How did James Hampton create his masterpiece The Throne of the Third Heaven. What materials did he use for his monumental religious artwork. Why is The Hampton Throne considered an important piece of outsider art. What spiritual beliefs inspired Hampton’s artistic vision.
The Remarkable Story of James Hampton and His Hidden Masterpiece
In the 1950s, an unassuming janitor named James Hampton quietly worked on a monumental artistic and spiritual vision. By day, he swept floors and collected discarded materials. By night, he meticulously crafted a glittering throne room out of foil, cardboard, and found objects. For 14 years, Hampton labored in secret, driven by divine inspiration to create what would become known as The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly – or simply, The Hampton Throne.
Hampton’s incredible story embodies the spirit of outsider art and visionary creation. How did this self-taught artist manage to produce such an elaborate work in complete secrecy? What motivated him to dedicate over a decade of his life to this project?
The Artistic Process: Transforming Humble Materials into Sacred Objects
Hampton’s artistic process was as remarkable as the final product. He gathered discarded materials from his janitorial work and donations from friends and family. Using aluminum foil, cardboard, light bulbs, wood, and other found objects, Hampton painstakingly constructed hundreds of individual elements.
His techniques for transforming these humble materials were ingenious:
- Carefully molding and shaping foil to create intricate designs
- Layering cardboard and foil to build structural elements
- Incorporating light bulbs as decorative features
- Fashioning crowns, altars, and other sacred objects from scraps
Hampton’s dedication to his craft was evident in every detail. He worked tirelessly to perfect each element, believing that his offering to God must be flawless. This level of care and intention elevated simple materials into objects of profound spiritual significance.
The Centerpiece: Decoding the Symbolism of the Throne
At the heart of Hampton’s creation stands an imposing throne, layered with alternating gold and silver foil. This central feature is rich with religious symbolism and artistic detail. What elements make up this awe-inspiring throne?
- Wings and stars adorn the structure, referencing angelic imagery
- The words “FEAR NOT” in silver foil crown the throne
- Multiple tiers and levels create a sense of grandeur
- Intricate patterns and textures cover every surface
The throne’s design draws heavily from biblical imagery, particularly the Book of Revelation’s descriptions of heavenly thrones. Hampton’s interpretation melds traditional Christian iconography with his own visionary style, resulting in a truly unique artistic statement.
Divine Inspiration: The Spiritual Foundations of Hampton’s Work
James Hampton was a deeply religious man whose artistic vision was inextricably linked to his faith. What specific spiritual beliefs and experiences shaped The Hampton Throne?
Hampton reported hearing angelic voices that guided him throughout the creation process. He believed he was preparing for Christ’s return, and that his work was divinely ordained. This sense of holy purpose infuses every aspect of the throne room.
Biblical references abound in the work:
- The phrase “FEAR NOT” echoes God’s frequent reassurance to his people in scripture
- Wing motifs represent angelic presence and divine inspiration
- The overall structure evokes descriptions of heavenly scenes in Revelation
Hampton kept a journal of his communications with angelic voices, written in a coded language. While the exact contents remain a mystery, the existence of this text further underscores the profound spiritual nature of his artistic practice.
A Hidden Treasure Revealed: The Discovery of The Hampton Throne
For 14 years, James Hampton worked in complete secrecy. Neither his friends nor his family were aware of the magnificent creation taking shape in his rented storage space. How was this monumental work finally brought to light?
After Hampton’s death in 1964, the owner of the storage facility made a startling discovery. Upon opening the space, he found a dazzling throne room comprised of hundreds of individually sculpted pieces. The sheer scale and intricacy of the work were immediately apparent.
Fortunately, Hampton had left behind careful instructions on how the room was to be displayed, along with informational diagrams. These proved invaluable to museum curators as they worked to preserve and exhibit this remarkable piece of outsider art.
The Components of the Throne Room: A Sacred Space Realized
While the central throne is the focal point, The Hampton Throne encompasses an entire sacred space. What other elements make up this visionary environment?
- An offering table
- Multiple altars
- Pyres
- Crowns
- Various sculptural objects
Each piece was meticulously crafted and imbued with spiritual significance. Together, they create a cohesive environment that transports viewers into Hampton’s divine vision. The careful arrangement of these elements demonstrates Hampton’s overall artistic plan for the space.
Legacy and Impact: The Hampton Throne in the Art World
Since its discovery, The Hampton Throne has captivated art enthusiasts, scholars, and the general public alike. How has this work influenced the art world and our understanding of outsider art?
The Hampton Throne is now recognized as a masterpiece of visionary and outsider art. Its discovery helped bring greater attention to self-taught artists working outside traditional artistic circles. The piece challenges preconceptions about what constitutes “fine art” and who can be considered an artist.
Hampton’s work has been exhibited at major institutions, including:
- The Smithsonian American Art Museum
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Various travelling exhibitions focused on outsider and visionary art
Scholars continue to study The Hampton Throne, exploring its artistic merits, spiritual dimensions, and cultural significance. The work serves as a powerful example of the creative potential that exists in every individual, regardless of formal training or societal expectations.
Preservation Challenges: Protecting a Unique Artistic Vision
The unconventional materials used in The Hampton Throne present unique conservation challenges. How are museums working to preserve this delicate masterpiece for future generations?
Conservators must contend with several issues:
- The fragility of materials like foil and cardboard
- Potential degradation of found objects
- Maintaining the overall structure and arrangement
- Balancing preservation with public display
Specialized techniques have been developed to stabilize and protect the work. These include careful climate control, custom support structures, and minimal handling protocols. Digital documentation and 3D scanning have also been employed to create a comprehensive record of the piece in its current state.
The preservation of The Hampton Throne is an ongoing process, requiring constant vigilance and innovation from museum professionals. Their efforts ensure that this remarkable artistic and spiritual vision will continue to inspire and amaze viewers for years to come.
The Coded Language: Unraveling Hampton’s Mysterious Writings
One of the most intriguing aspects of James Hampton’s legacy is the journal he kept, written in a unique coded language. This cryptic text has fascinated researchers and code-breakers for decades. What do we know about Hampton’s mysterious writings?
The journal appears to contain:
- Records of Hampton’s communications with angelic voices
- Spiritual revelations and prophecies
- Instructions related to the creation of The Throne
Despite numerous attempts, the code has never been fully deciphered. Some scholars believe it may be a form of glossolalia, or “speaking in tongues,” translated into written form. Others theorize that it represents a deeply personal spiritual language developed by Hampton over years of mystical experiences.
The existence of this coded text adds another layer of mystery and complexity to Hampton’s artistic practice. It underscores the profound spiritual nature of his work and hints at the rich inner world that inspired his creation.
Hampton’s Artistic Influences: Tracing the Roots of His Vision
While James Hampton was a self-taught artist, his work did not emerge in a vacuum. What potential influences shaped his unique artistic vision?
Several factors likely contributed to Hampton’s aesthetic:
- African American religious traditions and iconography
- Biblical imagery, particularly from the Book of Revelation
- Hampton’s experiences as a civilian worker during World War II
- The visual culture of mid-20th century America
Hampton’s use of found materials and elaborate assemblage techniques also place him within a broader tradition of folk and outsider art. While he may not have been directly aware of other artists working in similar veins, there are intriguing parallels to be drawn with contemporaries like Simon Rodia (creator of the Watts Towers) and Clarence Schmidt.
By examining these potential influences, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complex web of cultural, spiritual, and personal experiences that informed Hampton’s remarkable artistic output.
The Hampton Throne in Context: Race, Religion, and American Art
To fully appreciate The Hampton Throne, it’s crucial to consider the social and historical context in which it was created. How does this work reflect broader themes in African American art, religious expression, and mid-20th century American culture?
Several key factors come into play:
- The Civil Rights Movement and changing racial dynamics in America
- The role of religion in African American communities
- The emergence of outsider art as a recognized category
- Post-war shifts in American spirituality and artistic expression
Hampton’s work can be seen as a powerful assertion of African American spiritual and creative autonomy. Created during a time of intense social upheaval, The Throne represents a deeply personal vision that transcends societal constraints and expectations.
The piece also speaks to the enduring importance of religious faith as a source of strength and inspiration for marginalized communities. Hampton’s elaborate throne room can be interpreted as a reimagining of sacred space, one that centers African American spiritual experiences.
By situating The Hampton Throne within these broader contexts, we gain a richer understanding of its significance as both a personal artistic statement and a reflection of its time.
Visitor Experiences: The Impact of Encountering The Hampton Throne
The Hampton Throne has a profound effect on many who view it in person. What are some common reactions and experiences reported by visitors to this remarkable installation?
Many viewers describe feeling:
- A sense of awe at the scale and intricacy of the work
- Emotional or spiritual stirring, regardless of personal beliefs
- Admiration for Hampton’s dedication and vision
- Curiosity about the artist’s life and motivations
The immersive nature of the throne room often creates a contemplative atmosphere. Visitors frequently report spending extended periods absorbing the details and reflecting on the work’s meaning.
For some, encountering The Hampton Throne sparks deeper reflections on creativity, faith, and the human capacity for transformation. The piece’s ability to resonate with viewers across diverse backgrounds speaks to its universal themes and Hampton’s singular artistic vision.
Future Perspectives: The Continuing Relevance of Hampton’s Vision
As we move further into the 21st century, The Hampton Throne continues to captivate new generations of viewers and scholars. How might this work’s significance evolve in the coming years?
Several factors suggest The Hampton Throne will remain a vital piece of American art:
- Increasing recognition of outsider and visionary artists
- Growing interest in spirituality and alternative religious expressions
- Ongoing discussions about race, creativity, and cultural heritage
- The enduring power of Hampton’s artistic vision
As our understanding of art history expands to include more diverse voices and perspectives, works like The Hampton Throne take on new layers of meaning and importance. Future scholars may uncover additional insights into Hampton’s process and inspiration, further enriching our appreciation of this remarkable creation.
The piece also serves as a powerful reminder of the creative potential that exists within every individual. In an age of increasing technological mediation, Hampton’s hands-on, deeply personal approach to art-making offers an inspiring counterpoint.
Ultimately, The Hampton Throne stands as a testament to the transformative power of artistic vision and spiritual devotion. Its ability to move and inspire viewers seems likely to endure for generations to come.
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Hampton Throne — Squinch
A janitor sweeps up the loose scraps of paper and trash dropped by the business men and women. Heads bent, they are too involved in their work routine to notice as he pockets a loose bit of aluminum foil discarded thoughtlessly from someone’s lunch. That evening, he goes directly from work to a rented storage space before even changing out of his uniform.
From his workman’s pants he pulls out a handful of gold and silver foil, along with some string and a piece of carefully folded cardboard. Using the found bits he collected from his day, as well as other scraps donated by friends and family, he carefully constructs a small glittering crown, which he places next to four more assembled crowns. He works late into the night, adding glittering foil here and there, molding and remodeling the malleable material into different shapes until the forms finally sit just right. He mutters to himself as he hastily writes notes in a codified language. This offering is for God, so it must be perfect.
This was James Hampton, a self-taught African-American artist, who worked as a janitor by day and slowly built a towering throne room by night in the 1950s. Hampton spent fourteen years in a rented carriage house constructing The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly, or The Hampton Throne, using gold and silver foil, cardboard, and other found materials.
Neither friends nor family knew about his creation until after his death, when his storage room was opened and a throne room comprised of hundreds of individually sculpted pieces was discovered. Careful instructions on how the room was to be displayed, as well as informational diagrams left in the space, helped modern museums known how to go about showcasing Hampton’s work. Besides the central throne there is an offering table and multiple alters, pyres, and crowns that comprise the full work.
At the center of the composition sits a huge throne, layered with foil and cardboard of alternating color and decorated with wings and stars. The words “FEAR NOT,” molded in silver foil above the head of the throne, allude to the frequent use of the phrase “fear not” by God when he addresses His people. Isaiah 41:10 reads: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Hampton was a deeply religious man and heard the voices of angels instructing and guiding him throughout the creation of his throne room, his way of preparing for Christ’s return.
Prominent wing motifs directly reference this angelic intervention and holy influence on the work. As he spoke with the voices Hampton would record their messages on paper as well, which he kept in a journal. Though the book was also found in the storage facility and is with the artwork today, it is written completely in a spiritual language unique to Hampton that has yet to be deciphered. Tags and notes made of cardboard and string affixed to various alters also feature this mysterious language. The work is almost perfectly symmetrical, as objects on the left are meant to represent the teachings of the Old Testament and Moses while those on the right refer to the New Testament and Jesus.
The Hampton Throne showcases the typical splendor and golden glittering drama frequently found in Christian art, yet has an inherent humbleness due to its construction of found materials. Hampton himself embodies this spirit of the humble devotee. His throne room expresses not only his profound spirituality and faith, but carries a message of love and acceptance that he clearly felt from God and wanted to share with the world.
Though he never had the chance to personally show this work of art to the public, as he died before its completion, his message lives on: FEAR NOT.
VBLHEP Directorate informs with deep regret – LABORATORY OF HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS
06/18/2021
Anna Rassadova
News, Events
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On June 17, 2021, a world-famous scientist, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Evgeny Denisovich DONETS suddenly passed away.
Evgeny Denisovich DONETS
10/15/1935 – 06/17/2021
More than 60 years of work of Evgeny Denisovich at the Institute, he was noted for a number of outstanding priority scientific and practical results in the field of heavy ion physics.
A physicist and experimenter with a capital letter, Evgeny Denisovich felt the inner essence of the problem and could set up and conduct a physical experiment exceptionally competently, which allowed him to obtain the first data on the observation of the formation of isotopes of the 102nd and the events of the formation of the 103rd elements.
After 1966, E.D. Donets took up the development of a new type of multiply charged ion source proposed by him, based on the electron-beam ionization method, and in 1977 the first sample of the new type source KRION-1 was used at the JINR Synchrophasotron.
In the subsequent period, under the guidance of Dr. phys.-math. Sciences E.D. Donets, an extensive program of research into the processes of ionization of atoms and the physics of highly charged ions was carried out on the created ionizers KRION-2, KRION-6 and KRION-M. Along with direct measurements of ionization cross sections, multiply excited states of atoms and ions, called superexcited states, were discovered for the first time. These studies brought E.D. Donets wide recognition and world fame.
The discovery of the “electronic string” phenomenon made it possible to make a new step in the practical use of sources – obtaining and accelerating to relativistic energies at the Nuclotron of heavy ions. These studies were awarded the prestigious international award “Brightness Award” and the first JINR prize.
The scientific and practical activities of Evgeniy Denisovich Donets were awarded with government awards, honorary diplomas, numerous certificates and prizes from JINR. The owner of a number of patents and inventions, he enjoyed undeniable authority in the science and technology of ion sources, and was a recognized world leader in the creation of electron-beam sources.
For many years, Evgeny Denisovich has been a mentor and an example of attitude towards work for young people. Several generations of his pupils work in the Laboratory, for whom his death is a heavy personal loss.
The bright memory of a wonderful person and a true scientist will always be with us.
The team of employees, and the directorates of the Institute and the Laboratory express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Evgeny Denisovich
Farewell will take place on June 19 at 12:00 in the Church of the Great Martyr Panteleimon of the Bolshevolzhsky cemetery in Dubna.
Copyright © 2023 | Veksler and Baldin Laboratory of High Energy Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Baldin str. 4 Dubna, RUSSIA
Harp. Step on the pedals – Radio Orpheus (Moscow 99.2 FM)
The harp is one of the oldest musical instruments. Outwardly, it looks like a weapon of ancient people – a bow. It is believed that the history of the harp began when a man fired an arrow from a bow and heard the string sing.
All this is very similar to the truth, since, as a rule, only men shot from a bow, and they once played the harp exclusively. Women began to touch the strings of this instrument only in the 18th century in France. In Rus’, one of the first harpists was Praskovya Ivanovna Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, Countess Sheremeteva. Her modern follower, the wonderful harpist of the Orpheus Radio Symphony Orchestra, Yekaterina Oleinichenko, played the role of a harpist in the historical film series.
Е. Oleinichenko : I was made up: diamonds, pearls on my head, a chic ball gown.
And one of the make-up artists said to me: “It’s strange, we make you up like that! You are a harpist! This is probably a peasant woman sitting playing! Is it in the imperial palace, in the throne room, a peasant woman is sitting and playing the harp? Of course not.
Before the revolution, the harp was taught at the Smolny Institute in St. Petersburg. Its graduate Ksenia Erdeli is the first Russian and Soviet harpist who did a lot to popularize the instrument in the first years of Soviet power. Perhaps it was then that the idea that the harp was a female instrument took root. But recently, Ekaterina Oleinichenko began to have male colleagues.
E. Oleinichenko : For example, Alexander Boldachev is a wonderful harpist, propagandist and enthusiast of our harp art. Fortunately, now the man behind the harp is no longer perceived as it was twenty years ago. The man behind the harp was perceived as a woman behind the wheel.
Now both are perceived very well.
Like a car, the harp has pedals. And there are not two or three, but seven!
E. Oleinichenko : Many people ask what pedals are and what their function is. Seven notes – seven pedals. Do, re, mi, fa, salt, la, si – seven pedals. Each pedal has three positions, and thanks to this, beautiful glissandos can be played on the harp. Glissando is an overflow, like water.
Pedal positions vary in depth. That is, it is necessary not only to quickly find the right pedal with your feet, but also to press on it correctly.
Е. Oleinichenko : Three steps: upper, middle and lower. Those who love, for example, a guitar or a violin, can imagine this: the top position of all pedals is an empty string, a free string. By pressing the pedal, we set in motion a mechanism that turns the fork, just like a musician clamps the frets on a guitar or a string on a violin.
