Darth Vader The Star Wars Villain on the Northwest Tower of Washington National Cathedral

nationalcathedral.org ^

[JoeProBono]

In the 1980s, while the west towers were construction, Washington National Cathedral held a decorative sculpture competition for children. Word of the competition was spread nationwide through National Geographic World Magazine. The third-place winner was Christopher Rader, with his drawing of that fearful villain, Darth Vader. The fierce head was sculpted by Jay Hall Carpenter, carved by Patrick J. Plunkett, and placed high upon the northwest tower of the Cathedral.

[JoeProBono]

[skeeter]

I never could understand the purpose of the gargoyles on the Natn'l Cathedral.

Seems a little too flip for a house of God.

[darth]

Hey! That’s all wrong! Don’t they know I’m black?

[JoeProBono]

"Don’t they know I’m black?"

Are you certain?

[Tainan]

.....cool.

[radiohead]

A web page from one of the stone carvers at the Cathedral:

http://www.stonecarver.com/cathedral.html.

Gargoyles had a purpose initially, they also were sometimes used to tell a story, much like stained glass windows in a medieval church. Now they are mostly decorative. I don’t have a problem with them, since gargoyles are consistent with how cathedrals have been built for hundreds of years. The cathedral is built to the glory of God, but it is for the people. If the people want Darth Vader, then why not have it there? Vader provides a meaningful image of evil in our time.

[Mr. Know It All]

Here's a more evil gargoyle, obviously on his way to Capital Hill to lobby for bailout money:

[Othniel]

There was a lengthy article about this in Smithsonian a buncha years ago. It was all about the stonemasons and how they made the various things on the cathedral. Pretty cool guys; there was a father/son team. If I remember, Vader was added because it was something evil people could recognize, plus the "wow, we're cool for doing this" factor.

Nowadays, Hillary! would scare my socks off. Or a copy of Porkulus....

[Clemenza]

At times like this, I would like to stump for MY candidate:

VADER 2012: In your heart, you KNOW he's right!

[PzLdr]

They put Helen Thomas on the National CathedrAL?

[PzLdr]

How ‘bout: “Vader! Getting the job done since long, long ago...”

[PzLdr]

“Vader: I wasn’t your first President, but I’ll be your last.”.

[Future Snake Eater]

VADER 2012: In your heart, you KNOW he's right!

Or...VADER 2012: Rule the country as father and voter!

Or something like that...

[donna]

Those are the demons riding on your shoulder. They hop off and what for you while you’re inside. If you get right with God, those demons don’t get back on your shoulder as your leave church.

[donna]

That should be:

They hop off and WAIT for you while you’re inside.

[skeeter]

Hm. Interesting, thanks.

[PERKY2004]

[Mr. Know It All]

OMG, it does look a bit like Helen Thomas. Maybe she saw her reflection in a mirror and turned to stone!

[radiohead]

VADER 2012: In your heart, you KNOW he’s right!

I like it!

[al_c]

(ping)
Thought you’d like this.