Hexagon String Art

Kevin Greene shares their stage designs at Village Baptist Church in Destin, Florida.

Assembly
For this project, we built 5 6′ hexagons and 2 hourglass shapes that are the inverse of the hexagons. We used pine 2x4s, about 18′ per shape. The size of the shapes was determined by the length of the wall we have at 26′. Each corner of the shapes was glued, screwed, and braced with flat brackets. A 1/2″ channel was routed on the back inside corner of each 2×4 so when assembled, there is space for the LED strip to be hidden. The shapes are placed in free-standing mounts for easy positioning. Everything was painted black. Chauvet battens are placed in front to get the two-color effect.

LEDs
We bought an RGBW LED strip from Amazon in 16″ rolls that were the perfect length for the inside perimeter of the hexagons. The hourglass shapes needed about 18′ of LED strip. We covered 3 sides in 1 strip – cutting off about a foot, and some from another strip to cover the bottom side. We lit 7 shapes with 8 strips. The adhesive on the strips was not great, so we dabbed some silicon every 3-4″ making sure to touch the wood and the top of the strip.. not the diodes. The LED strips had pre-wired male and female ends, so we trimmed off the male end on all the hexagons and used them to wire into the DMX decoders. The DMX decoders were also ordered from Amazon. We liked that they had 3-pin DMX and DMX over ethernet since we have an abundance of ethernet cables, which cut some costs. 12v up to 120w power is supplied individually to each shape so each shape can be moved anywhere on stage.

String Art
On the back of the shapes, we used short screws spaced evenly around the inside perimeter about 1/2″ from the edge. Then, we stretched white yarn in different patterns from screw to screw. There was some trial and error.

Materials:

LED strip – BTF-LIGHTING 5050 RGBW RGB+Cool White(6000K-7000K) 4 Colors in 1 LED 5m 16.4ft 60LEDs/m Multi-Colored LED Tape Lights IP65 Silicone Coating Waterproof Black PCB DC12V for Bedroom Home Decoration.

Decoder – Lixada DC 12V-24V 3 Channel DMX Decorder LED Controller for RGB 5050 3528 LED Strip Light

Power supply – ALITOVE AC 100-240V to DC 12V 10A Power Supply Adapter Converter Transformer 12 Volt 10 Amp 120W with 5.5mm x 2.5mm 2.1mm DC Output Jack for 5050 3528 LED Strip Light CCTV Cameras 3D Printer.

Why Hexagon Shapes Work Beautifully for Church Stage Design

The hexagon is one of nature’s most efficient and visually pleasing shapes, appearing in honeycombs, snowflakes, and molecular structures. When applied to church stage design, hexagons offer unique advantages that other geometric shapes simply cannot match. Their six-sided symmetry creates visual balance that draws the eye without overwhelming it, making them perfect for worship environments where the design should enhance rather than distract from the message.

The choice of hexagons for this Village Baptist Church design demonstrates sophisticated spatial thinking. Unlike squares that can feel rigid or circles that may appear too soft for certain applications, hexagons strike an ideal middle ground. Their angular geometry suggests structure and intentionality while the six equal sides create a sense of harmony and completeness. When arranged in a series across the stage, these hexagonal forms create a rhythmic pattern that guides the viewer’s gaze naturally from one element to the next.

The addition of hourglass shapes as inverse hexagons shows creative design thinking that maximizes material efficiency. By using the same basic construction techniques and materials, the team created visual variety without doubling their workload. The hourglass forms provide organic contrast to the rigid hexagons, creating a dynamic visual dialogue between the two shapes. This approach exemplifies how churches can achieve professional-looking stage designs while working within volunteer time constraints and budget limitations.

The 6-foot scale of these hexagons was carefully considered based on the 26-foot wall space available. This sizing allows for five hexagons plus two hourglass shapes to fill the width appropriately while leaving adequate spacing between elements. The proportions ensure that each shape reads clearly from the audience while collectively creating a cohesive backdrop that frames the stage without dominating it.

Understanding RGBW LED Technology for Church Applications

The RGBW LED strips used in this project represent a significant advancement over traditional RGB lighting for church environments. The addition of a dedicated white diode alongside the red, green, and blue elements produces cleaner, more natural white light that is essential for worship settings. While RGB mixing can theoretically create white light, the result often has a colored tint that can make skin tones appear unnatural on camera and in person.

The 5050 LED designation refers to the size of the individual LED chips—5.0mm by 5.0mm—which provides excellent brightness and color saturation. With 60 LEDs per meter, these strips deliver consistent, even illumination without the spotting or striping that can occur with lower density alternatives. The 6000K-7000K cool white temperature was a deliberate choice that provides crisp, modern-looking light that contrasts beautifully with the warm wood tones of the pine frames.

Power distribution was handled intelligently in this design by supplying 12V power individually to each shape. This approach offers several practical advantages: it eliminates voltage drop issues that can cause color inconsistencies across long LED runs, allows for flexible positioning of shapes anywhere on stage, and simplifies troubleshooting since each unit operates independently. If one shape experiences an issue, the others continue functioning normally.

The DMX control system enables sophisticated lighting programming that can transform the atmosphere throughout a service. By routing DMX signals over standard ethernet cables, the team leveraged existing infrastructure and reduced cable costs significantly. This approach also allows for longer cable runs without signal degradation, providing flexibility in lighting console placement and future expansion.

Related Designs

Looking for more inspiration with geometric shapes, LED integration, or creative string art techniques? Check out these related stage designs:

• Dancing Diamonds – Willow Creek North Shore created stunning hanging diamond shapes using Mio paper form tiles and aircraft cable, demonstrating another approach to geometric stage elements with beautiful lighting effects.
• Multi-Purpose Squares – SALT Nashville built 100 LED-lined wooden squares that function as projection surfaces, pixel-mapped displays, and symbolic stage elements for a powerful conference presentation.
• Shorty Got Low, Low, Low – Lighthouse Church overcame low ceiling challenges using mirror-topped boxes and LED uplighting, showing how reflective surfaces can maximize lighting impact in compact spaces.
• Dotted Half Moons – Willow Creek Huntley used styrofoam cups arranged on foam boards to create textured half-moon shapes, proving that everyday materials can create extraordinary visual interest.
• String Theory – See how another church used string art techniques with geometric frames to create intricate patterns that transform dramatically under different lighting conditions.

Pro Tips for Building Hexagon Stage Elements

Precision Cutting Matters: Hexagons require accurate 30-degree miter cuts at each corner to create perfect six-sided shapes. Even small cutting errors compound around the perimeter, resulting in gaps or misaligned joints. Use a miter saw with a sharp blade and consider making test cuts on scrap material before committing your final lumber. A digital angle gauge can help verify that your saw is set precisely to 30 degrees.

Reinforce Structural Joints: While wood glue provides strong bonding, the combination of glue, screws, and metal flat brackets used in this project ensures these hexagons will withstand the rigors of stage use. The free-standing mounts mentioned suggest these shapes may be moved frequently, making robust construction essential. Consider adding corner blocks inside each joint for additional reinforcement, especially if volunteers will be handling the pieces.

Plan LED Channel Routing Carefully: The 1/2-inch channel routed on the back inside corner is a critical detail that hides the LED strips while allowing light to glow from within. Use a router with a straight bit and guide to ensure consistent depth and placement. Test your LED strip fit before final assembly—strips vary in width and you want a snug fit that doesn’t require forcing the LEDs into place. Remember that the adhesive backing on LED strips often fails over time, so the channel should be sized to accommodate additional fastening methods like silicone or cable ties.

Test String Art Patterns Before Finalizing: The trial-and-error approach mentioned for the yarn patterns is realistic and expected. Different yarn tensions, screw spacing, and pattern geometries produce dramatically different visual results. Create a small test panel or use one hexagon as a prototype before committing all seven shapes to a single pattern. Consider how the string art will read from audience distance—intricate patterns that look beautiful up close may disappear or create moiré effects when viewed from 50+ feet away.

Related: Down the Light – Discover how Northland Church used Kabuki drops and DL-3 projection to create a dramatic Easter reveal with fabric drops and custom lighting.