St. Thomas Church Leipzig, Germany 2008 Finalist Proposal 'The Tree of Peace'

 

My design was one of four chosen to represent the US in the competition for this prestigious commission, the last window to be updated in the historic church were Bach is buried. The theme of 'Peace' was given by the Church to guide the designs.

 

'The Tree of Life and Peace' refers to the Tree of Life that appears prominently throughout history and crosses almost every cultural boundary as a powerful image of hope and renewal. Versions of this symbolic tree are found in the Middle East, India, Turkey, Siberia, Germany, Scandinavia, and many others. The mythologies converge as the Tree of Life represents the cycles of life and structure of the universe. Prayer rugs, paintings, windows, and carvings are but a few of the places where the Tree of Life has been used by artists. In Christianity, the Tree of Life is first described in Genesis, appearing in the Garden of Eden as the Tree of Knowledge. It is also found in the last book of Revelations. I have taken the Tree symbol and added imagery of the Earth in the protective embrace of the Tree's roots. I intend the Tree to symbolize Peace, an extension of the original meanings associated with this ancient symbol.