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| Font, 2009, basalt |
"But all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well".
- St. Julian of Norwich
A shallow fountain leads away from St. Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland, directly adjacent to the altar and baptismal font. Even within this context - while quoting a Catholic mystic - Mary-Louise Browne's inspired work Font remains universal in truth and reception, encouraging stillness and thought.
You move around and over it as you read the text. The river of water continues to flow. Birds bathe and drink from it. Sitting by, it seems more made for them than for us, echoing the engraved text. "Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?" (Matthew 6:26).
A reflection on time and eternity the work remains immensely soothing, a consolation for the soul. The words, repeated over, never cease to confound, gathering new meaning, speaking to all those who are willing to stop for a moment and listen.
Further into the park the water leads down wide steps and out into the city. Blessed, it will certainly continue to nourish.
Sources:
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz
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