Faith Features

"People, Paper, Prayers" featured as part of the Heritage Open Day at Letchworth Central Methodist Church.  The idea came out of a discussion between Vanessa and Anita and David Latter from the church. They had seen Vanessa's work and asked her to make some paper prayers.

The paper cuts are a mixture from different sources. Some are written by Vanessa herself and are a thank you for her children and parents, others are much darker and relect on more difficult times such as the death of her mother when she was just five.

Alongside these are prayers of thanks from friends family and members of the Methodist Church. Well known hymn verses by Wesley, Newton, Henry Baker and a verse from Gerard Manley Hopkins poem "Glory to God for Dappled Things" also feature.

The paper cuts are beautifully delicate with much of the paper cut away by Vanessa's scalpel. The delicacy of the work adds to its beauty. You just know it will not last forever. Through light and time it will weaken and so is an allegory for the fragility of human life. They are of the earth and will return to the earth. They also assume a different existence as light shines through them: some casting shadows, others moving in the breeze.

"There is nothing quite like making the paper cuts.  I can cut and peel away to reveal a form.  It's like the image was there all the time - just waiting for its chance to be set free and sing.  It's the best thing in the world!" said Vanessa.

Some of the prayers will remain in the church and Vanessa is proposing to produce a book of the paper cuts.