Art Installations Lent 2019

To begin, our art installations this year were characterized by two very different formats for our two worship spaces. We envisioned a set of five pieces for the sanctuary that spanned the (liturgical) east wall of the nave, the lectern, table, pulpit and were complete on the opposite wall. Thematically it was one large-scale piece, in 5 segments. The idea was that over the six weeks of Lent, elements of the pieces would be let go as we passed them in the Sunday readings. We used a similar color scheme in the fellowship hall, and used a six-part plan, but the panels were much more closely configured on a single pole hung on a wall. For the thematic elements we selected vivid images from any/all of the weekly lections though in reality most Sundays we actually hear only the gospel lection read in worship. Because of the peculiarities of our worship life we switched Lent 2 and Lent 3 this year. What follows is based on how we executed everything. From the Bible readings we got, in order of the weeks: eagle/wings (Psalm 91); water (Isaiah 55); stars (Genesis 15); fence (the prodigal son story in Luke and the imagined fence that must have corralled the swine with whom he dwelt for a time); oil/pitcher (when Mary anoints Jesus in John 12). Finally the tree will be removed to reveal a cross that will carry us through Holy Week. Here are some pictures of the final products. We are much-indebted to the many hands that helped bring this off!

The sanctuary:

The fellowship hall:

Folk immediately noticed the missing eagles in the sanctuary. With the blue (water) gone for the second week, things look rather stark already. Some folks have had a bit of a hard time wrapping their heads around "letting go" of certain Bible images, but we hope that repetition of the concept that we are letting go for a time as an act of spiritual discipline will begin to resonate more fully with them.

Paper Lace Advent 2017

We have been collaborating with Sanctifiedart.org for a couple of years. One of the principals in that collective grew up in our congregation. We used some of their material for our Advent observance this year: devotional booklet, liturgical resources and the like. We also were interested in using the paper lace banner design they provided. The original was designed as a pair of vertically hung 9x3 panels. I had the idea of enlarging them (greatly) and flying them down the length of the nave. I was hopeful (!) that our pulley system could support the whole work when installed.

We got to work converting the print design using computer display projected on the wall of our fellowship hall. Once the design was drawn in, a team of persons cut out the negative portions and seamed the ends. That was a two-night process.

Finally, the moment of truth: flying the two banners. It went remarkably smoothly, taking only about an hour, but many trips up and down a ladder to get things just so. The effect is quite dramatic, with a definite "swoop" from the nave toward the chancel and cross. During the day even with lights on, the effect is subtle at best.

It's best realized at night, with most of the nave lights off. But in that scenario, one can certainly discern a dapple effect of "light breaking through."

We placed an interpretive piece at the doors of the sanctuary for work-week visitors, and include the same information weekly in our worship guides.

We extend our hearty thanks to Hannah Garrity for the original art, and Lisle Gwynn Garrity for helping us bring the enlarged vision to life, along with our dedicated team of sketchers and cutters.

 

I regularly give thanks for the many artists in our congregation, both living and deceased. I am especially grateful for the visionaries among them who worked (very hard, I'm sure) to get approval to install the pulley system that we utilize. I never take it for granted, and marvel every time we use it at how adaptable it is.

Last of the Lenten banners

These are the last two in our series of seven banners for Lent. These images were keyed to the sermons during this season, a series called "We were there." The last two are the centurion at the cross, and the women at the tomb on Easter Day. Thanks to the entire team who created these.

Banners for Lent

Here are the most recent banners for our Lenten preaching series, "We were there." These are Peter (top), the high priest Caiaphas (above), and Judas (below). Folks have been responding to these favorably.

Lenten Banners

Our Lenten preaching theme is "We were there," a series of sermons dealing with persons who related to Jesus in his final days. When the theme was announced in January, I immediately imagined a set of banners, one for each person. I had in mind a set we made in Richmond for Eastertide some years ago, a sort of silhouette effect.

One church member drew the original artwork, other members did the painting (on fabric) and yet another finished each banner with a border and yet another prepared the banners for hanging (rods and cords). We're using the drawings as cover art for our worship guides on Sundays.

Here are the first two; we've colorized the background (from the original black/white) to reflect the fabric color of the finished banners. Above, the woman who anointed Jesus (Mark 14.3-9) and below, the slave who was injured in the garden (Luke 22.45-53). I'll post the others as we move through the season.