A Revelation at the Cloisters - What Do I Do With It?

4 days ago
2 min read

Yesterday, I went to The Cloisters, the magnificent compendium "monastery" in upper Manhattan, concocted from an array of medieval objects and architecture from religious spaces throughout Europe.

It’s full of surprising treasures, beautifully crafted “nuggets,” and forgotten stories.

FUN FACT!

The idea of the mythical unicorn may have been inspired by the discovery of the narwhal and its tusk - which could be up to 10 feet long.

One had just appeared in Europe around then...

They thought the unicorn's horn could purify water.

The unicorn became a symbol for the purity of Christ.

(hint of Unicorn tapestry to the right)

George Barnard was the “mad man” behind the Cloisters.

An artist and entrepreneur, he studied sculpture in Europe at the turn of the 20th century. There, he fell in love with medieval art, especially works in stone.

(the acrobat below used to hold up a column)

Barnard started to buy up pieces, to collect in a big way, to ship them back to the New York.

He thought he’d sell it all, but instead he made a museum - not far from where the Cloisers stands today.

He wanted to open people’s eyes

to the wonders - to the world - he’d found.

It just dawned on me: I’m a collector, too. Of amazing untold stories, fascinating nuggets (my Fun Facts), forgotten beauty. I, TOO, WANT TO SHARE IT ALL.

This poor Jesus was abandonned - and his home, this apse was reconstructed here stone by stone.

To create a living, DRAMATIC museum, if you will.

Saint Louis, bringing his crown of thorns to Tours. (I think it was Tours). He's in my story!

A little bit Barnard, a little bit PT Barnum.

A tapestry of King Arthur - he's in my Four Queens! Aliénor was mad about him and his legend.

Now another vision is coming:

The Jungle, the immersive recreation of a refugee camp in France.

A huge tent filled with their life: sleeping quarters, kitchen and canned goods, items people brought with them. All of which led to a breakneck, hugely theatrical emotional roller coaster of life - and death - in the camp.

I’ve always thought I wanted to make Four Queens - my musical inspired by four sisters in medieval Provence who all become queens - site-specific. In a cathedral, a castle, a fortress.

But now I see - you could create that space in a theatre as well. The right theatre.

Ok, now that the heat of vision is cooling - I’m starting to doubt.