Parkway Photo Gallery

The two beautiful banners hanging in our fellowship hall were made by Winston-Salem artist, Jan Detter.  Below are her descriptions of the banners.

HOSANNA BANNER
 

This banner was made to celebrate the conclusion of the Season of Lent.  The stylized hand is floating on a background fabric that reminded me of the infinite cosmos. The hand raised, palm outward represents the blessing of God. But is also recalls the Passion of Christ, for when Jesus was taken to the Common Hall before Crucifixion, he was mocked and slapped in the face there.  The flowers springing from the fingertips symbolize the cycle of death and rebirth.  Within the hand is the Eye of God, surrounded by a triangle, which represents the Trinity. On each side of the banner are the batiked Japanese prints of feet traversing the length of the banner.  The footsteps are meant to remind us of Christ’s humility because he was the feet of his disciples-as well as his admonition to “Follow me”. The symbols appliquéd into the footsteps include a ladder (which is a traditional Jewish symbol for ascending towards wisdom and the heavens), the Star of David (symbol of divine guidance), the cross with the crescent moon (which symbolizes Christ as the son of Mary) and the symbol of humankind, which encompasses both male and female attributes.
 
Near the bottom of the banner is a red strip of plangi cloth from India dyed in a fish pattern. The fish is a classic Christian symbol, most often attributed to the fact that the five Greek letters that spell fish are also the initial letters of the five words Jesus Christ, God’s Son Savior. On the bottom border of the banner hangs fisherman’s bells, meant to remind the viewer of Christ’s statement, “I will make you fishers of men.”
 
The banner encompasses fabrics from many cultures because I believe that God is everywhere. I hope it will serve as a celebration of our rich history as Christians.

REDEMPTION BANNER

Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt-blessed illusion!
That I had a beehive
Here inside my heart
And the golden bees
Were making white combs
Of sweet honey from my old failure.~ Anthony Machado

The primary inspiration for this banner came from the above poem by the Spanish poet Antonio Machado. Although Machado is not a religious poet per se, his work is often profoundly spiritual in nature.
 
The background fabric was chosen for its rich, mysterious colors, as well as its multiple textures. The dark colors serve as a foil for the metallic copper heart. The purple star is the 6 pointed Star of David. Purple has a long symbolic history in Christian liturgy. It is the color of religious power and it also represents the repetitive pattern of the honeycomb.
 
The enter of the banner is the golden bee skep. The gold represents divinity and sacred work. A variety of bees swarm throughout the banner. The bee is one of the richest symbols in Christian iconography. According to the Dictionary of Symbolism, “Saint Ambrose likened the Church to the beehive and devout parishioners to the bees, who collected only the best from all the flowers and eschewed the smoke of the arrogant pride.” As producers of honey (which symbolized Christ), the bee is often a symbol of Mary, by virtue of its many positive attributes.
 
The banner is bordered with copper fisherman bells (“I will make you a fisher of men”) and antique keys, which are attached with linen thread. The keys are attributes of Saint Peter (as the guardian of heaven) and linen (the fabric of Jesus’ shroud) represents the humanity of Christ.