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Columbia’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, located on the corner of Sumter and Gervais Streets, has similar medieval features similar to those of Notre Dame. Trinity’s rose windows are similar to those in Notre Dame, which were saved from the fire.<\/p>\n
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Nine hours. For nine hours, everyone watched the hundreds of years of art preserved in France\u2019s cherished Notre Dame burn, and the world wept.<\/p>\n
Alicia Leeke, a Columbia-native artist known for her abstract landscape paintings, including four of Notre Dame, holds her trips to the cathedral close to her because of the artistic appeal and the memories of each visit.<\/p>\n
“Everybody’s been there and have seen something that they really like and cherish. It’s such a magnificent structure…People’s experience of being there and lighting a candle, a prayer for somebody,” Leeke said.<\/p>\n
She believes that the burning of Notre Dame is a tragedy for artists everywhere not only because of the history that was lost but because the iconic cathedral, known in French as the cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris,\u00a0is a backdrop to people’s memories.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leeke wants to capture this relationship by creating another painting based off a photograph she took on her last trip, one that would represent this connection between architecture and memories. In the photograph,\u00a0two women wearing red raincoats and black pants\u00a0carry\u00a0umbrellas as they walk\u00a0in front of Notre Dame after a rain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is just a really cool vision to see Notre Dame as the backdrop for the people in the picture,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Along with being a staple memory shared among\u00a0families and friends worldwide, this Parisian jewel stood through centuries of history and holds a special place in the hearts of artists.<\/p>\n
Because it was built from 1163 to 1345, architectural elements from the medieval gothic style were used in the design of the cathedral. The gothic design includes flying buttresses, which stand on separate columns and arch\u00a0to the building to support the tall, thin gothic-style stone walls and a pointed spire on the roof that points to the heavens.<\/p>\n
Through the doors were\u00a0religious relics, such as the stained-glass windows, the crown of thorns and the golden cross, are among the most viewed.\u00a0According to the Rev. Canon Dorian Del Priore of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, located on Sumter Street in Columbia, the high ceilings and decorated dome roof is a way to lift the spirit and the eyes toward Christ.<\/p>\n
Within days of the fire, companies like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, and millionaire donors\u00a0have raised over $1 billion to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral precisely as it was built almost one thousand years ago.<\/p>\n
Over 4,000 miles away, the art community in Columbia looks forward to the rebuilding.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been an inspiration for many other artists, not only 2D painters like me but photographers as well,\u201d Leeke said.<\/p>\n
Leeke first visited Notre Dame in her art studies at Columbia College and later in her art career. She said she was drawn to the architecture, particularly the stone-carved gargoyles, the spire and the stained glass rose windows.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most noted thing, I believe, were the rose windows,\u201d Leekes said. \u201cThe rose windows are just stunning\u2026 they just have such beautiful colors coming through them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stained window colors are accentuated in Leeke\u2019s work. Of her four paintings of the cathedral, three play on the different lighting at different points of the day, which brings forward different colors of the stained glass. Prints of her Notre Dame paintings are located on her website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Leeke said she was in disbelief when she heard that this building\u00a0she held dear caught fire, but she has faith\u00a0it will be restored because so many cherish the magnificent structure.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s too much of a valuable, beautiful place to not rebuild,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Will South, the chief curator of the Columbia Museum of Art, believes the experience of Notre Dame is\u00a0essential to nurturing the human spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n