May 1998: Red burn-out velvet

Anna chose burn-out velvet with a pattern of swirls. (Burn-out velvet is silk velvet in which areas of pile have been "burned out" or eaten away by acid, leaving only the thin, transluscent backing.) The pieces are red at first glance, but different shades of orange and red appear as the viewer walks by.

Ordinarily, I'd never think to use this "wow-ey!" fabric on the altar. But for the Day of Pentecost and the other "red" occasions, the movement and life of the fabric embody the energy of the Spirit. Anna made the altar cloth in one, T-shaped piece with the ends shaped in points accented with tassles. To this set, Anna added a very long runner that fits our Credence; the ends hang down almost to the floor and gently move with the least stirring of air.