Christmas with Wartburg Murals for Purchase
The following mural designs were created by illustrator Chris Knudson ’01 and printed on a very durable vinyl fabric.
If you are interested in purchasing a mural, please contact music@wartburg.edu.
2022 Mural: Center Panel – 46 ft. x 18 ft. | Side Panels – 14 ft. x 8 ft.
Description: The colorful centerpiece section is an angular mosaic made of stars within stars with the “Night of Wonder” text prominently placed in the center. At each intersection of angles is a bright star to create the sense of a constellation connecting everything together. The mural depicts Mary and the angel in an abstract stained glass design that merges with the starry mosaic of the background. The left side panel shows a shepherd with a lamb in a similar stained glass feel. The right panel shows the three wise men similarly.
2021 Mural: Center Panel – 46 ft. x 18 ft. | Side Panels – 14 ft. x 8 ft.
Description: This mural is more figurative in nature, while still being a stylized illustration. There are nearly 20 animals depicting the peaceable kingdom in the mandala shape that holds the entire design together. On the left side, wheat is shown to represent the plains and the vegetation on the right is more tropical in nature. In the center, hands of various races are reaching out in praise to frame the theme, “All Creation Sings.” Similarly, the shepherd has his hands stretched in the air in wonder and adoration. The right side of the logo shows the angel sounding the trumpet. The madonna and child is shown on the left panel, with Jesus caressing Mary. The right panel shows the creche with radiating light and two people from different ethnicities worshiping the Savior.
2018 Mural: Center Panel – 46 ft. x 18 ft. | Side Panels – 14 ft. x 8 ft.
Description: The center piece shows Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus with a donkey on their way to be enrolled. They are traveling in a foreign land as refugees. “The Weary World Rejoices” text depicts the nativity in silhouette. The shepherds and wise men are also in silhouette. Behind the hills, light emanates, symbolizing great celebrations in the distance. The figures in the foreground look lonely in contrast to the celebrations behind them. The right side of the center piece shows a great stone building symbolizing a world that did not welcome them. The left panel shows the Annunciation with the text “I Will Make a Way” and the right panel shows people of all ethnicities and ages dancing together in celebration with the text “Be Not Afraid.”
2017 Mural: Center Panel – 46 ft. x 18 ft. | Side Panels – 14 ft. x 8 ft.
Description: This mural was designed in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The center piece of the drop shows the Christ Child laying in a manger Bible. This is a visual depiction referencing Martin Luther’s text, “Here you will find the swaddling clothes and the manger in which Christ lies.” The child and manger stand in front of a doorway, representing the Castle Church doors where the 95 Theses were hung. Both doors are open with the 62nd thesis tacked to them in English and German: “The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.” All scenes on this drop are designed to look like stained glass. In addition to the nativity figures, the drop also includes images from the Neuendettelsau Cross depicting the corporal acts of mercy. The top of each glass window shows imagery of the two Lutheran sacraments as well as the Luther Rose and the star. The left and right murals have the text “From Heaven Above… to Earth I Come,” the first verse of Luther’s famous Christmas hymn. The left mural shows the Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament into the language of the people. Below the castle is the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) with children gathered around. The right panel shows the actual Neuendettelsau Cross and Wartburg Chapel. Below is an image of Jesus pulling Peter from the boat.
2016 Mural: Center Panel – 46 ft. x 18 ft. | Side Panels – 12 ft. x 8 ft.
Description: This mural design is based on elements of a rosette stained glass window. The bright gold color represents the divinity of Christ. The seven “O Antiphons” are represented as icons in the center-most circles in the right area. The “O” in “O Night Divine” is left blank to allow for projection of other imagery. The left mural panel includes the text “O Come Emmanuel” with an abstract version of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) and Mary with the baby. The right mural panel text is “Tomorrow I will be with you.” An abstract version of the dove and the globe is shown.
2015 Mural: Center Panel – 46 ft. x 18 ft. | Side Panels – 14 ft. x 8 ft.
Description: This mural design is based on a water theme. Therefore, all elements are more abstract and flow from one to another. An abstraction of Mary and the baby is shown in the “O” of the “Rejoice in the Living Water” text. Within all the waves, you can see abstract versions of the dove, the fount, the Tree of Life, an angel, three ships, a waterfall, and a road. The left mural depicts Mary and the donkey in silhouette in the desert with the text “My soul thirsts for the living water as in a dry desert.” The right panel shows an abstract waterfall with the chalice behind the text “Whoever drinks of the water I give them will never thirst.”