I thought the design looked exactly like the quilts in my Crazed series, which I swear had begun long before I saw the church!
Crazed 1: Tricolor (detail)
Friday, October 29, 2010
We just think we have new ideas...
When we visited Greece a couple of years ago we saw a 13th century Byzantine church in Pyrgi on the island of Chios. The guide explained that while churches were not permitted to be decorated outside, the builders couldn't stand to just make plain old masonry. Instead, they separated the courses of large, light-colored stones with smaller "plinths" of red brick. It's called cloisonne masonry, for the jewelry style in which metal compartments are filled with different colors of enamel, leaving the little compartment walls visible as borders around the colors.
Crazed 3: Red Tide (detail)
Interesting observation! It's amazing how historical masonry techniques often resemble modern artistic concepts. The cloisonne masonry pattern demonstrates how builders found creative ways to add beauty and character while working within architectural restrictions. Seeing those similarities between centuries-old stonework and contemporary design is fascinating. At GTA Heritage Masonry Experts, we appreciate how traditional masonry craftsmanship continues to inspire modern creativity and design.
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