DESIGN: UPCYCLING RELIGIOUS TEXTILE
JUNE 2023

Heritage Cel Bruges and the Central Churh Board Emmaüs launched an open call for craftspeople to upcycle low value religious textile into new objects and commanded a new wall tapestry for the Sint-Michiels church. Atelier Billiet helped with the design process for the tapestery which was then constructed and embroidered in de studio of Embroidery Belle under supervision of master embroiderer Isabelle De Groote.

The design:
The chasubes were used as a backdrop to apply the embroidered religious symbols we found on the other pieces available.
Since the colors were so bright and vivid, we agreed to bring balans by working in a fixed color scheme from dark purple on the botom, to bright whites on top. Symbolising the uplifting towards heaven.
The layout of the symbols was kept rather geometric, using decorated borders as supporting lines.

The making:
In total there are 6 wall hangings, each with the same colorscheme but differently finished. The group of volunteers working with Mrs. De Groote had inpunt in how they finished the applications, making it a personal and yet communal work of art.
The 6 wallhangings were lined for hanging by Atelier Grossé. One of the oldest embroidery studio's in Bruges.

The results can be seen in a guided visit to the church on friday june 16, 2023. The other art and crafts objects designed and produced by the Bruges makers are exhibited a second time during Open Monument Day September 2023 at Sashuis Brugge.