The Gift: A Christmas Compilation (Deluxe)
It's Christmas day and whichever ever side of the pillow, globe or family debate you woke up on, I bid you a Merry Christmas. As I get older, the want to create new Christmas traditions feels burdensome. As new babies enter my family and the 'older babies' grow less interested in my company I recognise the importance of maximising the time. Reflecting on Jesus as a baby, I wonder when Mary recognised that His dependency on her as a mother had changed, in his teenage years, during his transition to manhood or when she chose to accept Him as Lord and Saviour?
On first look, the artwork for The Gift has all the conventions of something you typically see at Christmas. The golds, greens and reds are classic Christmas colours. The patterns resemble wrapping paper and the typography looks like a vintage Christmas card. However, on closer look the use of gradients and textures gives an antique feel partnered with the vintage typography, the cover begins to take on a different persona.
The use of symmetry takes our eyes automatically to the centre. We know by the title 'The Gift', a gift awaits us inside. The label on the top right mimics a gift tag. In this case the label is used to tell us who the additional artists are. This helps build our anticipation for 'The Gift'.
Within the pattern we have the 11 Six and Reach Records logo. A tape is also visible, again mirroring the vintage feel. Although we already know that there is music inside, the image of the tape adds another layer. When I look at the circles within circles, I think of the cogs within an antique music box. Each one turns, and in turn music plays, often out of the centre a dancer appears, or an image so captivating it cannot be ignored. In this case the image that 11 Six want to the listener to be captivated by is The Gift of Jesus.
God sent His Son, Jesus, in the flesh to die for the sins of mankind. Today we celebrate that amazing gift. I know for many years Easter felt a lot more significant to me because it marks the resurrection of Jesus. However without the birth of Jesus, there is no resurrection. Without being a mother, I can only imagine that Mary in and of herself never really stopped being Jesus' mother. The love I have for my niece, nephews and Godchildren is a very small window in to a mothers love for her child, how much more is God's love for mankind. 'The Gift' of Jesus is for each us, all those we choose to be with and have to be with this Christmas.
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:14
The artwork for The Gift: A Christmas Compilation (Deluxe) was created by @AdamGrason and @trash.flower (on Instagram).
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