A controversial art work which divided the Church of England is to be performed in Bridport for the first time. John Lennon’s Imagine – played on church bells – will ring out from St Mary’s, in South Street, at midday this Saturday 21st November. The work, part of the Countertext09 multimedia exhibition to complement the Bridport Literary Festival, was created by local artist Cleo Evans.
It was originally performed at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral in May, where it sparked a fierce row on whether it should be allowed. Critics, within the church, claimed the song’s lyrics, which include the line “Imagine there’s no heaven”, were at odds with Christianity. But speaking at the time a Cathedral spokesman said the church had considered the "sensitivities" surrounding the song's lyrical content. He added: "Bu we recognise its power to make us think. As a cathedral we do not shink from debate. We recognise the existence of other world views.”
The performance was also praised by Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono who said she was moved to tears when she heard it played. Cleo said: “I’m really pleased to see it taking place in the town where I first came up with the idea. “It lasts about four minutes and I’m hoping that people will stop what they are doing to listen to it.”
Other events taking place in the Countertext09 exhibition will be a talk on the work of Eva Fahle Clouts, whose work East meets West, West meets East, is featured in the Arts Garden Café, in the Bridport Arts Centre. The work is two tables joined together, one from East Germany, the other from West Germany. It comes as Germany celebrates 20 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall. She said: “I found that even after 20 years there is still a division between the former two countries. “I interviewed two women across the divide and they gave me their old kitchen tables which are used in the work.”
Eva will be giving two talks about the table on Friday 20th November at 4.30pm and Wednesday 25 between 9-10am.
Also on Saturday 21 November after the bell ringing there will be an artist walk at 12.15 leaving from the Bridport Arts Centre.