Mainz

Why did we go to Mainz? What did we want to see?

Sometimes we talk with fellow travellers and this time we were in Simbach am Inn. A couple who had travelled far more than we had started a conversation about dogs and I had two takeaways from what they said.

The first was that they remembered places by who they talked to and secondly, they tried to look for the unusual.

Their next question was: ‘ Have you seen Marc Chagall’s blue windows in Mainz?’

Look this is our first sighting through the main entrance and then instead of looking around I looked at the postcards. The lady at the desk was attentive and when I chose two and said: ‘ Is it easy to find such detail?’ She took me to the spot where I could see exactly what was on the postcard.

It was John on the Island of Patmos with his book in his hands and dressed in red. He was having his vision of heaven. The lady pointed out the tree of life and then there it was the seven candlesticks candleabra.

John says: ‘ I turned to see the voice that spoke to me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the middle one like the Son of man clothed with a garment down to His feet… His eyes were like a flame of fire…’

Revelations 1: 12,13

And later when Jesus speaks to John in a vision He says: ‘ To those who overcome I will give them to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of paradise.

Revelations 2: 7

 

I then enjoyed the light in the church which our fellow travellers felt energised them.

Pablo Picasso remarked in the 1950s, ‘ Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour is.’

Then Art Critic Robert Hughes referred  to Chagall as ‘ the quintessential Jewish artist of the 20th Century.’

If you would like to ‘meet’ him press on Marc Chagall’s Childhood Memories.

We weren’t disappointed once outside there was a statue and bright planting.

The city of Mainz celebrates Gutenberg by having the Museum of Gutenberg with the first two Bibles printed in its care as well as the printing press used.

The Gutenberg Bible printed in Mainz between 1452-1455 is considered the first substantial book printed with movable type in the Western world (movable type was already in use in East Asia). 180 copies of the Bible were made, 49 survive and two of those Bibles are in the museum.

Our walk seemed a long way from the park up but the city was pleasant. Here is a fountain and some planting I appreciated.

This will be my last post from our approximately 60 days. A time we have spent with challenges, much to see and learn.

Here is a thought about art:

‘ Serious art is born of serious play. Progress, not perfection, is what we should be asking of ourselves. Survival lies in sanity, and sanity lies in paying attention. Creativity occurs in the moment, and in the moment we are timeless.’ I am a little tired and forgot to write down who said this. 😴

Take care and have a good weekend.

Sandy 🙂