Since 2019 I have been offering an image a day for the 24 days of Advent, ending on Christmas Eve. The Advent Calendar is originally a German tradition and as children we always had one, made by my grandmother. It was embroidered and had small metal rings on it, from which dangled a little parcel. There was chocolate inside and a few times little gifts. My two sisters and I took turns cutting the little parcel from the calendar - ‘Abschneiden’ was always very exciting. Now I have one for my son, embroidered with love by my mother, his ‘Oma”.
Along with the novelty of getting to eat chocolate first thing in the morning, there was a sense of building anticipation. It was also a small act which really set this time apart from the rest of the year. In the earliest forms of this tradition a candle was burned every day, or a simple chalk mark put on a wall. Later devotional images were hung, or maybe a short verse from the bible. I love the act of putting up an image every day and the interactions that follow. In the last few years I have been including some thoughts or observations and they do feel like little prayers, offered to everyone at this time of year.
For me it has been an opportunity to show people some of what I have been working on, particularly during a time where I have not being showing my work in galleries. The reason it is in its fifth year though, is because of the always overwhelming positive response I have gotten. It could easily have been a one off if it weren’t for the question: ‘are you doing your advent calendar again this year?’. This year it will be a mixed bag, some older work, some newer work and some photography. But everything will be available as a print from my website for the first time. I always want to offer opportunities for people to be able to own and enjoy something at an affordable price. Each day a new print will be offered…but only until Christmas Day! On Christmas Day, they will come down again.
The prints will go to you directly from the printer, to save them being shipped twice. I was not able to make a test print of each and every one, so if there is a problem or if they do not meet expectations, contact me and we will sort it out! Please stay in touch during this, because it really is my way of connecting with people coming up to Christmas. I have never been good at sending cards. It’s not a German tradition!
