Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category

Paris is known as the “City of Light” and is one of the most romantic places in the world. With its many sights and activities to do, it’s no wonder this is one of the most visited places.  Each year an estimated 44 million people flock to visit this amazing city and if you plan on going you may be wondering where to start your adventures once you arrive.  Here is a list of the top 10 things to do and see while you are on your vacation in this beautiful place.

1. Climb the Eiffel Tower. This tower is lit by 20,000 bulbs in the evening time. You have to catch it because it only happens for 5 minutes every hour. This is a breathtaking sight to see when lit up. It’s absolutely breath taking.

2. Check out the treasures of Louvre. This collection is in the areas of 35,000 art works and can be seen on display. They range from Greek to Egyptian and you ca never catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa.

3. Have ice cream at Notre Dame. This masterpiece was built between 1163 and 1334 and was damaged in French Revolution.

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4. Visit literary landmarks of Paris. For you book lovers, you are going to be on cloud nine. This place is a resting place for literary ghosts and you can find their works of greatness on shelves of surrounding stores and cafes.

5. Spend a day with Sun King. This palace was designed under Louis XIV’s reign and needs a whole day to see it all and all to has to offer. It features two wings, and a hall of mirrors which is made of 357 of them.

6. Dig some bones at the Catacombs. The phrase that reads over the door at the Les Catacomns says “Stop! This is the empire of death!” The bones of Marat and Robespierre are here as well as fellow people.

7. Have a hamman at Paris Mosque. This building dates back to the 1920s and has a white and green tile minaret by the Alhambra. You can enjoy massages, and exfoliation’s as well as steam sessions.

8. Stroll around St Sulpice. You are sure to get you slice of Paris visiting all of the sites and historical buildings. Visit the St Germain des Pres.

9. Stock up on designer labels. Paris is known for their department stores that offer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Le Bon Marche, Printemps and many more. No matter what you are looking for whether it be purses or clothes, you are sure to find a great selection here at all the many shops offered.

10. Admire art that is set in stone. All of you art lovers will appreciate this. The Musee Rodin occupies the Hotel Biron and this is where he lived his life the last couple years. You can gaze in at the Walking Man, the Kiss and many more.

Paris offers its tourists much to do. You can also browse the flea markets and snag a good deal. This destination is sure to be a fun filled trip for you or the whole family. Its best to plan out the sites that you wish to see so that you can see everything that interests you the most.

Ibusa people predominantly speak Igbo, although English which is national language is also spoken within the area. Ibusa is a place notable for many houses, shops, stores and now Banks. The name “Ibusa” pronounced (”Igbo-Uzo”) is very much controversial as it is an Anglicization perhaps as a result of the inability of the British to effectively give it a native pronunciation. But for sure no one has been able to prove the exact name in consideration of the controversy surrounding the original name.

Ibusa is believed to be the first settlement among the Asaba-Ibusa-Ogwashi-uku axis thus the other version “Ibuzo” (Were you first to settle within this axis?) but it interesting to note that the indigenes refer to themselves as “Igbuzo” (Igbos that live along the road) Ibusa. Ibusa is also known as Isunambogwu because of their military prowess in the olden times.

Geography
Ibusa is located west of the Niger Basin, six miles west of Asaba in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State of Nigeria. Ibusa is one of the 55% of Igbo towns and villages that constitute Delta state.

History
Ibusa is a classic example of bipartite social structure formed by two different settlement histories occurring at fairly close intervals. Ibusa thus is a federation of two autonomous communities that have different origins. Oral tradition of the town has it that Umejei, “Nwa Eze” (the Prince of) Isu near present day Awka killed his opponent in a wrestling bout, an action considered an abomination and punishable with death but rather than hanging himself, he was forced to go on exile. Specially prepared by his father he was given a pot of charm and other items by his father who was said to have strictly instructed him to settle wherever the pot dropped. Umejei was also accompanied by his sister, Omoha. The pot however dropped at a place called “Ani ohe” in present Ibusa.

However, the exact place Isu where the progenitor hails is still shrouded in mystery as there are several Isu in existence in Igboland today. Isu exists in Njaaba, Okigwe, Obosi, Awka, Nnewi, Mbaise, etc. It is however noteworthy that all of these different Isu have at one time or the laid claims to the original home town of Umejei. This is worsened by the particular absence of evidence either in Ibusa or any of these Isu towns and villages to suggest the very Isu. The most recent claim is that asserted in “Isu Factor in Nnewi” written by Ugochukwu where it is alleged that evidences abound in Nnewi to prove that Umejei was from that very place. It is the opinion of Historian that the Isu may be located in present day Anambra state since the state has the closest Isu to Ibusa.

Oral tradition links the second settlement to Obodo who had two sons, Odaigbo and Edini. Odaigbo the second son was to sleep with one of his father’s wives an act considered as abomination or what was better known “Alu”. The penalty therefore was death but Odaigbo was forced on exile together with his mother, father and Edini his brother. The Monarch, Eze Nshi (Nri) gave Odaigbo and Edini two small pots of charms which they carried on their heads with instruction to settle where the pots dropped. The pot of Edini was to drop at “Ani Udo” where his parents decided to live with them because he was the younger son. The other had his drop at the present Ogwashi-uku (Ogwa-Nshi-Uku)

The friend of the sons of Umjei and those of Ogboli became cordial and Ogboli moved closer to Ibusa where he settled. The two settlements became one. (Ibusa) Recently Historians are pointing out that some migrants with Chima the progenitor of Ubulu-uku, Onicha-olona, Issele-uku, Issele-Mkpitime and others who became tired along the way may have either settled or taken refuge in Ibusa since the town (Ibusa) is located along the road.

Pre-colonial life
According to Victoria Oluomachukwu Ibewuike in her work African Women and Change; a Study of the Western Igbo Nigeria with special focus on Asaba town.

“In Igboland, there are two types of political systems practiced by the Igbo on both side of the Niger. The first is the democratic village republic type of government found among the Igbo living west of the Niger and by the second is the constitutional village monarchy, which is practiced by the Igbo of the west of Niger and the riverine of Igbo of Onitsha and Ossomali… This system of administration is derived from Benin from where most of the titles come”

Ibusa once practiced monarchical system but this was jettisoned over time. This system of administration as seen above was borrowed from Benin considering the proximity that exists between the town and Benin and the fact that the synonym “Obi” is close to “Oba” which is still the traditional and official title of the Benin monarch.

Isidore Okpewho in Research in African Literatures, Volume 29, No.1 states thus:

“A second issue concerns the history of paramount rulership in this traditionally republican polity. A man (Ezechi) from the Isu segment of the town, a hunter who had led a heroic defense of the town against a Benin invasion, was rewarded with the kingship (obi). Unfortunately, he had a self-assertive wife who insisted on participating in the king’s councils (contrary to tradition) and dominating the proceedings. One day, one of the councillors made bold to defile her with obscene language, forcing Ezechi not only to abdicate the throne but to exile himself and his family to a village some 25 miles away called Ejime (Twins). For a long time Igbuzo did not have any more paramount rulers”.

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It is therefore safe to conclude that Ibusa has practiced both systems of administration i.e. the democratic village republic type and the constitutional monarchy.

Ibusa was to return to an arrangement in which three main hierarchies of Umunna (Idimu), Ogbe and the Ibusa exists. This arrangement recognizes “Diokpa” (The oldest living man) as the Head. The Diokpa of Idimu is assisted by Diokpa in Council comprising of Ndi-Eze, Ndi-Ichie or Nkpalor, Mgba-Nkpisi and Omu. The political arrangement of the Ogbe rests with the Diokpa-Ogbe-in-Council. The government of the entire town rests with the oldest man, otherwise called the “Senior Diokpa” He is neither elected nor selected but has to meet up certain criteria.

Colonial period
The arrival of the British in 1870s led to the identification of Ibusa people with their Enu-Ani (Anioma) towns and villages. This especially decreased distinctions dissimilarities between Ibusa and Anioma and the Ekwumekwu movement or wars helped to realize this very much.

In the years of Ekwumekwu when the western Igbos carried out series of agitations against the British who threatened their commercial stronghold with colonial policies, the Ibusa people played prominent roles in this agitation. Ekwumekwu was the war of resistance fought by the western Igbos against the British for some thirty years. The British 1883 carried out a surprising attack on Ibusa in which they inflicted heavy casualty on the people. The people soon retreated only to reinforce and attack back the British. Ibusa people held fought the British to a standstill until the British resorted to the clearing and burning down of the farmlands of Ibusa people, a situation that created hunger in the town and Ibusa surrendered to the British. The act gave Ibusa prominence as Ibusa was debated in the British parliament with the parliament trying to resolve on what punitive measure to mete to Ibusa.

What Ibusa might have lost to Ekwumekwu it gained with western education and Christianity, for not long after Ekwumekwu war ended the British established St. Thomas’ teachers Training College, St. Thomas’ Catholic and St. Augustine’s Catholic Churches from here they spread their education and gospel to the other parts of Anioma. The discovery of River Niger made this feat a success because it brought the missionaries close to Ibusa. Father J. B. Germaneti, a Frenchman and a Missionary is reputed have worked tirelessly in Etsako, Ibusa and Asaba in 1902 until he returned to Lokoja in 1918 (see African Women and Change; a Study of the Western Igbo Nigeria with special focus on Asaba town, Victoria Oluomachukwu Ibewuike pg146)

It is particularly sad that the authorities in Ibusa allowed the original construction of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church to be demolished on a flimsy excuse that the building was near the stage of self-collapse. It is more particularly sad that Historians and Archaeologists from this town in allowing this denied the town what could have remained one of the few oldest structures in the town capable of standing as a tourist attraction for the Natives and non Natives if it was rebuilt to retain its historic structure. Perhaps one day the town Hall would be demolished as well. In Asaba today the Holy Trinity Church built by the CMS in 1875, the building that housed the SMA fathers in 1888 and others alike still stand.

Ibusa music
Ibusa people appear typically attached to traditional form of music but are also known to enjoy Igbo melodic style as well. The typical Ibusa music could be Agbalani, Ekobe, Imanokwa, Oduko etc with Okanga, Aguba (for funeral ceremonies) strictly speaking, the common Ibusa music is a fusion of jazz and traditional music quite popular among the other Anioma towns.

Religion
The traditional Ibusa religion is known as Odinani and is wide spread. Ibusa offers an example of an Anioma town where traditional religion is still wide spread particularly in time of funerals but today majority of the people are Christians, a religion that impacted on the town. Many churches of other denominations have however sprung up in the town.

Culture
It amounts to an act of taboo to eat or bring a Rabbit (Eyi) anywhere around an Ibusa indigene as it is considered a totemic animal but Ibusa people never venerate the animal. (Nnewi people also do not eat rabbit. For this reason among several others, however, Ugochukwu in his work, Isu Factor in Nnewi believes Nnewi to be the original homeland of Umejei)

Festivals
By far the most popular festival in the entire Ibusa is the Iwu Festival celebrated in just two quarters of the town (Umuodafe and Ogbeowelle) That of Umuadafe is considered particularly more attractive in that its celebration coincides around the Christmas season. This occasion attractively draws indigenes and non indigenes from afar that come to watch this Festival. There are still other Festivals in the town.

Sports
Ibusa Annual football tournament is usually played in December at Ibusa sports Pavilion (Umejei Primary School). This involves the indigenes of the town and attracts football lovers including foreign scouts from far and wide. The final of the competition is usually played in December 31 or sometimes new year day (January 1). 2007 winners are Umueze who defeated their Ezeukwu/Achalla counterparts. This marked the first time Umueze would lift the silverware. Umuidinisagba and Umuekea came second and third respectively.

People like Emmanuel Olisedebe, Michael Ochei, Kingsley Obiekwu have featured in the tournament at one time or the other.

Tourist attractions
Ibusa is blessed with Okpuzu Falls which continues to attract visitors from far and wide but it is a tourist centre that requires either the efforts of the state or federal governments for full scale transformation like the Olumo rock and others.

Present day
Ibusa has emerged as one of the fastest growing towns in Delta North which has resulted in the teeming population of the town. This is not unconnected with the town’s proximity to Asaba of which large numbers of persons with businesses in Asaba dwell in the town. Another reason is that the town offers a haven of peace and serenity away from the bustle of Asaba, the people highly accommodating to foreign visitors and settlers as well and the environment having good conditions that allow things to grow. Indeed the town is blessed with hospital climate.

In 1996, the number of local government areas in the state was increased from 19 to 26 and Ibusa lost the opportunity of gaining the headquarters of the newly created Oshimili Local Government to a much Akwukwu-Igbo. This has since remained so.

Delta state has no Airport at the moment but it is hoped that when one is completed in the state in Asaba within 24 months as announced sometime ago by the Governor of the state His Excellency, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan at the cost of N6.8 Billion Naira (see Daily sun Newspaper, Friday, February 22, 2008) it will be of immense benefit to Ibusa considering the nearness of the two towns.

Ibusa is an example of a self-developing town of which if the presence of government is seen in the town with lots of infrasstructures put by the indigenes of the town, the town will become a large commercial centre. It is for this purpose that a has often gone to the State Government to encourage the setting up of Government Establishments in the town since the town is closer to Asaba as this will commercialise the town and help to reduce unemployment in the town and state.

Similar calls have also often gone to the indigenes of the town to consider seeting up firms in this town as aginst moving to other places for only this will guarrantee everyone’s safety in the town.

Ibusa today finds its leadership under a Monarch, the Obuzor assisted by the Obuzor-in-Council. This is currently generating controversy but it is believed that stakeholders in the town will find soon find a permanent solution to this.

Quarters/Ogbes that makes up Ibusa are:
1. Umuekea
2. Umuodafe
3. Ogbeowelle
4. Umuidinaisagba
5. Umueze
6. Umuehea
7. Ogboli
8. Ezeukwu/Achalla
9. Umuezeagwu
10. Umuwagwu

Public Primary Schools in Ibusa:
1. Umejei Primay School
2. Isunambogwu Primary School
3. Onu Primary School
4. Ani-Oboshi Primary School
5. Ani-Oshi Primary School

Public Secondary Schools are:
1. St Thomas College
2. Ibusa Girls College
3. St. Augustine’s College
4. Federal Girls Government Girls College

Markets in Ibusa
1. Ashia-Eke
2. Ashia-Nta
3. Ashai-Okpulukpu

Major Hotels
1. Gordon Hotel
2. Apple Club

Some musicians of Ibusa origin are:
1. Ogbogu Okonji
2. Socromojo Okonji
3. Etiti Okonji
4. Ifeanyi Nwalama
5. Isioma Nwalama
6. Agility Okonji

Some prominent Ibusa indigenes are:
1. Prof Augustine O. Esogbue
2. Prof Buchi Emecheta
3. Obi (Prof) Louis Cheluno Nwaoboshi
4. Prof Pat Utomi
5. Obi (Prof) Chike Onwuachi
6. Chief Peter Okocha
7. Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi
8. Ambassador Ignatius Olisemeka
9. Obi (Senator) Nosike Ikpo
10. Chief (Barr) Fred Ajudua
11. Mr. Frank Odita
12. Barr. Princess Ajudua
13. Chief Peter Pan O. Okeze
14. Chief Victor Edo Onwordi
15. Chief Willy F. Ikolodo
16. Chief sabastine Adigwe
17. Chief Augustine Izagbo
18. Mr Frank Atuche
19. Chief Tony Azuya
20. Chief Jude Okonma

The Great Continental Divide in the Western States in America defines water running east or west. Not just a geologic formation in its younger age 100 million years ago, this awesome and continent defining set of snow-capped mountains offers the barrier of imagination through which migrating Americans traveled to come to what are now States like California (38 million residents).   
 

Like a book of facts, the majestic formations that characterized this area of the world are spiced even by its denizens, its citizens, its friends as a part of the Pacific Rim. In these words, seemingly encyclopedic in their arrangement and tone, turn to the more man made, the humble, the unusual in the Wild West where in a City named Oakland, situated on San Francisco Bay and sharing with its more romantic and celebrated sister San Francisco the recognition that the construction of a modern Roman Catholic Cathedral captures the visual and religious sensibilities of the diverse worshipers of what these residents, mere humans with a lifetime so short, have built to their God with skill and style and up-to-date techniques for its 600 thousand or more Diocesan members use. A holy place, a Benedictine Monk told this writer, a place of worship, and a House of God this Cathedral of Christ the Light as it is called was a work of devotion and love.    

The Cathedral’s altar contains relics, inserted and sealed in the stone. The holy persons represented are Andrew, apostle; Thomas, apostle; Stephen, deacon and first Christian martyr; Sixtus II, pope from 257 to 258 and martyr; Perpetua, a young wife and new mother martyred in North Africa in 203; Cecilia, Roman martyr of the third century; early Christian martyrs Restituta and Speusippus; Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order of Friars Minor, the Franciscans (1181-1226); Colette of Corbie, Poor Clare who established many reformed monasteries (1381-1447); Francis de Sales, bishop and spiritual writer (1567-1622); Junipero Serra, Franciscan President of the California missions (1713-1784); John Vianney, parish priest (1786-1859); Pius X, pope who allowed children to receive Holy Communion (1835-1914). Two additional, unusual contents of the reliquary are soil from Auschwitz, commemorating the victims of the Holocaust (especially Saints Maximillian Kolbe and Teresa Benedicta [Edith] Stein) and a rock from Calvary.    

The firm responsible for the construction and design is Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with lead architect and designer Craig Hartman. Mr. Hartman is currently working on a second Roman Catholic Cathedral in California, and so was not available for interview. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill supplied this writer with an excellent video presentation that introduces the design concepts in a talk by architect Craig Hartman. Note that Mr. Hartman has numerous important prizes for the work he did on the Cathedral.    

In a Press Statement, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill says:    

Set on a prominent, two-block site overlooking Oakland’s Lake Merritt, the 1350-seat cathedral is the centerpiece of a 224,000-square-foot complex that includes a mausoleum, conference center, administrative offices, bishop’s and clergy residences, bookstore, café, and community-serving ministries. The design gives special consideration to the Cathedral Center’s physical and cultural place within the city of Oakland. A landscaped public plaza, accessible from all directions, firmly links the center with the city’s commercial downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Within the cathedral, the experience of light and space, rather than traditional iconography, instills a deep sense of sacredness…    

   

Cathedral of Christ the Light spokesman told us some bare bones facts about this significant and even unusual structure in its graphic conception and unusual look, so attractive and inviting. This is a well thought through construct of new Cathedral, inviting to its parishioners, visitors, and pilgrims. The Cathedral spokesman answered some questions.    

You are one of those I have questions for, including some clarification. For example, the Docent who was very good told us that the previous Bishop worked with the architect on the construction?    

The project began with Bishop John Cummins. He really got the whole process off the ground. Developed the very large committee and lay people. 2003 Bishop Vigneron was involved in 2003, January 1, 2009. He was there for the early period and groundbreaking.    

Is that so, and can you tell me briefly what he did?    

He was the boss. It was his project. The architect was hired by the Diocese, and so was the liturgical designer.    

Who was on the design committee? Was it a large group?    

There were a good handful on the design committee.    

On my visit to the spacious and even majestic Cathedral I stayed for Communion and noticed there is an Altar, of course, but no rail. We took Communion in a round, standing.    

Vatican II papers really opened up that form of receiving the Holy Eucharist. That was a Vatican II set of directives.    

How new is the Cathedral? It seems so almost breathtaking in its spacious interior, and with the huge figure of Christ created with natural light there is a supernatural sense to the interior. I found it so.    

Most recent Cathedral in the world. The Diocese was formed in 1962. It spun off from the San Francisco arch-Diocese. Estimate closer to 700,000 because of the Hispanic population. It’s a real mix of Vietnamese, Hispanic, and Anglo. Mass for Vietnamese every week; two Masses in Spanish, of course English.    

Sometimes various stories evolve around Cathedrals. They can be true or false. For example, there is a rumor that goes around that there is a cat buried in a tomb in the Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco (Grace Cathedral). The Docent who showed my group around Christ the Light Cathedral said that the Finials on top of the building were the unfinished crown of the Christ the Light Cathedral and represent Mary Mother of God. Did I get the name right?    

Finials: It is not a liturgical design to represent a crown; that is not the case.    

Who was the Judge in the competition offered by the Roman Catholic Diocese to find an architect? Was it the San Francisco Chronicle Architectural Critic Alan Tempko?    

Alan Tempko headed up the selection committee, and the world’s architects were invited to compete.    

What of the naming of the Cathedral?    

The naming was one of the high points that came from a collaborative meeting process.  Former pastor of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, Fr. Don Osuna, recalls inspirations for the name:    

“The name is a departure from the tradition of naming cathedrals after Mary the Mother of God or a patron saint. In dedicating its mother church to Christ the Light the Diocese of Oakland highlights the role that Christ must play in the new millennium.    

“Only Jesus, ‘light from light, true God from true God,’ can guide the Human Family into the uncertain challenges of future centuries. Jesus himself declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.    

“The name ‘Christ the Light’ also resonates with the image of God’s People so impressively described in Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.  Its opening sentence reads, ‘Christ is the light of nations’ [Lumen Gentium].    

“In it the council fathers express their heart-felt desire that by proclaiming the Gospel to every creature the People of God ‘may being to all the light of Christ which shines out visibly from the Church.    

“Light is a universal phenomenon, celebrated by every country and cherished by every culture. The Cathedral will hopefully provide a resting place – like a candelabra – for those who seek a home and for those who may seek a beacon in the night.”    

When taking a Docent tour of Cathedral of Christ the Light ours told us that the large organs, which are lifted up on the walls of the Cathedral were, “…better than Grace Cathedral’s organ.”  In addition to comments, we were served with a look at various works of art in Cathedral of Christ the Light, including the Stations of the Cross, built to the walls so even a child can reach up and touch them. They are lovely, this writer reports, and modern. Sculptor Andre Bonnett was their maker, as well as other works of sculpture in the Cathedral. He worked with liturgical designer and director Brother William Woeger. There is an interview with both these talented and devoted men of faith later in this article.    

Our Docent told us that Mary is the Diocesan Patron Saint, and there is a sculpture of Mary with a bear (representing the State of California, we were told) on the floor of the Sanctuary. We could touch the Mary sculpture, and were told to notice her eyes. The eyes were especially noteworthy and unusual, one could say shaped like a fish—each eye.    

The sculpture of Christ on the Cross, another work of impact, simplicity and displayed in the sanctuary for all to see, was another greeting to the visitor. But above all was the huge Christ created in light on the high wall of the inside of the building. Just huge, and impressive as both image, work, and graphic. For it does appear as a graphic presentation and if memory serves correct was conceived as such.    

The interior in daytime is entirely illumined by natural light. This is a lovely use of light, and light of its own accord plays a role in the ethos of the Cathedral (Cathedral of Christ the Light).    

Three years in construction, the Roman Catholic Diocese staked 0 million in construction costs on the belief that people will come. Average Sunday Mass attendance in 2009 – 1400    

“It bespeaks a kind of missionary confidence,” said BishopVigneron. “With the attractiveness of the message of Christ, we can build up the congregation.” San Francisco Chronicle Religion Writer Matthai Kuruvila San Francisco Chronicle reported those words, Saturday, September 13, 2008 in the Bay Area morning paper.    

Mr. Kunuvila noted in his report this important matter:    

Instead of naming the cathedral after a particular saint, a designation that might seem to favor one ethnic group, the diocese chose the neutral “Christ the Light” – a reference to the first lines of the magna carta of the Second Vatican Council, which ended in 1965 and began the era of modern Catholic multiculturalism.
 
 
    

 
During the Docent tour, ours stayed with us the entire time of her walkthrough, answering questions well. I asked her if she had a question for the Architect, and she said Yes.
 
Her name, Esperanza Quenteros. It was during the tour the title for this article appeared to me, for it represented my initial reaction to the new building: Agog in Oakland: Visiting the “New” Catholic Cathedral Christ the Light . We were told there is a new Bishop in Oakland, California USA. A city that is so very diverse it is billed as a metropolis of unusual diversity with its many kinds of ethnic and national citizens. The Cathedral must accommodate them, and unify the Roman Catholic Community.
 
Just for the record, the current Bishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone offers this about himself in his official biography:
On March 23, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Cordileone to be Fourth Bishop of Oakland. His Mass of Installation in the Diocese of Oakland was celebrated on May 5, 2009 at the Cathedral of Christ the Light .
 
Bishop Cordileone presently sits on the Committee for Canonical Affairs and Church Governance and the Ad Hoc Committee for Defense of Marriage of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB.) He also serves on the Religious Liberties Committee of the California Catholic Conference. 
 
Bishop Cordileone’s avocations include a life-long interest in jazz music. Even during his seminary studies in Rome he played his alto saxophone in a jazz quintet, and continues to follow the music.
What of the Theological purposes of the Cathedral. On its website, the Cathedral says of itself:
 It is the mother church and spiritual home of all the members of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Oakland, which inspires our diverse community across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The ministries at the Cathedral and its adjacent campus foster unity through worship, teaching and evangelization, and works of service – especially to the poor and those at the margins of society. The Cathedral functions as a “palace of the poor,” serving those in need by appealing to volunteers and donors who support cultural and community projects from a platform that will exist for centuries. Free health and legal clinics give life to this mission.
     

Bishop Allen Vigneron said: The Cathedral is to be a place for God and his people to meet. This only happens in Christ and thus the Cathedral is an icon of Christ, re-presenting the meaning of Christ. The Bishop continued with other remarks during the conception of the Cathedral and its building: Through the Cathedral, the idiom of our day can give voice to faith that is timeless.     

He described the Cathedral this way, and it is a kind of charge for Architect Craig Hartman, who worked so closely and well with Bishop Vigneron: Abundant with Catholic symbols and metaphors, woven into a context that has universal appeal, achieved through the shape of the Cathedral and the dramatic unfolding from the Story of Creation to Redemption through Christ…     

Asking for the creation of a place of being, a place of space and purpose, Bishop Vigneron added:    

The Cathedral then is our statement about how we, through whom Christ dwells in the world, dwell in Oakland and the East Bay.
  
A Catholic Catechism declares: …Christians construct buildings for divine worship. These visible churches are not simply gathering places but signify and make visible the Church living in this place, the dwelling of God with men reconciled and united in Christ. There is no mistake on the charge given Architect Craig Hartman, an Episcopalian who worships in an Episcopal Church in San Francisco: In this ‘house of God’ the truth and the harmony of the signs that make it up should allow Christ to be present and active in this place.
 
No doubt Architect Craig Hartman shared a similar vision as the Bishop, at least when it came to the concept of using light. He’d been working with this concept previous to his being chosen Architect to build the Cathedral of Christ the Light.
 
 
Skidmore, Owens and Merrill wrote this of their SOM architectural partner Craig Hartman:
 
The Oakland Diocese’s initial project prospectus called for light as the central focus of the design. In response to a question about which lighting principles he would employ on such a project, Hartman quoted architect Louis Kahn’s pronouncement: “We are born of light . . . we only know the world as it is evoked by light.” 
 
Hartman was invited to participate in the design competition in large part because of his imaginative use of light and reflection in the then-under-construction International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport. In the competition questionnaire, Hartman evoked the airport terminal project both to indicate his own “predisposition towards lightness and luminosity in architecture,” and as an example of “the recent advances in the technology of glass and concepts in structural engineering” that made the terminal a celebrated architectural work. Light, 
Hartman suggested, could indeed be the key “to create a contemporary design that was still evocative of the Church’s two millennium-old traditions.”
   

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    In the SOM report, again Craig Hartman speaks of his work and design of the Oakland, California USA Cathedral:    

The Diocese asked the design team to think about the cathedral in terms of a three-century lifespan: “We felt that the 300-year standard applied not only to the cathedral’s structural integrity,” Hartman recalls, “but equally to the aesthetic that that building should be architecturally worthy of lasting at least until the 24th century.” According to structural engineering partner Bill Baker, it was equally important to use “an ‘of the moment’ approach to design and material because it was the most honest and sensible way to proceed.” This belief in the rightness of contemporary design led the team away from, for example, a neo-gothic tribute and towards a modern design instead.     

The sanctuary design references two interlocking spherical grids in the form of the “Vesica Pisces,” the conjoined circles that represent both an ancient symbol of congregation and the basic symbol of Christianity—the fish. The interlocking grids will support curved glass walls that are ceramically coated to infuse varying degrees of opacity. The results will be a glowing, variegated, indirectly lit interior space, vaulting up 12-stories to a glass oculus roof which is also in the intersecting circle motif.    

The oculus was designed to focus light on the central altar, provide a view of the sky above, and be a component in a unique, passive cooling system.     

Richard Rapaport, who wrote the article for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, put it right when he emphasized the use of structural integrity, and that it be worthy in its architectural sense to last until the 24th Century. Mr. Rapaport quotes Architect Hartman on the matter, and as well emphasizes another significant element in the design and symbolism of the Cathedral. That is the use of the form “Vesica Pisces,” an ancient symbol indicating meeting place for Christians.    

Skidmore, Owingss, and Merrill reports on its website:    

Bishop Vigneron ultimately believes that the SOM design succeeded both “as an expression of a created Cosmos,” and as a design that “meets all of the requirements for sheltering people to pray.” Beyond that, the Bishop sees something “beautifully worked about the way the design uses wood, concrete, and stone. Each of these materials,” he feels, ultimately “makes its own contribution to the display of light in very powerful yet subtle ways.”    

This writer can’t recall if our Docent mentioned any of the specific awards won by Craig Hartman, but his biography offers these paragraphs in summary with emphasis on some:    

Mr. Hartman’s work has been recognized with over 100 awards for design, which, in addition to 8 national AIA Honor Awards, includes two Gold LEED® Certifications and AIA awards for environmental sustainability at Treasure Island and the University of California, Merced. He also received a Federal Design Achievement Award in the 2000 Presidential Design Awards Program.     

In 2001, Hartman became the youngest recipient of the Maybeck Award, an award presented periodically by the California Chapter of the AIA to an individual in recognition of “lifetime achievement in architectural design.” During the dedication ceremony for The Cathedral of Christ the Light in September 2008, the Vatican’s Knighthood for Service to Society (St. Sylvester) was bestowed upon Hartman by Pope Benedictus XVI. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts from Ball State University during the May 2009 commencement ceremony.     

Minor City with the beautiful new Cathedral, Oakland had as Mayor Jerry Brown, well know three time Presidential aspirant and grass roots candidate who when the grass in the Springtime of his life was green was Governor of California USA. Then that young man, son of a father who was a popular Governor of California…Jerry Brown, the Catholic Seminary attendee, had the label Governor Moonbeam. At 72, this well-known politician again seeks the Governorship after being Mayor of Oakland, California. He was a centerpiece of fame for the minor California City, described in Wikipedia as a City that “…is a major West Coast port, located on San Francisco Bay, about 8 miles (13 km) east of San Francisco. Oakland is a major hub city for the Bay Area subregion collectively called the East Bay, and it is the county seat of Alameda County. Based on United States Census Bureau estimates for 2010, Oakland is the 41st-largest city in the USA with a population of 446,901.” The current Mayor of the City of Oakland is star of a YouTube that presents a montage of the many faceted laboring and sometimes troubled and crime plagued City of work and working class with its fine homes and tony people living in the Hills above the metropolis. With this thumbnail sketch of the lesser known California City with its marvelous new Cathedral, let us turn again to Cathedral of Christ the Light, spiritual home to Roman Catholics in the City’s region.    

Probably the both spare and moving artwork of the Cathedral adds to its beauty in a way of simple and impressive candor about faith and the place of worship and Christ in the Cathedral’s holy expressions of devotion. This writer talked with sculptor Andrew J Bonnette by phone when he was in his studio. We talked by phone more than once. On one call one of his children answered the studio phone and the youngster said his father had gone out. One recognized by this that the studio was probably in close proximity to his home.    

I live in Afton, in a country area. The home is a civil war era stone house built in 1851.    

I am 44. When I was about 15, my father would hire me to do odd jobs in the shop for him. Cast waxes, and make plaster molds and the like. As time went on the projects were  sometimes rather complex. Some of his mentors from the past I began to know quite well, as they often played a role in his work. Around 1986, he began to suffer from some  terminal physical problems. He died 1987. He was very well known all over the United States as an important sculptor of Liturgical and Sacred art, Gerald S Bonnette.    

I went to technical school for the field of hospital central service technician, (CSR). But I never went to art school. I learned the profession of sculpting,  mold making and how to use wax and clay from my father. He left me with a lot of  equipment and tools, and introduced me to oxy-acetylene torch welding. Most of the other skills I have picked up were self-taught, like Tig welding, stick welding, and metal casting, which were things that my father did not do himself.     

My skills with wood were also self-taught, and to this day I do most of the small wood related tasks myself.    

After the death of my father, the orders for the artwork continued to come to me. I expanded my skills as the need to do so evolved. There was never much time when I didn’t have a project to do.  At the Cathedral of Christ the light in Oakland California, all of the sculptures I am responsible for were cast by myself: The Stations of the Cross, the Madonna and Child with the black bear cub, the Tabernacle reliefs and the life-size crucifix are all designs of my creations. Some people have asked me what is the meaning of the bear cub. The bear cub symbolizes a state of strength, and wisdom of the coronation of Mary as the mother of God. That is all; this is my understanding, otherwise Oakland is a place of the black bear. There was also supposed to be a bronze oak tree near the Madonna. This tree was never fully completed in time, the Cathedral ultimately decided not to place the tree in the Cathedral. It remains in my shop, and someday it may be used for another reason.    

Text of email to the Bishop:    

Andrew:    

Fr. Minnihan forwarded to me a photo of the corpus you致e created for the sanctuary crucifix for our new Cathedral.  It is very beautiful.     

Thank you,    

Bp. Vigneron    

   

Do you like the work done on the Cathedral?    

It is fantastic, the most interesting Church and Cathedral I have ever seen or been in. When I visited Oakland, I was able to see how it was built and I love the physical shape of it. From the outside, it is very well illuminated from all directions. You can see the light coming from the inside from all directions. The light shines in from all directions during the day. It is so unique. I have so many good memories of going in there, everywhere you look there is something to see of history, art and the focus of the real light of Christ is everywhere.    

The reason the Cathedral chose me as one of the artists was mostly because of my personal accomplishments, however without the help of a good friend, Brother William Woeger, I do not think I would have been there.    

Do you say the Stations of the Cross?     

Yes, of course. Attending the processions of the Stations is very important thing for myself and my family. We usually attend mass at Saint Rita’s Catholic Church in Cottage Grove, but there are more than a few Catholic churches where I live. Since childhood, Saint Rita’s Church I have thought of as my church.    

My father was one of the main Liturgical Artists at Saint Rita’s, and there are a few pieces of his work there.    

Did you do much Church work before the Cathedral?     

There is a large 3 dimensional of Christ the King in Madison, Wisconsin. It is 7 1/2 feet from head to toe. It is a full size copy of a very important little bronze crucifix of my father’s design. It looks like a gigantic duplicate of the little crucifix. It is in the courtyard of the Archdiocese. I was paid a fair price for the work, however now that it is done, the cost of it is not important; the meaning of the statue is the only important thing.    

Did you work with the Bishop on the crucifix for the Cathedral of Christ the light?     

Yes, I met with Bishop Vigneron more than a few times. Myself, the design consultants and others met to have dinner in his house in Oakland, California. During our conversations, we arrived at the conclusion that Mary be very gentle looking and have a slightly Middle Eastern appearance because this is the region of the world they were from, and have certain features on the facial expressions of the Madonna statue. The final details of Mary’s eyes were my doing. The entire design was changed more than a few times. She is looking very lovingly at Jesus. I didn’t want her to look hard or difficult at all, and to show that Jesus is our gateway to God.    

Bishop Vigneron said, Oakland is populated by many different ethnicities and that relating to the masses and varieties of the ethnic generations is very important. Nobody really knows for sure exactly how Jesus or Mary really looked, and so you have to use some artistic license in deciding this.    

I spoke with the main architect a few times. We exchanged emails and talked about dimensions and where we would place the sculptures. I wanted people to touch the stations, and some people are not very tall, and so the height of where they are is important. We live in a three dimensional world and seeing is not all visual, and so a lot of our comprehension comes from being able to hold onto what is around us with our hands. It was important to me for the statues to be accessible to everyone.    

Text of email to the Bishop:    

Dear Bishop Vigneron    

The photos sent are of the feet on the large crucifix. They were changed because the size and shape of the feet prior were not acceptable. I am moving forward with the casting.     

Merry Christmas and Happy Newyear    

sincerely, Andrew Bonnette    

     

    

Dear Andrew:    

I’m sorry it has taken me so long to respond to this message.  I very much appreciate seeing the feet of the Crucifix.  What struck me first was the thought you put into it in having the nail holes show the result of the flesh being torn by the nails as the Lord’s body pressed downward.      

     

I am so very eager to see the whole.    

     

Know that I am most grateful that your talents are enriching our Cathedral.  I hope that you and your family have a blessed Christmas.    

     

Will you speak briefly of the method you used, and maybe even tell us something of the inspiration that led you to create the Crucifix Christ, and the Mary statue? Can you talk briefly of the meaning of the Mary statue to you, and what your feelings are about Mary?     

I wanted the sculptures at the Cathedral to look slightly Romanesque. There is no perfect art. I have always felt that if an artist is a perfectionist or fancies him or herself a professional artist, that is the opinion of the artist only. If you look at a Romanesque work that was made thousands of years ago, the artist was not thinking of making something perfect. The idea was captured in the act of doing the sculpting. I love the material bronze because it is such a usable material, and it has a beautiful color, the 2,000 year old castings are probably more interesting now than they were back then.    

It makes one want to know something about her and pray the rosary. The rosary is something I pray a lot. I think that was what gave me my inspiration. When I was sculpting Mary I prayed the rosary a lot. I didn’t want to make her look too glamorous. I don’t think that is the right thing to do for making a sculpture that is to be holy, to make it too glittery. I wanted it to be conservative—simple, yet beautiful.    

 

Bronze is what it is, you can brush it or buff it and then let it patina. Usually you do not have to clean it up and it looks beautiful anyway.    

I do not think that that Mary is often given enough glorifications. She is not the savior of our human race of course, but she is the mother of our lord.    

I hope that the Madonna statue encourages more people to pray the rosary. The holy rosary is something I practice. I am sure it has given me a lot of my inspiration for the work    

Text of email to the Bishop:    

Dear Bishop Vigneron    

The photos sent are of the feet on the large crucifix. They were changed because the size and shape of the feet prior were not acceptable. I am moving forward with the casting.     

     

Merry Christmas and Happy Newyear    

sincerely, Andrew Bonnette    

     

     

     

Dear Andrew:    

Thank you, again, for your work on our Crucifix.  And thanks, too, for your good wishes for Christmas.  Mine to you and your family.    

Bp. Vigneron    

Dec. 20, 2007    

Doing this kind of work is a labor of love, and there are a lot of hazards. The original design concept probably takes a month or a few days, depending on how you look at it and the complexity. Taking your concept and turning it into a sculpture may take up to a few months for the original, and the final product could take up to a year.    

Welding is important. No matter how thoroughly the attention to detail is, you will always have to weld some part or parts of your work. You need to know how to join pieces of metal together. You need to know how to turn one scale into a larger scale.    

I make a lot of my own tools and machinery, and do invent new concepts in the process. For the most part, I am self-educated on most subjects, even electricity. In the house and shop, that really comes in handy. If someone were going to try to make a sizable and large sculpture, they would want to get familiarized with material and how to handle it. Come up with a good plan, write it down on paper, right down to the last detail, and perform each task as a separate job. That’s key to the whole thing.    

You do get tired. Over the years, my hands have become stronger, my abilities to notice details have increased and certain arm muscles are just stronger than usual. It’s hard work, and you want to get your design done while the idea is fresh in your mind. I like to think of myself as a do-it yourselfer, however I know that I am not an average person–I do not want to be, I couldn’t go down that road again.    

Text of email to the Bishop:    

Dear Bishop Vigneron,    

I wanted to let you know that I do plan on being at the dedication of the Cathedral in September, and thank you for the invitation, it will be faxed to Oakland. I hope that you have been well, and I look forward to seeing you again. The crucifix will be delivered to Omaha this Monday or Tuesday.     

Sincerely, Andrew Bonnette    

     

     

     

     

Dear Andrew    

I’m glad you are able to be present for the Dedication.  I have received some photos of the corpus for the sanctuary crucifix.  They are exquisitely beautiful.      

     

I have shared them with my priests and with my co-workers in the Chancery.  One of the secretaries seems near to tears as she spoke about the serenity you have portrayed in Christ’s face.      

     

God bless you for the gift of your talent in His service.    

If a reader wants to contact the sculptor, write, Andrew J Bonnette, 12487 40th St.    

Afton, MN 55001 USA. A pictorial brochure is available upon request    

    

An interview with liturgical and design director, Brother William J. Woeger, F.S.C.    

Director, Office for Divine Worship, 100 N. 62nd St., Omaha, NE  68132. 402.558.3100 ext. 3008    

402.558.3026 (fax).

Will you speak some to the subject of art and faith for readers? Perhaps they’ll gain a better understanding of the Cathedral space, and the liturgical role works of art play in a space that accommodates and nurtures faith?    

I’ve been a big fan of the art of borone in Switzerland. Basically, it’s late 19th century Viennese secessionists associated with the monastery of Barone. They were reacting to the romanticism of religious and also to the kind of artist himself as an object of cult and following. That the artist becomes bigger than the work of art itself. The true purpose of art is to serve religion. Ultimately the work was anonymous and the style heavily borrowed from Egyptian. They felt art was closely related to mathematics.    

Personally, I identify more with work that is iconic. It is theology and not just emotional. There should be some content. That was what I was looking for with some of the artists and so we have art that is evocative of the religious; we have art that is devotional, and art that speaks of a culture. It may not be the primary culture of the people who use the cathedral. For example, the art in the holy family chapel is Spanish colonial, and the average age of the paintings is 200 years old. The school of Cusco. The Cusco paintings are anonymous and come out of the school. The two sculptures that are in there are Cusco but they are contemporary. There San Jose Joseph with the child, and Conino Nino. (The Family Chapel.) The immaculate (Mary).    

How did you get involved with the Cathedral project, and when?    

For about thirty years I’ve been travelling around the country as a liturgical designer and I interviewed with the Diocese and was hired. The Bishop and members of his staff and committee. That was Archbishop Vignonor, who is now in Detroit. For about the last forty years Catholic Churches have not been built with Communion Rails because people receive standing. Other than the altar rail, the layout of the Church is really not radical at all, even though the architecture is very, very contemporary. I don’t think anybody, even an architect or a designer than the client is, and nine times out of ten if you’ve got a good client you’ve got a good result. Archbishop Vignoron is one of the best clients I’ve ever worked for. He approached the project in a manner that was open minded and inclusive. When he came in to the Cathedral, the basic concept of the Cathedral was made. He called the project techno – that he appreciated the way a building like that is built. There is never too much. He would affectionately refer to the building as techno, for it had an abundance of technical design. He very much appreciated the whole metaphor of light.    

At your age, when working on the Cathedral, what were the expectations for the liturgical and theological designs?    

I think all of us knew we were doing something special. This was not just “another church.” We knew there were a lot of people looking to see what would happen. We thought we were onto something very positive, and moved forward with it. Relationships were established. I have friends I made I will have all my life.    

The lead architect was very open to the project and input of the people around him. This was not a one man show. He was very responsive to the gifts that were brought to the table.    

Whose idea was it to have the smaller “chapels” throughout the Cathedral?    

Chapel of the Suffering Christ, Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
 

Those spaces were there and it was not clear how they were going to function. My job was to work with the committee and the Bishop to reflect on the building and build a theology for it. We came up with the idea of the Chapel of the Suffering Christ because people may be in pain. The family is supposed to remind people that the principle educator of children is parents. Chapel of the saints will be filled with icons. No one has been commissioned to fill the frames. They are quite ornate. The all seasons chapel was created where the average parishioner could make a seasonal statement or where a more spontaneous expression could be made, like a shrine. That changes all the time.    

It was and continues to be a great privilege to be involved in this project. It is one I will continue to stay close to. I came away from the project feeling like I had received a gift to be involved with it.    

The Pacific Rim it is said faces Asia, and the Rocky Mountains divide east from west.  So we’ve said. The cities of the Pacific Rim include those not only in the United States but within this entire global definition. That a Cathedral, in this case a new Roman Catholic Cathedral is to last three centuries, into the 24th Century, takes building skills, imagination, and a lot of work that promises quality. As an addition, so small in the geologic sense, and even small when compared to the proportion of population of the Pacific Rim, this Cathedral of Christ the Light is an addition to the Western United States and especially the City of Oakland and all of California.    

Hyperbole? Of course! What else is a new Cathedral, but a celebration? Regardless of denomination, a house of God, a light of and for believers in Christ, need not and should not be ignored. This writer hopes we have celebrated the addition of a new Cathedral, and expressed the modern and unusual space of light and graphic presentation of the “supernatural” huge Christ as a place of worship for Roman Catholics.    

The second Cathedral for Architect Craig Hartman is going to be built:    

In the Roman Catholic tradition, a Cathedral houses the cathedra – the teaching seat – of the bishop. The Cathedral becomes the focal point of important liturgical events within the diocese and hosts celebrations and other activities closely linked to the diocesan community and its faith. An important distinction for the new Cathedral is the long-range plan to make the complex serve ecumenical as well as parochial needs; and to become an important spiritual and cultural center for all of Orange County.     

The search for an architect capable of translating the many ethnic and cultural facets represented in the Diocese of Orange, while acknowledging the historical architectural and worship traditions of Roman Catholicism, culminated with the selection of San Francisco-based Hartman, the Design Partner in SOM’s San Francisco office…    

Educated at Ball State University and the Architectural Association in London, where he studied under Cedric Price, Hartman was recruited from school by Walter Netsch, FAIA, to join the Chicago office of SOM in 1973. He moved to SOM’s Houston office in 1982, becoming a Design Partner in 1985 at the age of 35. In 1987, he became the Design Partner of SOM’s Washington, D.C. office and ultimately joined SOM’s San Francisco office in 1990 as the Design Partner in charge of Architecture for the West Coast practice.    

[One Press Statement headline reads:] Christ Our Savior Cathedral Design will Feature Innovative Engineering and Extensive Community Service Facilities when Completed.    

If one is in Oakland, visiting San Francisco, hear the organs of Cathedral of Christ the Light. Currently, on every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, a brief demonstration of the Conroy Memorial Organ will take place at 1PM as part of the docent-led tour. Join the Cathedral’s organist, Rudy de Vos, as he briefly talks about this magnificent instrument and demonstrates some of the different sounds from its 5,298 pipes.    

The good work of the Cathedral Center is now highlighted in a new brochure, in both English and Spanish. (updated 8-27-2010)    

ADDENDUM II    

     

Unanswered questions regarding the Cathedral of the Architectural firm    

At the time of this posting the writer continues to work on these questions for Skidmore, Owens and Merrill.    

Food for thought and reflection    

(1) In the realm of public work meeting the private, what particulars of architecture and community do you see as most significant and immediately recognizable as necessary? Can you think of a Church or Cathedral that speaks to this ethos and aesthetic in important ways? Is there a particular project with which you are familiar, or worked on, that you could mention in this regard?    

(2) What is the architectural role of the kind of building that is religious or faith oriented in the community, to your mind? What of your own place of worship? Does it or does it not fit your criteria for a good place of its kind within its city or community? In what way?    

 (3) Will you speak for a moment for attribution, if only briefly, about the Western United States and its sense of architectural design in cities as opposed to those sensibilities in the Eastern United States? Can you think of a Cathedral or Church that is memorable and a statement for its own region or area? Even a building that strikes your mind when considering this kind of difficult and probably unfair, and too broad of a question? But there the question is, and I am sure readers will be interested to get a feel for American architecture in this regard.    

The area that occurs to me is in part a statement of design by architect Craig Harman made in his video of the design process for the Cathedral. His words were to the effect that the building was placed so as to be created between the urban Oakland and the natural setting of Lake Merritt. I consider this as a boundary, as outlined in a book     

I reviewed Esther de Waal’s work (link to book review is here: http://www.examiner.com/x-10965-SF-Religion-in-the-News-Examiner~y2009m8d22-Book-Review-Entering-into-a-life-in-the-Spirit ). (A link to where the video is found is here: http://www.ctlcathedral.org/resources/video_display2.shtml )     

Further, a Cathedral is a symbol, and many religious requirements are met in its design. For instance, the direction the altar faces is a traditional matter of religious intent and necessity. It requires some special knowledge within its own sense of value and purpose. Just in that it becomes particularly special, even as religious statement. May we agree on that?    

A reiteration in rephrasing of the questions for reflection:    

In what way is the Cathedral situated within its public and private environs so that it creates a series of boundaries and statements, if that is even so?   
Where or what is the statement about the western parts of the United States in the design of this building, especially as a public place for worship for the community? I understand you are familiar with regional and public design and reason for same in architecture, hence the question.   
The Bishop who worked on the building in its building stage noted that he thought the design “techno.” It does seem so modern and “techno.” Though you cannot speak for him, perhaps you know what he means for on your website you have a genre of buildings that are modern in their particularity. If you understand what I mean, please comment on this form of Skidmore, Owen Merrill work.   
The graphics on the building are striking. Who was in charge, and will you say something of the design team’s vision?
  

 

Stylish table lamps are the key to a well furnished room and a major key to the stylish table lamp is the Chinoiserie style, a French term, pronounced “shin-wahz-ree” signifying “Chinese-esque” or “anything reflecting Chinese culture: Chinese artifacts, designs, artistic styles, behavior”.

Yet, to gain a richer understanding of this classic decorating style, we need to go back in history to the time of that intrepid traveller, Marco Polo. It was this famous Venetian who first opened the eyes of the West to the mysterious land, known to the Chinese as the Middle Kingdom or China.

Around the late 13th century, new and exciting products began to trickle into Europe from China, a land still hidden and virtually unknown to the West. Europe was fascinated by the exotic imports such silk, lacquered furniture and porcelain, all vastly expensive and purchased only by the wealthy social classes. These beautiful and curious objects led to the development of a European interpretation of Chinese decoration which the French called, “Chinoiserie”.

The mid 18th century saw a French, aristocratic demand for sumptuous interior design with various European monarchs, such as Louis XV of France, giving special favor to this exciting genre as it blended particularly well with the high rococo style of the day.

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In true Chinoiserie fairyland, Mandarins lived in fanciful, mountainous landscapes with cobweb bridges. They carried flower parasols, lolled in flimsy bamboo pavilions haunted by dragons and phœnixes, while monkeys swung from scrolling borders, always delicately drawn and full of free flowing movement with beautifully balanced composition.

Chinoiserie quickly became the height of fashion, setting the interior design style of Paris, London, Berlin and St Petersburg, finding expression in mediums such as furniture, porcelain, wallpaper and fabric, to name just a few.

While the popularity of Chinoiserie may have peaked around the middle of the eighteenth century, its value as an arresting, interior decorative style has never waned.

For a classic or eclectic interior, fine antique table lamps of Chinoiserie style will quickly “pull the look together”, adding interest and an overall sense of high style. Reliable, decorative lighting specialists such as The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co are able to offer quality or can source particular lighting requirements upon request.

Table Lamp Tips – remember that using a dimmer switch or simply changing the wattage of your bulb will significantly alter the mood of a room.

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2008

Believe it or not we are victims of Economic Slavery. Waking up and going to that 9 to 5 job or working for Mr. Joe Blow will not get you where you want to be financially? The problem is that we are human beings that have a tendency of getting complacent in whatever activity we are placed in. By this I mean, people get stuck in a rut and if it meets our needs financially, we wallow there and do nothing about it because it serves our purpose at that particular time. If and when we realize, in our misery, that this is just not going to cut it we will begin to look for a better way.

For example: I know we are undergoing hard economic times and there are 1.4 million people on unemployment at this present time. If these same people were offered a job right now to receive the same amount they are receiving on unemployment, do you think they would jump at the opportunity of taking the job? Human nature would prove you wrong if you answered yes to that question.

There are people out there that have turned down jobs offering 0 a week because they just want to stay home with their family. I personally think that the real reason is that they have gotten a taste of being home and don’t want to go back to work and put up with their employer’s crap.  People are seriously thinking about physically not going back to work when they are reminded that they would have to get up early, get dressed no more PJ’s, drive or take public transportation on either crowded freeways or subways and put up with the crowds.  Let’s not forget that at the end of the week we would look at your paychecks and see that after Federal, State and City taxes you are left with that hopeless feeling and a still depleted bank account. I know that those are not fond memories, and I could go on, but I will spare you the anguish.

So what is the solution? For some, they will start their dream home business and think of happier times ahead. Some will search for a home based opportunity and won’t know where to start. Some will suffer from anxiety, fear or some other malady and spend a great deal of time looking and not be able to find what they want. Some will get scammed and put them back on the road to work for Mr. Boss again. So again I ask, “What is the answer”.

We are all looking for that special situation were we could make a good amount of money and do it on our own time and still stay home to do the actual work.

What if I told you that it is more difficult that one may think.  I know that I’m not telling you something that you don’t already know. People are looking in droves for that special opportunity that they can be successful doing.  But first you have to eliminate all the scams or pie in the sky offers that are being offered on the net. If you’ve noticed, people are looking at all sorts of opportunities such as selling energy drinks, health food, diet products, electricity, Avon, selling on eBay, selling rejuvenation products, e-books, and one of my all time favorites affiliate marketing websites and a combination discount shopping and social networking sites.

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There is even a big proliferation of Cash Gifting programs. Their mantra seems to be, help others in these troubled economic times by gifting anywhere from to thousands of dollars to other needy or well deserving people. The reality is that they are really lining their own pockets temporarily while promoting a very illegal program.  Cash gifting is illegal. When person gifts money to another with the sole expectation of receiving more money in return that is considered illegal. They unwillingly and sometimes consciously commit a crime and do so through the promotion of the gifting program where their sponsors justify their actions by sugar coating or re-interpreting IRS rulings on Cash gifting.

If people only knew what to look for, wouldn’t it make life so much easier?

If you are looking for a method where you can cut through endless dribble of Cash gifting scam-Ville then use the following common sense guidelines.

Look for a that has a history of performance. I would suggest a minimum of two years. Don’t let the originator be based offshore, like the Caymans or St. Lucia.
Make sure that the entity/Company has a mailing address not a P.O. BOX. If you should ever need to get in contact with that company you know where to look. This is how to recognize fly by night companies.
Make sure that they have a full support system in place to answer any questions you may have and a good tracking system to keep track of all referrals under you so that you can track payments being made to you directly.
Make sure that they are a legal entity: which means that they have a product based structure that incorporates the best features of . The product base is what makes a a .  A Program that is for the sake of making , short term, for their benefit and promoted, as a business is ILLEGAL. What makes cash gifting a is the promotion of a true and legitimate product base, which, in reality, is a true benefit because now you have a .
Make sure that they have a good website with several capture pages and an auto responder to assist in the marketing of the business.
Make sure they have different levels or tiers of participation. (For example: 0, 0, 00 and 00 entry levels) This allows for a person to participate at an entry level and work their way up to the top tier.
Make sure that you are the first one to get paid. The reason I mention this is that in most programs, the sponsor, the introducer, the qualifier or someone else gets paid first before you even see a dime. This should be unacceptable to anybody thinking of taking part in these types of opportunities.
You should have the option of receiving your Cash Gifts not only by Federal Express envelopes or UPS envelopes but you should also have the option of receiving cash by direct deposit transfers into your own bank account, Cashiers checks, Money orders, Paypal, Alertpay, Safepay or even Google credit cards payments. This gives the business a solid air of legitimacy not only to you but also your . Remember that if it’s a gift under the regulated amount it doesn’t matter how it comes in. Yes it’s nice to receive cash but money can be received in many forms.
Make sure that your sponsor assists you in getting started and answering any questions you may have. This is not to say that you should hound your sponsor to death since this person also has a business to run.

10.Try to find C where the company gets none or very little of the cash gifting profits. Profits are different from an Admission fee or Web site hosting fees.

11.Try to find a that has component. This makes the profitable for the long term. This is why the longevity of a program is essential. The longer the has been in business the more residual income the participants are and will be getting.

12.Make sure that the has training for all its new participants. This is essential because the more you know about the business the better you can market it. Your mantra should be “KNOW YOUR BUSINESS”.

13.Make sure that there is NO Selling involved in the marketing of this activity.

14.Make sure that the has a complete list of marketing lead generating sites for you to showcase your new and it should be a combination of free advertising sties and pay sites.  Free sites can be profitable but pay sites sometimes goes the extra mile to expose your business to a more select audience. If Real Estate’s mantra is Location, Location, Location the mantra for a should be Marketing, Marketing, Marketing.

15.Keep in mind that if and when you take advantage of a , hopefully a legal one, you never forget that it is a business and it should be treated as such. This means that cash gifting is not a free ride to You have to work the to make it a success. Like my grand Dad use to say, “There are no free rides in this life”.

 

 

Fashionistas world over agree that there’s no place quite like the capital of jolly old England when it comes to fashion, trends and the latest threads from the runways. Although shopping in London can be an overwhelming experience for first time visitors, exploring the city’s innumerable retail venues by district will give shoppers a head start in discovering the best that the city has to offer.

First up is of course famed Oxford Street which is renowned for its designer labels and signature stores.  Home to over 300 shops this bustling shopper’s Mecca also houses the iconic Selfridges and departments stores the likes of Debenhams and John Lewis. Tipped as a hotbed for luxury and high end items other highlights down Oxford include the myriad of boutiques located along Berwick and St Christopher’s Place. The luxury line continues on to the next shopping district situated in Bond Street and Mayfair. Popular among the rich, famous and extravagant spenders the hotspots on this stretch include Tiffany & Co, Burberry and Louis Vuitton while the landmark Browns fashion outlet is found in nearby South Molton.

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Milder priced goodies and men’s wear are all the rage on Regent Street and Jermyn Street which is famous for its Charles Tyrwhitt and John Lobb outlets. Liberty and Hamleys are also worth the visit while Savile Row also boasts a plethora of fine tailors including Gieves & Hawkes, Henry Poole & Co, H. Huntsman & Sons, Ozwald Boateng among its signature stores in addition to the Abercrombie & Fitch flagship shop. With nearly 12 shopping streets to its name Carnaby is a melting pot of street wear, urban trends and designer hotspots. Find exclusive and one of a kind creation at the three story courtyard market Kingly Court or hop over to Covent Garden which boasts the Covent Garden Market, Neal Street cosmetic hub and a number of retail streets that include Monmouth Street, Floral Street, Neal’s Yard,  Shorts Gardens and Seven Dials.

 

Punk clothing fans on the other hand must head down to King’s Road which houses the Vivienne Westwood’s World’s End store is located in addition to the Chelsea Antiques Market. Knightsbridge is well-known as the home of Harvey Nichols and Harrods department stores while bohemian chic vintage wear, books, precious antiques and gift items galore are available down Notting Hill.

 

When it comes to luxury London hotels, there is really no alternative to the elegant rests belonging to the Millennium Hotels and Resorts UK. Home to over five elegant establishments in the British capital alone this veritable institution among United Kingdom hotels is the preferred choice of all discerning travellers.

Tag Heuer watches are some of the best luxury Swiss watches to be found anywhere in the world. This is a company that has been excelling at making watches for over 150 years now. So they have a legacy behind that spans multiple centuries.

Tag Heuer has its beginnings rooted in a company started in 1860 by Edouard Heuer in a place called St-Imier in Switzerland. This is the company that later joined up with a company called TAG in 1985 (Techniques d’Avant Garde) and that is how the modern TAG Heuer was born. TAG originally manufactured precision engineering and high tech technology such as ceramic turbochargers for Formula One cars.

In 1999, TAG Heuer accepted an offer from one the biggest French luxury design houses — Louis Vuitton†— for buying up a majority stake in the company for about 2 million. This resulted in Louis Vuitton owning 50.1% of all TAG Heuer shares — thus owning majority of the company.

TAG Heuer watches have behind them the historical achievement of being the first to introduce the automatic chronograph to the world. Heuer was part of a three company joint effort to produce the world’s first automatic chronograph and it was achieved in the first quarter of the year 1969 with the announcement being made in Geneva.

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Heuer has also had the opportunity to produce watches that were sold under yet another large international lifestyle brand and design house — Abercrombie and Fitch. These watches were produced and sold in the years 1953 and 1954. The designs had tachymeter features that were geared towards rally car drivers who could use their watch to determine the speed of their car over a measured mile and thus calculate whether it was performing optimally or not.

Heuer was also the first to get the patent for a dashboard chronograph that was meant to be used in automobiles and airplanes. The first model had two large hands to show the time of the day and had a smaller dial at the 12′o clock position for showing the duration of the journey, which was at that time up to 12 hours.

In 1962, Heuer became the first Swiss watchmaker in space. It was onboard the Mercury Atlas 6 spacecraft, which was America’s first manned spaceflight to orbit the earth. The watch was worn by astronaut John Glenn who was part of the mission.

Heuer was also part of the first wave of digital watches that experimented with LCD and LED displays. These were really new at the time and garnered a lot of attention. The first such watch from the company was the Chronoplit model. This happened during the mid-1970’s.

Thus Tag Heuer watches have been part of a legacy that stretches beyond the borders and boundaries in and outside this world. It is a multi-century heritage that safeguards the high precision engineering art of making perfect timepieces that are trusted by professionals everywhere.

Bag is a very important part in mordern life. Wherever you go, a bag is necessary. There are various of bags in the market following the producing of new technology products. The material of bags has changed from the first innovation cotton to leather, then environmental protection. It is hard for people to image how great change bags have made. But people can know the different use of bags.

-Glof bags

Golf bags can be of various types, such as stand bags, tour bags and pencil bags. What is more, some of these bags come with additional features like putter sleeves. Golf cart bags contain compartments or conveniences that modern golfer wants. A prefect glof bag can compartments for everything, such as Wallets, mobile phones, keys, ball cleaners and many other accessory items. The Taylor Made Golf Phantom ST Stand bags are available with dual colour accents Six-way air mesh cushioned full-length divider top with putter well robust aluminium leg stand system. The range of bags is diverse.

-Women Bags

Women bags are women’s best friends. Without women bags, women can hardly walk in the street. Expecially for shopping women, with a women bag, they can buy everything they want to satisfied their shopping appetite. There are many styles of women bags in today’s market, like Gucci bags, Louis Vuitton Handbags and miu miu bags. All of them are high quality and the material is leather.

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Gucci bags were just the same till the Gucci hysteria bags came in. They creates quiet a change in the fashion world and escalated Gucci to a higher stratosphere altogether. This line gives Gucci the much needed nudge and gives it a very refreshingly new touch. A notable feature is that the Gucci Hysteria Tote Bag is replaced the family crest. Though, it was not expected, the emblem gives it the much needed attraction. The leather is completely different with its super soft texture and lusciousness. The high light of Gucci Hysteria Tote Bag isn’t its size and colour, but its dual-use. You can hang it on your shoulder or just wear in the side. Gucci bags itself equipped with two shoulder straps. Going outside with it, reduce your shoulder burden.

From beginning to nowadays, it is no wonder that women bags are best-selling products all over the world. Neverless poor women or high-income women all want to own one luxury bag.

-Laptop bags

Women’s laptop bags were created specifically for the females to carry their laptop in. They are more stylish and feminine than regular laptop tote bags and also durable. They come in a plethora of styles, fabrics and graphic prints.

Women’s Suede Business Computer Tote is designed for those looking to buy cheap laptop bags, the women’s suede tote bag is a great option. It was created by ‘Traveler’s Choice’ and costs about . The bag is made of leather and includes multiple interior features such as a padded computer pocket. Padded handles are accented with tight stitching, which is durable to hold the heaviest objects. The inside has been manufactured to organize certain objects along with cell phone department. It is the perfect choice for any professional woman.

-Plastic bags to environmental protection development

It is hard to say if plastic bags is good for health, but it is confirmed that plastic bags is not good for environment. Government has taken measures to ban the production of plastic bags. Instead, they allow the new production of environmental protection bags. They are easy to carry about, they can reuse more than one time. For some bags the material is paper but most of them is cloth. Very good to protect environment, it is no wonder why people accept these new bags.

However, so many bags in the market, women still crazy buyying women handbags as their favor. But the price is little high, why not buy Cheap Bags instead? It will very benefit to save your money.

Bag is a very important part in mordern life. Wherever you go, a bag is necessary. There are various of bags in the market following the producing of new technology products. The material of bags has changed from the first innovation cotton to leather, then environmental protection. It is hard for people to image how great change bags have made. But people can know the different use of bags.

-Glof bags

Golf bags can be of various types, such as stand bags, tour bags and pencil bags. What is more, some of these bags come with additional features like putter sleeves. Golf cart bags contain compartments or conveniences that modern golfer wants. A prefect glof bag can compartments for everything, such as Wallets, mobile phones, keys, ball cleaners and many other accessory items. The Taylor Made Golf Phantom ST Stand bags are available with dual colour accents Six-way air mesh cushioned full-length divider top with putter well robust aluminium leg stand system. The range of bags is diverse.

-Women Bags

Women bags are women’s best friends. Without women bags, women can hardly walk in the street. Expecially for shopping women, with a women bag, they can buy everything they want to satisfied their shopping appetite. There are many styles of women bags in today’s market, like Gucci bags, Louis Vuitton Handbags and miu miu bags. All of them are high quality and the material is leather.

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Women can not live without handbags. Women handbags is an insurance for life, purse, mobile phone and some women’s secrets inside that people can hardly live away with them. Also handabgs history told us that women handbags is a symbol of women taste. With luxury women handbags, women become confident outside. Some women prefect LV handbags – just for its nobel feeling. Some prefect Gucci Handbags – the lead of fashion. But recently, women translate their way to Balenciaga handbags.

Balenciaga handbags have got to be one of the most wanted brands of bags in recent years, which are favored by many celebrities, and also loved by magzine editors and fashion lovers. Baleciaga handbags have been on wish lists of more and more stylish women. Why are the Balenciaga handbags so popular in the world? In fact, all the fashion lover love Balenciaga handbags because of the elegance and sense of fashion the bags give to them.

From beginning to nowadays, it is no wonder that women bags are best-selling products all over the world. Neverless poor women or high-income women all want to own one luxury bag.

-Plastic bags to environmental protection development

It is hard to say if plastic bags is good for health, but it is confirmed that plastic bags is not good for environment. Government has taken measures to ban the production of plastic bags. Instead, they allow the new production of environmental protection bags. They are easy to carry about, they can reuse more than one time. For some bags the material is paper but most of them is cloth. Very good to protect environment, it is no wonder why people accept these new bags.

However, so many bags in the market, women still crazy buyying women handbags as their favor. But the price is little high, why not buy Cheap Bags instead? It will very benefit to save your money.

The Hastings International Chess Congress is an annual chess congress which takes place in Hastings, Sussex around the turn of the year. The main event is the Hastings Premier Tournament, which has traditionally been a 10 to 16 player torunament held alongside an open Challengers Event.

History of Chess in Hastings

The Norman’s introduced chess to Hastings – William the Conqueror was a chess player and famously broke a chess board over the head of his nephew, Louis after accusing him of cheating. Fortunately the current organisers of chess in Hastings no longer permit this kind of behaviour.

grew out of the huge interest in chess amongst the educated classes in the 1880’s. In 1882 an advertisement appeared in the local paper which read: “A meeting of those interested in chess will be held at the Albert Temperance Hotel, Queens Road, Hastings on Wednesday 28th June 1882″.

The meeting was attended by a group of professional people and business men who formed the Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club. Herbert Dobell was elected Secretary and his continued tireless involvement meant that regular regional matches were held resulting in County matches being played at Hastings for the first time.

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Herbert Dobell’s father, a Jeweller with a shop in Robertson St, was the newly formed club’s first Treasurer. Herbert inherited the Jewellers business on his father’s death and ran it for the rest of his life. Though only a teenager at the time Herbert was appointed Secretary on a temporary basis for 6 months but went on to hold the post for 25 years. Herbert was Club Champion 4 times and later served as Club President from 1921-1938 when he died in office.

The first Hastings International Chess Congress was held over the Christmas/New Year in 1920/21 and except for a break during WWII has taken place every year since. 2009/10 was the 85th Hastings International Chess.

The fact that the Hastings Congress takes place every year is due to the tireless organising committee and the commitment of the Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club. The wider chess community remains indebted to Hastings Borough Council for their continuing support along with several local sponsors. 

Alongside the main Premier event which is by invitation to the world’s top players there is the Challengers section, which is open to all players. The winner of the Challengers event earns an invitation in the following year’s Premier.

In addition to the annual international tournament at the Christmas Congress, Hastings has also hosted international tournaments at irregular intervals in its Summer Congress.

The Congress has been held in the Hastings Town Hall,  Waverly Hotel,, White Rock Pavilion,  Sun Lounge in St Leonards, Falaise Hall and Horntye Sports Centre.

Later in 2010 nformation and coverage on the 86th Hastings International Chess Congress will be available on Activ Hastings, the online guide to Hastings and the 1066 Area.