Trinity Sunday

Preparing for Trinity Sunday I think back to creating a meditation banner as a commission for a client in Great Britain. When Carrot Top Studio became a business eight years ago we didn't anticipate liking one of a kind commissions. The lovely surprise has been that we really enjoy these projects because it stretches our knowledge and challenges our creativity. It's also a wonderful way to get to know our clients better as the commissions often have a very personal nature to them. 

When we created this small banner with our interpretation of Rublev's Icon of the Trinity we had not been familiar with this work of art that was originally created in 1410. It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre--but is often interpreted as an icon of the Trinity. The original icon is full of symbolism from the dove to the house to the colors of what the figures are wearing and even how they are seated. We highlighted the oak tree which serves as a reminder of the tree of life that was standing in Eden and of the cross.  The oak tree for Christians can be a symbol of courage and strength and the three leaves reiterate the message of the Trinity.

Interested in a commission for a stole, a banner, or other type of fiber art that might be used to make a visual connection to the Word? Email us your ideas and we'd love to enter into a discussion regarding your needs (and dreams!)

PS...interesting to note that pre-Christian Celts ate acorns from the oak tree to help with preaching preparation. I'm thinking it's good we've gotten' past this tradition!

Pentecost

The work of the church continues today and this Sunday we will pause in worship to recall the story of the formation of the first church. Reaching into American art history archives we thought  to share this image for Pentecost.

Can Fire in the Park, Beuford Delany, 1946

Vivid colors thick on canvas convey the need for fire for the homeless in the city. Around the fire is heat,  light, life, comfort, and community.This is a reminder to "guide us down the dusty roads of this world so that we may lift up the downcast, heal the broken, reconcile what is lost, and bring peace amidst unrest." (Garth House, Litanies for All Occasions)

See Can Fire in the Park at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

See stoles for Pentecost by Carrot Top Studio here.

Church Architecture: Our Heritage

Why is our church architecture configured the way it is? Did you ever stop to think about that? Occasionally I have had the privilege of leading an adult Sunday seminar class within my own home church community. It's always a pleasure partly because the attendees are often the older/wiser type and I adore their company. Secondly I am usually academically stretched when preparing these one hour talks. And this is a good thing. This past week I was really challenged with the subject matter of how the Reformation changed church architecture. I'm not an expert on this topic...I know the art component. But I do really enjoy research and am grateful to have opportunities to dust off my "teacher" hat. Here's a synopsis of the presentation that kicked off a four week series on sacred space....

A stone altar discovered south of Isreal. Might this be what Noah's looked like?

An early Old Testament example of worship was when" Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it." Genesis 8:20 (God was pleased and Noah was blessed.)

      Another Old Testament worship setting is in Numbers 9:17, ‘Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped’.…the tent was continually being re-pitched… and this was unique to other religions of the time that had to pilgrim to one set location to worship. Having worship today in the communities we live in is a blessing. The Old Testament way remains today. Thank you God. 

T   The New Testament tells of Jesus and then the early Christians worshiping in each other's houses.

This is what we think house worship might have been like.
It makes me think of what many of our worship spaces represent today also!

After the early Christians there was much growth and development including the reason why church architecture developed the way it did.

At one point it was believed that you needed to be a monk to get to heaven.
 It was difficult being a monk and it was difficult even getting to some of the monasteries as you can see in this image.

Gothic architecture was very vertical so that the building actually pointed toward heaven.

The beginning of the Protestant Reformation saw an outburst of iconoclasm....the removal of statues and images from churches. Because Reformists couldn't instantly build their own churches they made modifications in existing architecture.

This Roman Catholic cathedral in Grossmunster, Zurich is an example of a church who had their walls whitewashed of murals when the Protestants started to worship in the space.

The major message of the Reformists was people gathering in a spirit of intimacy for a shared ministry of word and sacrament. Therefore pulpits became large and often had a sounding board above them to give visual emphasis to the word and to help improve the acoustics.

This is the pulpit at Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. What a prominent figure it makes within the architecture!

The Puritans were Reformers who in America built meetinghouses for their worship spaces.The image of the Sandown Meeting House in New Hampshire is another great example of how important preaching the Word was.

Reformed theology can even translate into the architecture of a mega-church. This is Coral Ridge Presbyterian in Florida. The pulpit with it's large sounding board is given major emphasis and the seats are arranged in a way for every participant can see and hear. The Reformers believed that Word of the Lord was for everyone and the architect of this large church kept that in mind

Sometimes great architecture has to be modified as time evolves. Miller Chapel at Princeton Theological Seminary as seen here in its current state has gone through three transformations and renovations since being built in 1834. The first converted the meeting house into a basilica. The second removed much Victorian era decorating and added a chancel. The last in 1999 allowed the Communion table to be placed forward in front of the pulpit.

Given that this post is from Carrot Top Studio, I suppose you're wondering what the Reformists would say about our worship banners and ministry stoles? We'd like to think that our works are not icons but merely pieces of fiber art that are used to enhance worship and help the people make a visual connection to the Word. Wouldn't be fun to have John Calvin or Martin Luther chime in on that subject? 

Preparing for Palm Sunday

 

Preparing for Palm Sunday? Now? Really? Of course, in theory, we should always be looking ahead to avoid doing things in haste. For example, the joyful celebration of Palm Sunday has not left my mind since hearing a friend describe her experience of Holy Week on a recent trip to Germany.  Throughout history many faith communities have reenacted the moment Jesus fulfilled prophecy and rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Most use palm branches because that mimics what was done in Jerusalem. Have you ever paused to think about why Palm branches? Well of course...palm trees were part of the landscape so they were readily available. But my friend worshiping in Germany on Palm Sunday had the pleasant surprise of the congregation waving bits of boxwood cuttings to remember the joyful entry of Jesus. Why boxwood? Because the boxwood plants are part of the landscape in this part of Germany and were readily available. Carrot Top Studio is trying to be a better steward of our resources by using eco-friendly fabrics in our stoles as often as possible. This focus has heightened our awareness of other efforts made in this way. And therefore when I learned of the boxwood branches on Palm Sunday I had an ah-ha moment. This sounds like a very sustainable demonstration of using what is local.  I know some congregations use the palms at the end of worship to turn them into ashes for Ash Wednesday, and some people fold their palm branches into crosses as a devotional image to focus upon, but what about all of those palm branches that just get thrown away at the end of worship.....after the expense of shipping them a great distance in the first place? Are there better ways to celebrate? There are eco-friendly efforts among some growers so at least the palms are being provided in a way not to destroy plants. If you are interested in these eco-palms you might appreciate this article. But, maybe we can go a step further in our efforts as we plan for what will visually enhance our worship services to accent the Word and draw us deeper into our faith. Maybe you have ideas you can share? Regardless thanks for listening! Putting my soap box away....now...