Thetis Blacker (1927–2006)
-
Batik Banner of St. Cuthbert
10' x 4'4" Commissioned for Durham Cathedral by Henry Dyson and Alan Richards, Graduates and Fellows of Grey College, University of Durham, 2001
© Thetis Blacker
-
Batik Banner of St. Oswald
10' x 4'4" Commissioned for Durham Cathedral by Henry Dyson and Alan Richards, Graduates and Fellows of Grey College, University of Durham, 2001
© Thetis Blacker
-
The Creation of Darkness and Light
Batik, 5' x 4' Grey College Chapel
© Thetis Blacker
-
The Simurgh
Batik, 1975
© Thetis Blacker
-
The Feng Huang
Batik, 1997
© Thetis Blacker
-
Fire Phoenix
1999 Part of Grey College Art Collection
© Thetis Blacker
-
The Renewal of the Eagle
(2000) "When the eagle grows old and his wings become heavy and his eyes become darkened with a mist, then he goes in search of a fountain, and, over against it, he flies up to the height of heaven, even unto the circle of the sun; and there he singes his wings and at the same time evaporates the fog of his eyes, in a ray of the sun. Then at length, taking a header down into the fountain, he dips himself three times in it, and instantly he is renewed with a great vigour of plumage and splendour of vision"
From a Latin Bestiary of the 12th Century
Translated by T. H. White© Thetis Blacker
-
Baptism
(1991) This banner hangs in Aberdeen Cathedral Church of St. Machar
© Thetis Blacker
Thetis Blacker was born in England and studied at the Chelsea School of Art. In 1970, as a Churchill Fellow, she visited Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Iran, and worked at the Batik Research Institute of Jogjakarta.
Her dyed paintings have been commissioned for and exhibited in cathedrals and churches in the UK, Europe and the USA. Five major series have been based on mythical themes: Apocalypse (St. Andrew's House); A Bestiary of Mythical Creatures; The Creation (Winchester Cathedral); Search for the Simurgh and Arbor Cosmica.
Recent commissions include work for St. George's Chapel, Windsor where a major exhibition of her work was held in 2000; work for St. Alban's Abbey; a Phoenix for the dining hall of Grey College, University of Durham, 2000; banners of St. Cuthbert and St. Oswald for the referetory in Durham Cathedral 2001.
Thetis also has four major works in Grey College Chapel - The Creation of Darkness and Light, Imago Lucis and Imago Aquarium, dedicated in October 2000, and the Pentecost banner dedicated in 2002
In June 2002, Thetis Blacker was awarded an Honary Doctorate by Durham University.