Get ready for your church’s next series on supernatural beings (or new Dan Brown book gone cinematic) with this crazy cool set. Mike Gerrells and his team of volunteers at Crosspointe Church in Duluth, Georgia created this set for a series their church did.
They got the statues on the walls from a landscape shop. They were about 16″ tall and lit from underneath with an LED cabinet. The statue in the back was printed vinyl on foam board with an amber gel on it.
They created the wall from foam board painted to look like stone work. Finally, the fabric behind it all is made of 18 foot tall red silk strips.
Warning: With a super scary set like this you might need to cover your seats with plastic if you allow children in your service.
Planning a Dramatic Stone-Wall Stage Backdrop
The strength of this set is its combination of three distinct layers: stone-look walls establish the architecture, statues create focal points, and tall red silk strips supply a saturated background. When adapting the idea, start with the message of your series rather than copying every prop. A smaller room might only need two scenic wall panels and one central image. Keep the speaker’s position, musicians, screens, and walking routes visible on your sketch so the scenery supports the service instead of crowding it.
Before building a full wall, make a sample panel from the foam board you plan to use. Sketch stone joints with varied block sizes, then test a foam-compatible base coat and lighter or darker accent colors. View the sample under your actual stage lighting; a finish that looks convincing in a workshop can appear flat or overly busy from the congregation. Treat the board as a decorative surface, not as the structure that supports statues. Plan separate, suitable supports for any heavier props.
Layering Statues, Fabric, and Light
The original team sourced approximately 16-inch statues from a landscape shop and illuminated them from below. To explore that effect in your room, place one sample statue on a stable support and try several LED positions before duplicating the arrangement. A narrow upward angle can emphasize facial features and cast strong shadows, while a wider wash gives a softer look. Check the result from the front row, rear seating, and camera positions, keeping the fixture itself out of direct sight where possible.
The central statue image was printed vinyl on foam board, which offers a different approach from using a physical sculpture. For your own adaptation, compare a printed scenic panel with a dimensional prop based on viewing distance, storage space, and available mounting points. Use artwork you have permission to reproduce, and test a small print under the intended amber lighting before committing to the full-size piece. Color choices in the print and the lighting will interact.
The original red silk strips were 18 feet tall, but your version should be sized to your room and approved hanging locations. Mock up a short section to decide how much fabric fullness you want and whether gaps reveal unwanted background details. Keep fabric clear of fixtures, equipment ventilation, and access routes. Have your facilities team review material suitability and attachment methods before installation; decorative foam and silk are not interchangeable with approved structural or fire-rated scenic materials.
Pro Tips for Adapting This Design
Build one complete bay first: Combine a wall sample, one prop, and a fabric strip before buying the remaining materials. This reveals proportion and lighting problems while changes are still manageable.
Protect the people lighting: Program the scenic wash separately from the speaker’s lighting. Strong red and amber effects should not make faces difficult to see or distract from the message.
Match the mood to your audience: Review the dramatic imagery with ministry leaders, especially when children attend. A less intense lighting treatment or simpler silhouette can retain the architectural idea without the same intimidating atmosphere.
Plan for reuse: Label removable wall panels, store fabric clean and dry, and photograph the arrangement before taking it down. Neutral stone-look scenery can support a different series when paired with new colors and focal pieces.
Related Designs
- Shine it Out – Explore another series-focused set that combines a clear focal point with decorative lighting.
- Winter Wonderland – Compare a different use of foam-board scenery and illuminated accents.
- Triangle Wall – See how layered surfaces and backlighting create depth across a stage wall.
- What are Stage Flats? – Learn the construction vocabulary behind portable scenic walls.
- Arched Stained Glass – Explore foam, fabric, and stone-look framing in a cathedral-inspired setting.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!