, featuring the debut of her ongoing piece Chalice in one room of owner/curator Joni Gordon’s Melrose gallery. Brucker was excited to be part of the Newspace legacy. The archives of Newspace Gallery are now part of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.
This first iteration of Chalice included 100 slumped clear stemmed glasses. Each glass is placed, sometimes precariously, on a tiny four-inch square wall shelf. The glasses surround the viewer, wrapping around the entire space. A small hand-turned wooden cup is placed on a pedestal in the center of the space, at the heart of the installation. The rich and earthy surface of the wood was meant to contrast with the clarity of the glass.
Chalice
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles, designed by Spanish architect, Rafael Moneo, contains ten devotional chapels that are used for exhibition. Unlike most cathedrals, the chapels of Our Lady of the Angels do not open to the nave. Rather, they are accessible from the south and north ambulatories which surround the main body of the cathedral, thereby achieving a separate setting for prayer. In this version of Chalice, Brucker arranged twelve slumped glasses to mimic the disciples in da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper. In the center is a slumped wine glass with a gold rim, like a halo. Brucker enjoyed watching congregants interact with the piece. The persons pictured are cathedral visitors and not models.
