The Epiphany Passage
Designer/Builder
Dieuwertje von Aesch
January 6, 2008
Epiphany is the name of the passageway recently installed in the courtyard at St. John the Divine Anglican Church. Located a few yards in from Quadra St. and at the intersection of two paths, it acts as an invitation to leave the busy street and enter the peace of the courtyard and the church building itself.
This passageway is meant to encourage people to re-examine the Christian church. It is a way to soften the image of the church which is often portrayed as harsh and judgmental. Yet there is much beauty, warmth and wisdom in the Christian tradition. The passageway invites people to take a second look, to “re-enter” an old tradition in a new way.
As you approach the passageway you can pick out more of the detail. The rafter design echoes features found in the neo Gothic architecture of the church building itself. But the unique curves in the two side panels and the use of clear cedar serve to soften the concrete and brick exterior of the church. The lookout posts attached to each side add a feeling of stability.
There are no gates to block your entrance. Looking up, you notice that there are five rafters in this small structure. This repetition serves to intensify the feeling of passage. As you approach you notice the details on the brackets and the lookout posts. By gently hammering the wood the maker has created a distinctive look that both softens and highlights the cedar.
IInside the structure there is a feeling of being held. At the same time, the round portals in the side panels encourage views of both the church building and the garden courtyard. There are no benches in this small structure. This passageway is about movement.
Traditional joinery is used in the side panels and other parts of the structure. The maker works with the natural beauty of the wood itself bringing to light distinctive features of the grain. The finish used protects the wood but at the same time allows the softness of the cedar to shine through. This passageway invites touch.
About the Maker
Dieuwertje von Aesch is the Designer/Builder of Victoria Wood Studio, a company that builds gates and passageways. She has completed the Fine Furniture Program at Camosun College and the Artisan Program at Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking on the Sunshine Coast.
She has been called “Designer to Watch” in the May 2007 issue of Western Living Magazine. Her entry “Passageway – 10 Mile Point” is a finalist for a 2007 Georgie Award. These awards celebrate excellence in homebuilding and are sponsored by the Canadian Homebuilders Association of British Columbia
About the Project
This project was donated to the church by Ms von Aesch and her partner Frances Sidhe. Their wish was to celebrate with thanksgiving the gifts of community that they have found in this unique church. St. Johns seeks to spread the word of God through the teachings of Christ in a way that is relevant to the modern world. Yet it still retains the beauty found in the rituals of the Anglican tradition.
Wood for this project was donated by Mike Wharburton from Wharburton Woodworks. This mill is located in Sooke and deals primarily in cedar. The finish used on the passageway was donated by John Lohsen from Inwood Solutions. It is an environmental product from Germany called Naturhaus that both preserves the wood and allows its natural beauty to shine through.
The structure was built in the workshop of Victoria Wood Studio but installed on site. Al Lombardi and Sons worked with the maker to install the structure.
Photographs were taken by Leigh Spicer of Spicer Photographics.
Victoria Wood Studio – www.victoriawoodstudio.com (250) 889-2308
Wharburton Woodworks – (250) 642-5495
Inwood Solutions – (250) 889-1672
Al Lombardi and Sons – (250) 813-1579
Spicer Photographics - 642-1426
