Stunning wedding dress exhibition with a twist
A stunning exhibition boasting over 40 “wedding dresses” has just opened in Magheralin’s Parish Church. ‘Beyond the Veil’ showcases real dresses worn by prominent Northern Irish women, alongside specially sculpted art dresses made by local artists and craftswomen.
Singer and Irish celebrity Dana, and Belfast Telegraph’s Woman of the Year 2015, Maud Kells OBE, were the special guests at the opening event on Thursday 4 June. Many of the women whose dresses feature also attended, including Finance Minister, Arlene Foster, Lady Syliva Herman and Elaine Simpson, wife of Upper Bann MP, David Simpson.
But this is so much more than an exhibition of gowns. Twenty–five of the displays depict and celebrate the stories of women in the Bible and visitors journey round the exhibition with the help of a professionally produced booklet.
Martha’s ‘dress’ is made of crockery; Mary’s is made of wood, echoing Jesus’ trade as a carpenter and prefiguring the cross; Miriam is depicted using musical instruments and so on. The displays are tastefully lit and enhanced by the beautiful setting of Magheralin’s Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity.
The remaining dresses belong to ‘The Chancel Brides’ – women who have made their wedding vows in the church from 2000 to the present day and crowning the chancel is a display which depicts the Wedding Banquet in Revelation 19. The centrepiece is an imposing dress incorporating 365 handmade napkins woven with the words, ‘Behold I Come’.
The festival aims to raise both awareness and funds to support the work of A21, an anti–human trafficking charity and the Church Renovation Fund.
It is also, however, the organisers’ hope and prayer that as visitors reflect on these women of the Bible they will step ‘beyond the veil’ and meet with Christ.
Admission is free (although donations are welcome) and refreshments are available in ‘Martha and Mary’s Tearoom’ in the hall.
View a photo gallery here.
BBC TV personality, Wendy Austin’s dress features in a depiction of Mrs Zebedee