O Oriens

Linda Witte Henke

O ORIENS (Image 5)

Cotton fabric, synthetic felt, applique, stitching, Embroidery, found objects

Artist Statement: This series was inspired by "The Great O Antiphons," a collection of prayers dating back as far as the fourth or fifth centuries that are intended for use during the final seven days before Christmas. The prayers, which address God using several Old Testament titles and express a growing sense of urgency for the Messiah’s coming, give voice to poignant human longings that are as relevant today as they were in centuries past. This is the version of the fifth prayer used on this panel:

O ORIENS (Rising Dawn), you shine with warm brightness and clean freshness, chasing the fearsome shadows of the night away; enlighten the lives of your people with visions of harmony and mutuality, so that all that is alien may finally join in the fullness of life together; for the sake of the One we call the Light of the World, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The works in this series were created from cotton fabric, cotton batting, and synthetic felt that was dyed, painted, stenciled, and stamped, then embellished with appliqué, improvisational stitching, hand embroidery, and found objects (metal hardware and plastic stars).

 
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