Coronae Magnae Reginae Caeli (2014)
Traditionally, a crown represents legitimacy, triumph, power, glory or immortality. Not only does it make a person optically taller, but also it announces that this person is endowed with superior virtues, skills, and potentially god-like qualities. A crown protects and alienates.
It is not by accident, that Treloar has chosen this utmost symbol of institutionalized superiority to be the carrier of the most personal and intimate confession possible. We are not intimidated by priceless wealth of gems, pearls and gold any more. Instead, we are exposed to memories of spinning carousels, flea markets, family reunions, birthday celebrations, toys, trinkets, treasure chests and treasured memories.
The installation consists of a set of four 5 ft diameter, hanging, elaborately festive crowns each representing a season of life and of nature, are suspended from the ceiling of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto from May 19 to June 15 and encompass the city’s Doors Open program on May 24 and 25, 2014. The Four smaller 16 x 12” crowns based on that of Constance of Aragon in Palermo’s Cathedral are the precedents for the much larger crowns and stand beside them. The crowns are accompanied by four 10 ft sq net and nylon panels representing the magnificent Benedictine Monreale Cathedral cloister located on the hills outside of Palermo. The inlaid mosaic patterning in the cloister columns is transformed by stencils, transfers and beading into messages and cards from dear friends and loved ones.
Elements used: fabrics, findings, heat transfers, stencilling, stitching, beading
