“All Saints” Great Dossal
‘God numbers the stars and calls them all by name.’
We are part of a huge continuum - the Great Cloud of Witnesses - the Saints of God. This work names more than 1000 of them and places those names in great swirling strands, stretching through the cosmos. It is intended that the viewer, approaching the altar, will feel embraced by the work and included in the Great Multitude. The Creation is a work-in-progress. Each time we welcome new ‘stars’ into the Community, we participate in that creation. Whenever we pray for those who are separated from us, by death or distance or circumstance, we string the stars of the heavens together in endless strands, through time and space. This dossal and frontal are an attempt to say to those we love that they are as eternal as the stars.
The Great Dossal for All-Saints,
(10’ x 21’) includes many types of fabrics, fused to muslin backing. Names were added using squeeze-on fabric paints in several metallic colors. Mem-bers of the Community were asked to supply lists of ‘saints’ - from history, people they loved, etc. Little slips of paper came with a few or many. All were included. Many spoke of the importance of seeing those names when they come forward to receive the Bread & Wine of the Eucharist - as if they were sharing a moment with loved-ones. One person said that this dossal is what convinced her to resume attending church on a regular basis.
The parish finds this dossal so meaningful that they keep it in place from All Saints until Advent, creating an All-Saints’ Season.
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“Pentecost” Great Dossal
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“Desert of Lent” Dossal
Discovery of the amazing ‘trees’ fabric lead to the creation of this dossal in the spare, contemporary church for which it was made. The color matches perfectly the concrete walls, letting the ‘burn-out’ design of the bare trees speak as the Desert of Lent experienced in some northern climates. Two 12’ x 18.5’ panels focus viewers on the Cross of Nails (made in part from nails rescued from a beloved previous building, the victim of an arsonist). Altar candleholders (a recent gift) re-echo the Crucifixion theme.
A wonderful and unexpected feature of this installation is the subtle movement of the panels when the heating system comes on. It both ‘creeps-out’ and comforts (spiritually as well as physically) those working in the church alone. Many in the Community have commented on the calmness and meditative feeling of this dossal.
Fabrics for this work include the amazing ‘trees’ fabric, 9’ wide in itself. To this was added a matching panel above and a slightly darker panel below, grounding the work. All fabrics are nylon. It is rod-mounted at ceiling height with rods in the bottom to keep it from floating too much. Snapshot below shows detail of the candle-holders and cross. 2006
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The two Great Dossals shown in the photos below have been discussed at length in the section on Chasubles, as each is part of a larger Array of Vestments/Paraments and was included there.
“Alleluia” “Broken Crown”
Dossal - An Evolving Definition: Dossals are ‘soft’ (usually fabric of some sort) hangings placed behind the altar or wherever the visual focus of the worship takes place. They are changeable as seasons and occasions require. Dossal size varies from a simple panel to extremely large (see Coventry Cathedral) installations which dominate the entire interior space. In contrast, a Reredos, while usually placed in generally the same position, is ‘hardscape’ and may be made of stone, wood or other materials, remaining in place permanently once it is installed. Again, size varies but remarkably large ones often contain life-size sculptures of Saints or other Holy Personages; many spectacular examples exist, created by both historic and contemporary artists. BTW ‘Great’ = large.
“Beyond the Wall” - Pentecost Dossal Collaboration
has also been discussed under ‘Collaborative Projects’ and ‘Collaborations’. No summary of Dossals would be complete without it however!
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The Great
“O-Antiphon” Dossal
for Advent
St. John’s Parish, Waterbury, CT
My journey with the O-Antiphons began while mentoring a young nun in calligraphy at Regina Laudis Abbey in Bethlehem, CT, many years ago. At that time we explored how best to illuminate (literally) the texts by exchanging ideas on what symbolism spoke most profoundly to each of us.
In 2003 I was commissioned to create a series of O-Antiphon banners relative to a choral setting of them and became fascinated by what composers have said through their compositions.
Here I had yet another opportunity to speak about the Antiphons.
In this design the all the stories are piled in on each other (like an actor simultaneously playing multiple parts) requiring the viewer to tease them out again - a suitable journey in Advent. The ‘actor’ in this instance is the curving vertical line, its role changing with each reading. In addition, the ‘titles’ are in Latin, the root language of both English and Spanish, thus equally accessible to the broad range of people who call St. John’s their spiritual home. 2008
The Great O-Antiphon Dossal is made entirely of dupioni silk. Specific colors of blue complement existing vestments. It measures 10’ x 20’. A comprehensive history of the use of O-Antiphons can be found with the commentary accompanying the 2003 project.
“From the Stuff of the Stars”
The Cosmic Aspects of Epiphany
St. John’s, Waterbury, CT 2009
Epiphany falls between the excitement and ‘rush’ of Christmas and the most humbling day of the church year, Ash Wednesday. In this wintery, night-sky, star-lit time of year we greet the coming of far-away travelers, contemplating the immensity of a universe that proclaims the power of God throughout the heavens for all to see.
Quoting Carl Sagan, scientist friend once said to me, “Do you know you are made from star-dust?” My immediate reaction: “Cool!” He went on to explain, “The stars, those huge bundles of energy and light, are formed by compressing the dust of the universe over and over until a ‘spark’ occurs. These stars become luminous, powerful entities, pouring their energy out as a seemingly endless gift.”
Planets like ours can then grow and develop beings who eventually realize who is behind this whole ‘show’ - God the Creator. As we enter this time of starry nights, of strangers arriving from afar, of sparkling dust and of amazing revelation, we should remember who we really are: the shining beings God has meant us to be.
And even on Ash Wednesday, when we are reminded, “From dust you are made and to dust you will return.” - as humbling a thought as that is, I am also convinced that the Creator-God doesn’t work with inferior materials; the dust I am made from is the same dust as the stuff of the stars, full of energy and promise.
The Epiphany Vestments and Dossal began their design-life as a spiral - like those pictures of cosmic swirls taken by far-seeing telescopes. The spiral was then slashed, top to bottom, in several places with the resulting off-set pieces creating the appearance of being woven. One of my favorite images is that of fabric: the weaving together of separate strands to form a magnificent whole. The fabrics chosen for the Epiphany pieces are unusual in the Liturgical Art world; yes, there are silks, but also layers of sparkles, metallics and shimmering gauze-like veilings appear. The colors are celestial as well - blues of every sort, with the occasional bit of the traditional green. We are reminded that we are in the in-between time, on a journey to encounter God in whatever way God may show up. The days (and nights, especially) of Epiphany invite us to meditate on what that means for our lives, for our communities and for our universe. We are Star-dust, beloved of God, having the energy of the heavens poured out on us for our benefit.
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“God Numbers the Stars...
A Great Dossal for Epiphany
at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Burlington, VT
Quoting from the description relating to ‘From the Stuff of the Stars’, (above) sets the scene for what follows: “Epiphany falls between the excitement and ‘rush’ of the Nativity and the most humbling day of the church year, Ash Wednesday. In this wintery, night-sky, star-lit time of year we greet the coming of far-away travelers, contemplating the immensity of a universe that proclaims the power of God throughout the heavens for all to see.”
Into the vastness of these cosmic realizations comes the news that each & every one of us is known to God: "God numbers the stars and calls them all by their names." (Psalm 147:4) Our response is embodied in the words from Isaiah 40:31: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Thus we have two statements declaring our relationship with God to be one of mutual caring and concern. In this in-between time, we journey to encounter God in whatever way God may show up. The days (and nights, especially) of Epiphany invite us to meditate on what that means for our lives, for our communities and for our universe. We are Star-dust, beloved of God, having the energy of the heavens poured out on us for our benefit.
I designed and painted this dossal using 27 artist canvasses, mounted on wooden battens fastened to the back wall of the chancel. It could not have come to fruition without the ingenuity and days of dedicated labor of Marty Poppe. His engineering skills as well as willingness to climb the ladder God-knows-how-many-times made it happen. Jerry and Marie Meachen decided to celebrate their 80th birthdays by making a significant contribution to cover part of the costs related to this project. Thank-You to all. 2010
