Chasubles,
the principal liturgical garment of the Eucharist, have varied widely over the centuries and even have their origins in pre-Christian eras. While their shape and size have changed, they remain a center-piece of Liturgical Art to this day, an opportunity to express the back-ground and focus of contemporary Spiritual life.
Created for an Ordination in 1977, the design reflects the wheat/flame theme described by the owner as part of his calling to the Priesthood. The wheat and plowed earth also acknowledge his Midwest nurturing. Sewn construction, made mostly of chintz; some quilting and decorative stitching. Lined in deep red cotton.
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The theme of these rich green Vestments & Paraments was inspired by the changing of the seasons. At the top of the Orpherys are three bare trees, reminiscent of the Resurrection. Just below are scattered white blossoms, blending with leaves of the coming summer. Ripe apples adorn mid-year, allowing space for colorful autumn leaves to follow. The Stole is a miniature of the Orphery design. The Chasuble has the ‘Seasons’ flowing around the edges with one full cycle visible from the front or the back. It was stitched from fabrics of various kinds; lined in green satin. 2004
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Doves are, after all, signs of the presence of the Divine. The Dove of Noah, the dove of the Holy Spirit are among many such indicators telling us that God is present now and had has always been so from earliest times. One of the most important occasions for using Festive White is All-Saints. I never approach that important date without thinking about the lives of all the saints that have gone before, but also about the saints that surround us every day and the saints yet unborn - all part of the great unbroken chain we acknowledge and celebrate. The doves in this design seem to pass in and out of ‘recognizable’ - just as our sense of God’s presence is stronger or weaker at different times. When all the dove images are visible - as when the frontal, chasuble and dalmatics are in simultaneous use - their movement is remarkable and almost alive. Silk is perhaps the most luscious fabric from which to make vestments and other church appointments. 2004-5
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Commissioned by a school Chaplain for his Ordination, this design was inspired by the Pentecost Dossal that greets you at the Welcome page of this website. It was constructed entirely of dupioni silks with very fine gold and silver accents placed over each seam and extending the tips of the flames; the chasuble is of asymmetric design, reversed on the back. It is intended to be most effectively viewed when the wearer lifts arms in the ‘orans’ position while celebrating the Eucharist. The flames of the Holy Spirit then rise to almost engulf the hand - the hand that will bless and offer the bread and wine. 2005
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Evoking the Easter acclamation
‘Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia’, the message moves forward (literally - the dossal’s center panel hangs 4” in front of the sides) in three layers, the cross being closest to the worshipper. On the Chasuble the ‘Alleluias’ form a never-ending circle/refrain.
All are of sewn construction using silks, gold & silver lame and are lined in red, reminding viewers of the path from which Resurrection came.
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Created for the Ordination of the new Episcopal Chaplain to a large Midwestern university, this image was inspired by the owner’s color preferences and spiritual affinity to the pass-age from Deuteronomy 30:14-19. The image-energy (and words) rise on the front of the vestment, continuing over the shoulders and falling to the word ‘Choose’ on the back where it ‘puddles’ - awaiting what comes next. Important, life-defining choices face every college student. Sewn of dupioni silks throughout, the vestment and matching stole are lined in ‘orange-juice’ color satin; they were commissioned by friends in 2006.
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“The Word is Very Near... (front)
...Choose” (chasuble back)
Ordinand and Friends
Based on Genesis I:I, ‘In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.’ This set of chasuble with stoles was created for the ordination of a very unique woman. We are still in a wonderful dialogue about the whole ‘meaning’ of the images used! 2006
The chasuble/stoles are made of dupioni silks, lined in ‘soft’ white or (in the case of the stoles) a color matching the face of each. The colored stoles worn over the chas-uble, making it suited to all seasons.
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The Crown-of-Thorns in these images has been deliberately separated - thus the title ‘Broken Crown’ in an attempt to illustrate the power of life over death. Early representations of the ‘crown’ were often green in color. For a time in the early church thorns were sold as relics, playing on the fears and superstitions of the populace to raise money. The thorns on this ‘crown’ cast their shadows on the background in three places.
Lenten images are often quiet, reflective and somber. The flowing horizontal lines of the purple areas continue this meditative posture but the color is royal and the energy of the design is the not so quiet energy of events to come. The ‘crown’ is beginning to fly apart, unable to contain the eminent Power of the Resurrection. The green on the chasuble and veil dances in a circle while the arc on the burse almost looks like leaping dolphins! The pathway of Lend does not remain in the ‘valley of the shadow’ but ultimately leads to the central act that defines Christianity - the Resurrection. Each reenactment of the story brings new vision and understanding of its meaning.
Sewn from dupioni, taffeta, jacard and other textured silks; the dossal is 20’ high by 6’ wide, deliberately not filling the space behind the altar in order to let light surround the intense colors. The chasuble and celebrant’s stole are lined in green satin while the remaining pieces are lined in purple. 2007
Veil and Burse
The Great Dossal
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“From the Stuff of the Stars” is an exploration of the season of Epiphany from a cosmic perspective. Below and to the right are the Great Dossal, the draped Chasuble and the Stole inspired by this most interesting of seasons for St. John’s Parish, Waterbury, CT in 2009.
To read more about the background behind this unusual expression go to the entry for the Great Dossal. Then just scroll down - you’ll recognize it!
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This Memorial Set is especially suited to the bright, spare architecture of the Cathedral. To see more and read the particulars, go to Frontals. The unique four-sided design of this frontal acknowledges the Cathedral’s frequent practice of celebrating the Eucharist in-the-round.
Brilliant dupioni silks create a series of dancing colors in the sunlight of a Pentecost morning
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