Sleeping on the job Artist moved into church in search of inspiration for commission
An artist has spent weeks sleeping at an historic Paisley church so that he could absorb its unique atmosphere.
Mark Small wanted to take in as much of St Matthew’s Church of the Nazarene’s “vibe” in order to design a new stained glass window for the stunning Art Nouveau building.
“I like to immerse myself in what I do,” said 47-year-old Mark. “It’s been fantastic. “People always ask me if it’s spooky sleeping there, but it’s not.
“It’s got a really peaceful vibe about it.”
Mark, a multi- media artist, was commissioned by the church to create a new window for the entrance way of the early 20th-century building.
His residency has been funded by Paisley 2021 to the tune of £4,000, with the window receiving a grand unveiling tonight at 10pm.
Mark was keen ensure the style of the window was in keeping with the work of the church’s original architect W D McLennan, who designed it in a restrained, but brilliant Art Nouveau style. The church has been said to be the most significant building of its type in Europe.
Mark chose purple glass and there are crosses and tulips in the design, which pick up on McLennan’s own tulip motif seen throughout the building.
“I sourced handblown glass from Germany, which is the same technique to the original glass,” Mark said.
The artist has also created a soundtrack that can be heard all of next week next to the new window. The soundtrack picks up on the sounds he heard in his meetings with the various groups that use the church.
“I’m a multi-media artist and there lots of things at the core of what I do, such as music, film and photography,” he said.
“I was also a glazier for 25 years and worked with Historic Scotland and in various churches and buildings.”
St Matthew’s was originally St George’s Free Church, and its elders commissioned William Daniel McLennan, a young architect in the congregation at the time, to undertake the work. The building cost £9,000 and was dedicated in 1907. It is one of the jewels in the crown of Paisley’s many highly significant church buildings.
The new window and sound installation are part of St Matthew’s ‘Nouveau Life’ event that is taking place all of next week.
It’s part of the Scottish Mental Health and Arts Festival.
People can visit from 11am to 3pm from Monday, October 23, until Friday, October 28. Admission is free.