Last year, the Sisters of St. Joseph found many ways to commemorate the 375th founding of their order. One such act was the commission of a unique tapestry with the help of fiber artist Claudia Mirzaali of St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Marketing and Communications department, which also signified the anniversary’s theme of weaving. According to Mirzaali, who also happens to be a former SJNY adjunct art professor, the theme’s message was that God provides everyone with the thread they will use to weave their lives.
The anniversary colors used symbolize the founding Sisters’ journey over land and sea from France to the U.S.
Mirzaali was approached by former Art Department Chair S. Patricia Manning, CSJ and Communications Studies associate professor S. Grace Rowland, CSJ, Ph.D. at St. Joseph’s University, New York. Inspired by the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph and where they are today, Mirzaali used the selected anniversary colors to symbolize the founding Sisters’ journey over land and sea from France to the U.S. Green and purple represent the land, with green remarking the congregation’s prosperity and turquoise marking the travel over sea. Meanwhile, three golden cords woven into the tapestry signify the connectedness between the past, present and future of the congregation.
Purposely woven to look incomplete with hanging threads, the idea was meant to convey the work all humans have left to do with their time on Earth. Work on the project took several weeks with Mirzaali initially sketching out and planning the design beforehand.
The finishing touches to the tapestry were largely symbolic. The birch branch used to hang the weaving represents the Sisters’ mission of sustainability and ecology. Also, the inclusion of a threaded wooden tapestry needle is to pay homage to their roots as lace-makers.
“Many times with artwork you start with an idea, and the art will tell you where it wants to go,” Mirzaali said. “This was something I was very honored to be approached with.”
The tapestry was displayed during last year’s Sisters of St. Joseph’s 375th closing celebration mass — and will be hung for display in the Archives room on the Sisters of St. Joseph’s campus in Brentwood.
