A HOUSE FOR A BANKRUPT CHURCH

How could a church ever be bankrupt…?!?!?!?

That is, how could a church ever be Capitalist…?!?!?

But even God, these days, became a commodity, quite convenient, actually.

Just days ago we read that the Chrystal Cathedral, designed by Philip Johnson, became bankrupt.

Good for it, I would say. If it was, or is, a church.

Bankruptcy will do it good, that is, its petitioners.

Poverty is good to the life of the spirit.

After all, what do we need to believe…?????????????

Do we need riches…??????????????????

Do we need millions…?????????????????????????

Do we need glitter and fame and diamonds…???????????????????

The corruption of religion is obvious everywhere.

The very “concept” of a bankrupt church is nonsensical and a deep negation of what a church is, or should be.

But religion is big business. Maybe it always was, or almost always.

So we ask you to design a “bankrupt church,” that is a church without a budget, without big plans, without the “legal” right to “operate,” as a business.

At the extreme, a “non-existent” church, since in Capitalism only what is not bankrupt exists.

Yes, try to imagine a church that can never be bankrupt again because it will never again be a business.

Imagine a church that is at the outskirts of life and society, certainly a church outside of the realm of ‘success,” fame, glitter and diamonds.

A MODEST CHURCH.

A BANKRUPT CHURCH.

A CHURCH THAT HAS ONLY ONE “THING:” GOD.

A Church for those who feel alone, dispossessed, homeless, despairing, for those who, walking by the side of the sea, do not see any other footprints, except their own… believing thus that God deserted them… when in fact, possibly, the footprints on the sand are not theirs, but God’s, carrying them in His arms.

Design a “bankrupt” Church, a poor church, a church without possessions, except its faith.

Start again, from scratch and never contemplate transforming a church into a business.

Dream again, thirsty of different values, different times, different aspirations.

Design the Church of the Very Beginnings.

A Church that is “lost,” disorganized, on the edge of the abyss.

THE MOST UNSUCCESSFUL CHURCH EVER, this is what we want you to design…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A CHURCH SO UNSUCCESSFUL THAT NO BUSINESS MAN WOULD EVER CONSIDER ENTERING ITS DOORS.

A CHURCH SO POOR, SO DESPERATE, SO ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE CONSIDERED “LOST.”

DESIGN THE HOUSE FOR A “LOST CHURCH.”

YES, A CHURCH TOTALLY UNABLE TO RECUPERATE.

A “BANKRUPT CHURCH,” TO USE THE JARGON OF TODAY.

Please send us ANY work, ANY size and ANY format that responds to the theme to bankruptchurch@icarch.us. We will publish all the works received on our new website, www.icarch.us. There is no entry fee. The deadline to submit your work is December 31st, 2010. If you have any questions please contact us.

Thank you,

ICARCH Gallery