The second annual Madeleine Festival of the Arts and Humanities continues with lectures this weekend and next, focusing on the role of the cathedral as a social and artistic center in Western culture. The public is invited to these free events within the historic cathedral at 331 E. South Temple.
"The American Cathedral: A Union of Two World-Views" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 9, by Martin Larrey of Ursuline College in Ohio. The lecture will examine the American Catholic Cathedral in the immigrant period (1880-1920) and how European and New World views influenced architectural development. The presentation will include an analysis of the tension between historic cathedral styles and current understandings of worship.A slide lecture, "The Christian Cathedral As a Work of Art," will be presented by Mary Francey at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15. Francey, assistant professor of art at the University of Utah, will demonstrate how cathedrals may be viewed as a work of communal art reflecting the civic, intellectual and economic ideals of its creators. By reference to the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Francey will help the viewer to "read" and interpret the cathedral as an artistic form.