It takes a village to bring a festival to life, so allow us a moment of humble gratitude and bountiful appreciation. The National Bell Festival would like to extend a thundering ovation to the team at NovaLabs, a vibrant maker community in Fairfax, Virginia, for their scrupulous attention to detail and selfless generosity in crafting a stand to support the Solidarity Bell.
Thank yous are especially due Brian Irwin, Christopher Sexton, and Graham Copp for guiding this project from a stack of 25-year-aged cherrywood to a finished piece of craftsmanship replete with wedge tenons and engraved adornments. This, after also fashioning a shu-moku (swinging striker) to sound the 227-year-old Japanese temple bell we presented to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum during last year's festival. Thank you, fellas!
We could do no better summation of their incredible work than the gentlemen have compiled themselves, so we respectfully submit a link to their overview of the construction process, together with these few images of the beautiful bell stand in pride of place before the high altar at Washington National Cathedral.
Image: The Solidarity Bell stands before the Jerusalem Altar at Washington National Cathedral during the 2025 National Bell Festival on Jan. 1, 2025.
Image: Detail of the Solidarity Bell before the Jerusalem Altar at Washington National Cathedral during the 2025 National Bell Festival on Jan. 1, 2025.
Image: The uprights of the purpose-built stand cradle the bronze headstock.
Image: The state emblem of Ukraine – the Ukrainian trident, known as the tryzub – is engraved on the bell stand's cherrywood uprights.
Image: Wedge tenons strengthen the base of the bell stand.
Image: Festivalgoers gather around the Solidarity Bell and stand after Eucharist at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 1, 2025.
Cover image: Craftsmen Christopher Sexton (right) and Graham Copp hold the Solidarity Bell at the NovaLabs community maker space in Fairfax, Virginia, on Dec. 28, 2024.
