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The NEW BANNER BOOK
written and illustrated by
Betty Wolfe
Procedure and Contents
the WHERE WHEN HOW WHY to use a BANNER
the SIZE SHAPE and the MESSAGE
Getting Started using banners
where when how why
Places
church, parish hall, narthex, classroom, office, home, entry hall—in fact, any space that needs a spot of color
Times and occasions
Seasons: Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost
Celebrations: weddings, baptisms, confirmations, bar mitzvahs
Special events: festivals, pageants
As hangings
against the wall, from a pole, from the ceiling, as a divider, on the lectern, pulpit, or altar
Carried
in a procession: entry, gospel, offertory, wedding, or festival
Purposes
to produce a mood or set the stage for a specific event; to add color, beauty, and meaning to an event; to define an area; to identify a place or organization, as a memorial, a gift, or a permanent work of art
the FIRST decision how BIG?
The size will be determined by:
How it will be used:
If the banner is to be carried, it must be a comfortable size for the person who carries it.
Processional banners should be two-sided.
the SECOND decision what SHAPE?
Shape is primarily a matter of proportion—the ratio of height to width, that is, tall and thin, short and wide, etc. In general, this is determined by where and how the banner will be used.
Examples: square (1 × 1), rectangular, horizontal or vertical, (1 × 1, 1½ × 1, 1 × 1½, 1 × 2, 1 × 3, and so on)
Another shape may be added to the bottom of a basic rectangular shape.
The dominant horizontals and verticals of all of the above shapes relate well to architecture, but any shape that will hang is possible. Experiment with: (a) panels hanging side by side, (b) twisted or draped shapes, (c) layered shapes, or (d) inverted triangles.
the THIRD decision the MESSAGE
In addition to being a decorative hanging, a banner speaks.
The very nature of fabric hanging loosely, moving with every breath of air, free to flow, to sway, to flap, speaks of freedom, of motion, of aliveness.
what can a BANNER say and do?
| produce |
a mood,
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