ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 18, 2007
Three Artists' Works Chosen in ELCA Design Contest
07-170-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Office of the Presiding Bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has chosen the
works of three Lutheran artists in a design competition to
recognize the 20th anniversary of the ELCA. Replicas of the art
pieces will be presented as gifts to global and ecumenical guests
of the ELCA.
The original winning entries will become part of the ELCA's
permanent art collection, said Myrna J. Sheie, executive
assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop for governance and
institutional relations. There were about three dozen entries in
the competition, she said. The contest was announced last spring
in the resource publication "Seeds for the Parish" and "The
Lutheran," the magazine of the ELCA.
The winning entries were:
+ Hand-forged iron cross, Joel Miller, Roseau, Minn.: Miller said
he used traditional techniques to make the cross, using iron
heated in a coal-fired forge. The piece was hammered on an
anvil, and its parts -- a crown section and thorn/petals -- were
riveted onto the cross. It took about one day to make, he said.
Miller is a member of Pine Grove Lutheran Church, Roseau.
+ Paper cutting, Joan Blanton, Clinton, Miss.: Blanton created
her piece using a single piece of paper and a paper-cutting
knife. The piece features the ELCA emblem. It took six hours to
make, though the design took longer to complete than the actual
cutting, Blanton said. The symbols on each part of the cross
represent the four gospels in the New Testament, she said. The
piece will be the design on the ELCA presiding bishop's 2007
Christmas card. Blanton is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church,
Jackson, Miss.
+ Savior of the World Cross, Sally Stewart, Johnstown, Pa.:
Stewart's entry is made of 50 different wood pieces from
throughout the world. After the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001,
Stewart said she began to make crosses with these woods to
symbolize Christ's love. The diversity of the woods and patterns
represents the scope of God's work and its variety, she said.
Stewart is a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Johnstown.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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