St. John's Bible continues on display through Jan. 3
Stop by Gail Borden Public Library to see the two Heritage edition volumes of St. John's Bible. These volumes are on display in "St. John's Bible: Celebrating Timeless Art" through Wednesday, Jan. 3, at the library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in downtown Elgin.
Visitors can view additional artwork from the volumes on a nearby high-resolution digital kiosk.
It was a collaborative effort between Zion Lutheran, Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, Congregation Kneseth Israel and St. Mary's Church to bring this Bible to the area.
The monks of St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, commissioned the St. John's Bible in 1995. At the start of the millennium, Donald Jackson, one of the world's foremost calligraphers, directed professional scribes in their effort to successfully merge centuries-old techniques and craftsmanship with modern-day computer technologies to produce an ambitious and monumental work of art.
Although the volumes on display are Heritage editions (replicas of the originals created under Jackson's direction), much detailed work went into them. The paper is 100-percent cotton, but was printed with watermarks to make the pages look like the velum of the original.
The leather-bound books are hand-stitched, and 24-karat gold leaf and silver foils were added to the art by hand.
The materials and labor that went into creating the original volumes make a fascinating story. The seven volumes are hand written on calfskin vellum, the script is written using hand-cut goose, turkey and swan quills, and the ink is hand-ground lamp black from 19th-century Chinese ink sticks. Vermillion, lapis lazuli, and other cakes from natural minerals and stones are used for color.
The folios are illuminated with the brilliance of 24-karat gold leaf, silver leaf, and platinum. Three types of gilding are used in the St. John's Bible: powdered gold, acrylic medium, and gesso.
Gesso gilding is the most technically demanding and produces the most spectacular result. A single page took between 7 and 13 hours to be transcribed by a single scribe.
Exhibits of St. John's Bible have traveled to London and museums throughout the United States.
One of Jackson's greatest ambitions was to create a 21st-century Bible for the 21st century. The St. John's Bible is 1,720 pages long and includes more than 160 artworks. Its artwork brings the Bible visually into the modern world by employing contemporary artistic idioms within the illustrations and illuminations.
"Having the St. John's Bible is an incredible opportunity for people from both religious groups interested in history or interested in art to see something truly remarkable. This is the first English language, handwritten Bible in the history of the world," said organizer the Rev. Dave Daubert of Zion Lutheran Church.
"It is an opportunity to see religious groups cooperate. Bringing these volumes to this area is an endeavor co-sponsored by Jewish, Christian-Catholic, Christian-Protestant groups together."
For more information about the St. John's Bible, go to www.gailborden.info/bible.