The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Inspired by these words in John 1, this vestment-and-parament design conveys a sense of two parallel movements inherent in the Advent season – order emerging out of chaos and light piercing the darkness. Together, those movements affirm an important thematic emphasis that has fallen into disuse in recent decades, the emphasis on Christ’s coming as a “judgment” that shatters all of our illusions about who we are. Because this shattering of illusions is what prepares our hearts to receive the gift of Emmanuel, the Advent season becomes a reminder that even the judgments of God are purposed in grace-full outcome.

The pieces in this work were constructed from commercial cotton, satin, and metallic fabrics. They were embellished with improvisational stitching using rayon and cotton threads.