ARTIST STATEMENT:

This liturgical banner is like a quilt, as it integrates our weekly quilt square patterns into its border. It is designed for the paper lace medium, however, I imagine that quilters would be able to adjust the design to their medium.

The central motif is the star of Bethlehem, an image that is common in quilt patterning and which reaches into each of our hearts with nostalgic memory. In the church, this symbol marks the beginning of our liturgical year and the moment when the Magi’s journey guides them to Jesus. It reminds me of waiting; of the ways we wait for spring, for a baby to be born, for the coming of Christ. In this banner design, each of the weekly quilt square patterns represent the weekly themes we are journeying with this season: You are a blessing; We can’t go alone; Do the good that is yours to do; Hope is worth the risk; Love knows your name; Don’t forget to laugh; The road isn’t straight. What words and reminders do you remember—ones that your caregivers handed down? How do they act as beacons, as north stars guiding you through your day to day and through each decade?

—Hannah Garrity, banner design artist and Founding Creative Partner of SA

DOWNLOAD INCLUDES:

• Files to project and trace the design onto one 107”x107” banner. If you are creating a paper lace cut-out banner, we provide a flipped projection file so that you can trace and cut on the back of the banners (displaying the clean side as the front).

• Written instructions with 3 options (summarized below) for bringing this design to life in your congregation.

• Large, color file for printing the design as a vinyl banner (up to 6’x6’) through a company such as Got Print. This option allows you to install and display the banner art on the exterior of your church building throughout the Advent and Christmas season.

CREATIVE OPTIONS (SEE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS IN DOWNLOAD FOR MORE INFO):

Option A.) Painted Banner
Suitable for: Youth and adults of all ages
Level of time, planning, commitment: (3 of 5 stars)
Process: Following the tutorial video below and written instructions included in download, project and trace the design onto paper or canvas to create a banner. Invite members to paint the design using tempera or acrylic paint. 

Option B.) Paper Lace Cut-Out Banner
Suitable for: older youth (with supervision) and adults
Level of time, planning, commitment: (5 of 5 stars)
Process: Following the tutorial video below and written instructions included in download, project, trace, and cut out the design on photography studio backdrop paper to create a beautiful paper lace banner.

Option C.) Printed Vinyl Banner
Suitable for: All ages
Level of time, planning, commitment: (1 of 5 stars)
Process: Send the included print file to a local printer or online print shop such as GotPrint for printing as a vinyl banner. Hang the banner inside your church building, in your worship space, or outdoors on your church property.

See more creative ways to bring these designs to life in this blog post: sanctifiedart.org/blog/art-for-advent-creative-ways-to-bring-our-banner-designs-to-life