As a principal, I believe in fostering a well-rounded, holistic education that extends beyond the classroom. In keeping with this then, let me embark on a fascinating journey. A journey that delves into the origin and history of headstones. These solemn markers, carved with care and adorned with artistry, stand the test of time and serve as a temporal bridge between the past and the present.
Throughout history, headstones have been crafted from a range of materials. The ancient Egyptians favoured granite; strong, durable and near permanent. Carved with intricate hieroglyphics, these structures served as memorials to pharaohs and high-ranking officials, ensuring a legacy for eternity.
In subsequent eras, marble emerged as the material of choice, not so much for its durability as its elegance and ease of carving. This stylish metamorphic rock was used extensively in ancient Greece and Rome. Elaborately adorned with statues, reliefs and inscriptions, marble headstones became lasting testaments to ancient Roman and Greek lives.
In more recent times, granite has returned to the headstone scene. What it may lack in sophistication it more than makes up for in robust versatility. And…impressively, modern technology now allows for laser etching. Intricate designs are etched with exactitude onto accurately cut, precision machined and highly polished surfaces, allowing for intensely personalised, visually striking memorials.
Headstones are not only simple markers, they can be intricate works of art reflecting the cultural and artistic sensibilities of their time. Funerary art can take the form of statues depicting status in society. The famous terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang in China is a remarkable example, with 8000 life-sized sculptures guarding the emperor's tomb.
During the Renaissance intricately carved reliefs portrayed everyday scenes, showcasing a person’s accomplishments, virtues, and religious beliefs. Michelangelo, for instance, created the magnificent tomb of Pope Julius II found in Rome in the Church of St Peter in Chains (or…La Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli for the more exotic), a masterpiece of funerary art that intertwines religious allegory with exquisite craftsmanship.
In the 21st Century, headstones have become supremely personalised, reflecting personality, originality and individuality. Customised engravings, photographs, and even QR codes can now be incorporated into memorials, allowing visitors to access nuanced and intimate digital tributes, stories and memories.
Inspiration is sometimes drawn from simple happenstance and, over the break, I experienced such an encounter. While wandering the College I happened to hear noise emanating from one of our art rooms. Upon entering I witnessed some staff and crew of our Musical putting the finishing touches on a selection of props for this year’s show. Sitting amongst painted trees, so called comfy chairs with decidedly questionable comfort value and rocket powered back packs were…headstones.
While these headstones will not serve as time markers of the past linking the future, they, in their humble and subtle way will adorn the many scenes of our College Musical. They may not have been carved from stone or etched with lasers; these incredible pieces of art have, however, been expertly created, exquisitely painted and lovingly finished, adding context and colour to the incredible talents of both St Edmund’s and St Mary’s students.
As this Newsletter is released it is likely that our young people have already shaken the cobwebs off in their first performance and are looking forward to tonight’s second big night. There is so much work that goes into the creation of our College Musical; work that is witness to the dedication and commitment of our staff, who freely give up their afternoons, weekends and vacation time; who, for eight months, sandwich dance choreography, singing practice and set construction between preparation for classes, teaching of lessons and assessment and marking
Then there are the most important people in this whole production, the young people from St Edmund’s and St Mary’s. They shine; they shine as leads, as members of the chorus, as musicians, whether building sets or moving props or changing scenes backstage…they shine.
I often say, “it’s not just what you know, it’s what you can do that counts”. Holistically, young people in the 21st Century must gain not just knowledge; they need skills. Beyond the reach of technology and Artificial Intelligence, they must learn how to communicate with each other and to collaborate with each other; to problem solve, to innovate, to create. Experiences both in the classroom and indeed beyond it, experiences such as our College Musical provide the forum for these skills to build. Skills invariably adorn accomplishments, sitting quietly in the background, giving meaning and context to learning. Importantly for our young people they will need to be self-aware enough to recognise the skills they have and to articulate them for future employers.
We have much to be proud of in these young people, their dedication, their talents, their skills. Each year’s production provides a temporal link to the memory of the last, yet each production builds on the achievements of its predecessor. For their limited season, I wish the cast and crew of this year’s Musical, “The Addams Family”, all the best and every success for a highly original and exquisite show that is a lasting testament to the Eddies Team who produced it. Dare I say, in theatre parlance, “break a leg”.
