Annunciation: Advent and Christmas

This transparent hanging for use at Advent and Christmas is based, with permission, on a design by Robert Strobridge for a set of wooden screens for St. Leo’s parish in Milwaukee, WI. The descending angel reaches out with wings and touches Mary, who is portrayed only by a face, hands, and a flower growing in her womb. The transparent background is iridescent and transitions from blue to purple, the color of Mary and Advent. Red streamers ending in flowers are added to the hanging on Christmas Eve.

Originally planned to be stenciled onto a sheer fabric, the paint went through the sheer fabric and adhered to the protective plastic sheet underneath. Faced with a disastrous outcome of the original concept, I cut out each part of the design from the painted plastic, and used an adhesive to adhere them to the fabric background. The wrinkled and mottled paint on the plastic was probably more interesting than the original plan. This piece is an invitation to mystery and contemplation. I made it for the First United Methodist Church, Waynesville, NC. 9’ x 10′  2003

<<BACK