By SALINA POST
For the 2024 Lenten Season, Christ Cathedral in Salina featured 14 unique art pieces, in a variety of media, depicting Jesus' last moments.
With different styles and approaches, each artist expertly blends their personal experience and their response to reading sacred texts that tell the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
The artwork was displayed in the cathedral beginning on February 16 and concluded on Saturday, March 30, just in time for the celebration of Easter.
The “Way of the Cross," also called “the Stations of the Cross," is primarily a walking prayer. Each station, art piece, represents an episode in the narrative of the last moments of Christ’s life.
"We walk, as Christ did, from the taking up of the cross, through the stumbling, the kindness of strangers, and their cruelty,"said MO Reverend Shay Craig Christ Cathedral.
"We walk, literally, from one moment to the next, and at each station, we pray. We walk, usually in a circle, in the case of this Cathedral, around the walls of the room. It is an emotional journey, a humbling journey, and a cathartic journey. When we arrive at the end, we are physically feet away from where we started, but our hearts are in a whole new place."
"That curiosity is the genesis for this project; the desire to see with other people's eyes how these ancient and powerful words move them, how they interpret them, and what they see," Craig said.
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The fourteen artists offer us a glimpse of what they see in the scripture that has shaped this holiday for more than a millennium. Their pieces articulate deep emotion, soaring imagination, and beautiful theology.
"Christ Cathedral is deeply honored to be able to exhibit the work of these wonderful artists and we are grateful for the generous gift of their time and talent. I pray that you will experience the holiness of seeking to see the world through another person's eyes," Craig said.
The Stations of the Cross 2024 Christ Cathedral
Station One, Jesus is condemned to death
"As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation: and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, 'He deserves to die.' When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified."
Artist Reflection: "Jesus is trapped between two centers of power that want him silenced. Pilot, the local Roman authority, sees him as a provocateur trying to inspire public demonstrations or riots. He can't afford to have rumors of unrest reach Rome. Local Jewish leaders see him as a false prophet challenging their authority. They fear that he is trying to redefine Jewish law and cultural identity.
I wanted to portray these dangers closing in on Jesus.
The solid black squares suggest the weight of threats from every direction. The compression of these forces is inevitable. Soon Jesus will be trapped. His fate is already determined, the only way to win is to surrender. The dark turbulent background feels oppressive. It could be storm clouds or smoke or just bad karma but it's already starting to swallow up some players in this tragedy. Eventually, it will consume everyone.
Station Two, Jesus takes up his cross
"Jesus went out, bearing his cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before it's shearer is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."
Artist Reflection: I chose the second station because of the contextual meaning that has been downplayed in so many images of the Stations of the Cross historically. In several examples, we find images that playfully appear as Act 1, Scene 2-the telling of a story, but avoiding real human drama. "Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world" implies supreme sacrifice which is not carried in many of these images. There is no drama of prevailing death.
My intention for reinterpreting this second station is to bring focus to what must have been sheer agony. Bearing the weight of that cross had to be incredibly painful. Christ, in human form, surely gets us as he felt the entire range of human endurance physically, emotionally, and mentally as he drug the implement of his own death.
The drawing is in black and white, void of color, nothing pretty to be seen here. Shading is centered on the heavy cross and the painful expression on Christ's face. The loose linear structure of the drawing provides an element of intense energy that exudes from this cruel act.
I wanted my drawing to be a meaningful component leading to the reality that "Surely this must be the Son of God."
Station Three, Jesus falls for the first time
"Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord our God."
Artist Reflection: I selected the third station of the cross because the inspiration came to me instantly. I wanted this piece to be reverent and sacred. I began with the blue and ivory satin, a regal combination.
The gentle folds of the garment, the aureola as a circle of radiant light, and the crown of thorns are detailed with beads giving a delicacy to the piece. I quilted the wooden cross signifying the heavy burden he carried. A burgundy mat symbolizing the blood of Christ and the silver frame, the silver of a community chalice cup completes the third Station of the Cross Creating this piece for the exhibit was an experience that touched my heart.
Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness. Mixed media has proven to be the perfect canvas for me.
Station Four, Jesus meets his afflicted mother
"To what can I liken you, what can I compare you, daughter of Jerusalem? What likeness can I use to comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended."
Artist Reflection: Overwhelmed with sorrow, Mary watches from a distance, helpless to aid her beloved son, Jesus. He knew she was near and He was happy she was there to give him strength. Lord Jesus grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most Holy Mother. Help me to be grateful for those who love us.
This Station reminds me that I can, as a mother, only raise and protect my children to the best of my ability. They are "only on loan" from God.
Station Five, Jesus' Cross is laid upon Simon of Cyrene
"As they led Jesus away, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me: for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Artist Reflection: When the artists chose the Station of the Cross they wanted to respond to, I waited for the last remaining station. No one wanted Station five and to be honest, it wouldn't have been my choice either. Immediately I turned to the Biblical passage in Luke 23:26.
"And as they led Jesus away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry behind Jesus."
The first vision that jumped out at me was that Simon was following Jesus despite most artwork showing Jesus behind Simon. I knew I wanted to put Christ in front, 100% human but also larger than life, glowing with a gold halo depicting that He was also 100% God.
Further research revealed that Simon was just traveling home from work, neither a follower nor protester of Christ. The verse, Luke 14:27 came to mind:
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
I would like to think through this experience that Simon became a disciple of Christ on this day. Third, as I looked at the faceless crowd, one of the faces seemed to feel like Mary to me. I imagine Mary as an older woman, distraught with despair, reluctantly looking at her son being taken away for crucifixion.
Through my reflections on this station, full of intense and thought-provoking imagery, Station five became full of meaningful and powerful reflection for this Lenten season.
Station Six, A woman wipes the face of Jesus
"We have seen him without beauty or majesty, with no looks to attract our eyes. He was despised and rejected by men: a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of men. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed."
Artist Reflection: The Veil of Veronica-While there is no explicit reference to Veronica in the Gospels, her gracious act towards Jesus on the road to his crucifixion has lived on for centuries. This artistic image is a transparent copy of the same face of Jesus that is said to exist today on the true relic of Veronica's veil above the altar at the Shrine of the Holy Face in Manopello, Italy. During the process of researching and recreating this image, a transcendent experience that I once felt as a young woman became amplified.
The 1984 life-changing instance happened after a period of searching for purpose. One day, as I stood in front of a mirror, I became transfixed. My mind was flooded with images at the very moment I looked into my own eyes. First, I saw Jesus on the cross from an elevated vantage point. Second, I understood the meaning of his death and resurrection. Then, I saw hundreds of people's faces - people I didn't know, yet felt deeply connected to. Simultaneously, l experienced God's love and understood that our love is His love and it is what binds all life together.
Veronica literally means "true image." Veils are intended to conceal and hide, yet her veil displays and reveals.
Station Seven, Jesus falls a second time
"Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. For the transgression of my people was he stricken."
Artist Reflection: Before beginning, I researched the Stations of the Cross, looking at the work of other artists who have tried to depict the scene where Jesus falls again. What caught my attention was the long, arduous, painful journey Jesus was required to make.
The humiliation his captors wished upon him was evident as He walked, sometimes dragging the cross, falling, then crawling. Those mental images brought to my attention the role of the crowd that lined the path along his journey. What must it have been like to be a bystander? In many ways, I have become immune to Jesus' pain.
On Sundays, I look up and see him nailed to the cross without thinking about the horrific reality of his suffering. I can only imagine the powerlessness I'd feel if such cruelty happened in front of me, the darkness that would enter my soul. Witnesses could not rebel and save Jesus, but only watch... the sights, smells, and horror entering and staying forever.
Today, we are often bystanders, research shows that the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely any one of them will help the victim. This research, and the act of painting, have had a profound impact on my role as a bystander in the world of my questioning what kind of bystander | want to be?
Station Eight, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
"There followed after Jesus a great multitude of the people, and among them were women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."
Choosing to paint some detail rather than complete abstraction, I framed the scene with gold. First, I did a quick study in acrylic. Next, I began the oil version. The gold oil paint took almost a month to set. Initially, it was disheartening to look at the proportions and realize that the figure of Jesus was grossly oversized - correcting it meant repainting the sky and ground. I avoided the work for weeks.
Eventually, "Andre the Giant" was blobbed out.
My self-reward was to work on the women's faces, hoping to show the emotion of this dark moment.
Station Nine, Jesus falls the third time
"I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light. He has besieged me and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has made my teeth grind on gravel and made me cower in ashes. 'Remember, O Lord, my affliction and bitterness, the wormwood and the gall!'"
Artist Reflection:
Layered mystery
Deep commitment, resilience
Spirit finds a way
Station Ten, Jesus is stripped of his garments
"When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull, they offered him wine to drink mingled with gall; but when he tasted it he would not drink it. And they divided his garments among them by casting lots. This was to fulfill the scripture which says. They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing"
Artist Reflection:
He turned to see who ...
In my painting, Jesus turns to look at his tormenters but remains silent
He is human... vibrant body... emotions... pain... determination... questions
Gold highlights within the paint symbolize that he is more than human.
Station 11, Jesus is nailed to the cross
"When they came to the place which is called The Skull, they crucified him; and with him, they crucified two criminals, one on the right the other on the left, and Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, 'He was numbered with the transgressors.'"
Artist Reflection: There are times when an invitation pushes an artist's studio practice in an unexpected direction - one that would not have happened otherwise. This Lenten project has been that for me. / knew from the beginning that my Station eleven assignment would not be a literal interpretation.
As I reread the biblical texts that describe the crucifixion of Christ, I was aware of the specific presence of the natural world during the horrors of that day. Those who recorded the events were compelled to include earthquakes, rock slides, the thick temple veil torn, and an ominous darkness as omens not to be missed or dismissed. An unpredictable mystical presence settled "over the whole land."
My contribution to the Lenten Project, In The Darkness Of The Day, imagines with form and color the darkness of the created world during those hours between noon and three. I have painted with Alizarin Crimson mixed with the blues - Phthalo, Ultramarine, Prussian - to make purples. But no black. The darkness comes from color.
I am grateful for the opportunity to join centuries of artists, poets, playwrights, and musicians who have given their creative spirits to the depiction of the crucifixion.
Station 12, Jesus dies on the cross
"When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished!" And then, crying out in a loud voice, he said, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit."
Artist Reflection: My watercolor is of the crucifix in Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Church in Minneapolis, Kansas. If you stop and truly look at a crucifix, you will find yourself immersed in the profound significance of that moment - Christ's sacrifice encapsulates the very essence of Christianity.
The image of Christ, suspended on the cross, serves as a visual reminder of the depth of God's love for us-that even in the face of unimaginable suffering, Jesus remained steadfast in his commitment to save us.
Through his death on the cross, Jesus offers us the opportunity to find solace, forgiveness, and eternal life. So, the next time you encounter a crucifix, take a moment to truly look at it and allow its profound message to penetrate your soul. Let it inspire you to embrace the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ and to live a life rooted in faith, compassion, and gratitude.
Station 13, The body of Jesus is laid on his mother
"All you who pass by, behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow. My eyes are spent with weeping; my soul is in tumult; my heart is poured out in grief because of the downfall of my people. 'Do not call me Naomi (which means Pleasant,) call me Mara (which means Bitter;) for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.' "
Artist Reflection: I selected the thirteenth station because it is the scenario from the crucifixion narrative that I most easily feel based on my human experience as a mother.
When viewing the iconography and art surrounding the Crucifixion, I am often struck by its dramatic and terrible beauty. Yet what I'm drawn to imagine is the underside of those baroque surfaces with their burnished patina and turgid emotion.
Regarding this Station, neither the cross nor the bodies of Christ and his mother came to the fore when l envisioned portraying the moment. Instead, it was the heavy lifting, the 'machinery' of hands, the twisted cascade of the body's wrapping, the receiving hands of Mary.
All characters are caught in the stunned blessing of a moment so filled with pain, darkness, awe, grief, fear, and sorrow that human imagery feels doomed to fail. I could imagine the topsy-turvy reaction of witnesses, the stigmata-like pain in the palms of those who lowered the body, and the impending weight in the hands of the mother even before she received the body.
This scene evokes the heaviness at the heart of our mortal condition. The spirit of the body they lifted and lowered was no more in the world, having escaped all mortal chains.
Station 14, Jesus is placed in the tomb
"When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb."
Artist Reflection:
the penetrating stillness and darkness
of death
the cold and permanence of stone
winter awaits spring
nature's rebirth and the creed of resurrection imminent
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it
All information courtesy of a handout given to those who walked the stations during its showing at Christ Cathedral.