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Kelvin Thornycroft
Ceramics
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"World peace is not only possible but inevitable."
-Bahai Faith-
In October 2019 the world wide Bahai community held celebrations to mark the Bicentennial Of The Birth Of The Bab. To contribute to these celebrations we held an art show titled Peace: More Tan The Absence Of War. The following is some of the work I contributed to the show.
The Great Peace towards which people of goodwill throughout the centuries have inclined their hearts, of which seers and poets for countless generations have expressed their vision, and for which from age to age the sacred scriptures of mankind have constantly held the promise, is now at long last within the reach of the nations. For the first time in history it is possible for everyone to view the entire planet, with all its myriad diversified peoples, in one perspective. World peace is not only possible but inevitable.
-Universal House Of Justice. Bahai World Governing Body-
Eighteen Lamps
Wheel thrown ceramic lamps depicting the Bab's first eighteen disciples
The Letters of the Living is the title given by the Bab to His first 18 followers. The Bab was a merchant from Shiraz, Persia. His name was Siyyid Ali-Muhammad Shirazi, but He is known to the world as the Bab, which means “the Gate” in Arabic, and Baha’is believe that He was the symbolic gate between past ages of prophecy and a new age of fulfilment for humanity. When the Bab was 25, He proclaimed to be both a new Prophet, and the herald to “Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest”, Baha’u’llah.
Fight
Wheel thrown, added to, carved form. Underglaze colour decoration
In 1844 The Bab proclaimed to be both a new Prophet, and the herald to “Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest”, Baha’u’llah.
In 1863 Baha'u'llah announced to the world He was the One foretold by the Bab, that He was the fulfillment of the prophesies of all the major religions, that His Mission was to unite all peoples in one common Faith.
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In The Tablet Of Unity Baha'u'llah wrote-
I am the Sun of Wisdom and the Ocean of Knowledge.
I cheer the faint and revive the dead.
I am the guiding Light that illumineth the way.
I am the royal Falcon on the arm of the Almighty.
I unfold the drooping wings of every broken bird and start it on its flight.
Bahá’u’lláh
Equality Of Women and Men
Wheel thrown carved multi piece forms with melodic chimes hanging internally.
“The world of humanity has two wings—one is women and the other men,” wrote ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible.”
Prayer For World Peace And Unity
Five wheel thrown textured cylinders and sphere
O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord.
Bahá’u’lláh