Origin of the Project
This stunning and intricate project is a demonstration of the beauty and meaning that can come from close collaboration with our clients. Watts & Co. were delighted to be approached by the leadership team from the Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, Texas. The vision was to create a set of banners which would encapsulate the mission of the Transfiguration church and also express in textile form the beauty of Donald Jackson’s original illuminations in the Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition.
The Saint John's Bible Heritage Editions. Image courtesy of Saint John’s University.
The first introduction to the project came in the form of a simple sketch by members of the Dallas church. This first project was to be nicknamed the ‘Space Banner’. Its nascent form was inspired by a previous set of embroidered processional banners by Watts & Co., the astonishing York Minster banners. The second project sought to illustrate the mission ‘to seek and serve Christ in all persons’, which would represent the strength of community as lived in the Church of the Transfiguration.
Design Inspiration
The bold brushwork, vibrant colours, and strong geometric designs found in Donald Jackson’s work provided a rich source of inspiration for the creative team at Watts. Talks commenced in-house alongside the clients about how to share the vision in embroidery. Hand-drawings and watercolours were a key part of the process to find a way to best reflect the style found in the St John’s Bible. Several hand drawings, digital mock-ups and source material were shared and discussed until the vision came into focus and the creation process could begin.
The Creation Process
Hand painting on silk was chosen as an evocative way to create a vibrant background ready for the hand embroidery. These two methods were painstaking and skilled labours of love by Watts’ creative team and hand embroiderers. Using broad brush strokes in the painting and a wide variety of embroidery techniques and materials the scenes slowly emerged: French knots, bullion knots, Japanese gold thread couching, split stitch, silk shading, appliqué to name a few techniques ensured a diverse and lively depiction of the themes.
‘To the Ends of the Earth’
The ‘Space Banner’ captures the idea of the cosmos and the divine design of the universe, and for this inspiration was found in images from the Hubble Telescope. These ‘Pillars of Creation’ are anchored to the earth within the mystical geometry of the labyrinth found in the centre of the nave of Chartres cathedral. Constellations encircle the earth, each star a golden cross radiating Christ’s light.
‘To Serve Christ in All Persons’
For the second banner, the design was rooted in the natural environment of Texas and in the congregation of the Church of the Transfiguration. The composition in Fra Angelico’s ‘The Last Judgement’ was a starting point for the scene. The slightly abstracted figures gather around the radiant Christ and turn towards Him, their anonymity ensuring individual identities are not prescriptive. Elements such as bluebonnet flowers, a longhorn, and a monarch butterfly represented Texan nature and its rich community life. (Spot the cowboy boots!)
Legacy
The banners for The Church of the Transfiguration, as with all Watts’ processional banners, are not undertaken as merely decorative church furnishings, but are designed as deeply intentional aids to a particular church’s mission and tradition. The Transfiguration banners were a challenging and wonderfully creative undertaking, allowing the spirit of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition to be recreated on an inspiring visual scale.
Rector of the Church of the Transfiguration, Rev'd Casey Shobe, and Watts' CSMO, Rosie Thompson.
With thanks to the amazing team at the Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, TX, and their Rector Rev'd Casey Shobe.
You can read more about the project and the Saint John's Bible Heritage Editions here.
Interested in commissioning a hand-embroidered processional banner for your church? Chat with one of our specialists in a no-obligation consultation here.