Reflections From Here (Elders of Glenville)
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Glenville, OH
July 2018
Here, a stone’s throw from the crossroads of 105 and Superior, we move along time worn paths within a community once known as the Gold Coast. This gesture is one of looking back while looking forward.
Materials include the following: Hand constructed seats inspired by the Grandfather Chairs of the Dan people (Cameroon, West Africa) built from reclaimed oak. These seats were placed on either side of a pulpit set before recovered oak pews. St. Mark’s stands as a majestic witness.
“Reflections From Here (Elders of Glenville)” was composed as a rumination upon an extended listening process. Over several months, I was blessed to engage in dialogue with a number of Elders from within the Community of Glenville (Cleveland, OH.). Our conversations were organic, candid, and for me, inspirational. I asked two questions: what are your memories of Glenville, and what are your aspirations for this community…?
The voices of the Elders emerged from above the seats speaking directly to the richness, complexity, and challenges of this community. Their spoken reflections exist as sentries beside the voice of Bonita Wagner Johnson singing the classic, “Move On Up A Little Higher”.