Twenty-nine artists from across the UK are set to take part in an historic exhibition of Stations of the Cross and Resurrection at the University of Glasgow as part of Lentfest 2012.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow Arts Project (AGAP) made the announcement today that a record number of artists have signed up to take part in the annual art exhibition which takes places during Lentfest. The festival, which began as a pilot in 2007, has been hugely successful in attracting the participation of a wide range of supporters. Lentfest 2012 boasts a strong line-up with artists such as Peter Howson, Jolomo (John Lowrie Morrison), Anne Devine, Sandy Moffat and Richard Demarco joining the ranks alongside regular participants like Sarah T. Bookless, Brendan Berry and David T. Collins.
Lentfest Director, Stephen Callaghan explains: “The popularity of the exhibition topic illustrates the timelessness of Biblical subject matter and the diversity of the artists will no doubt ensure a wide range of interpretations. We’ve never had so many artists take part and not all of them are Christian so it will be interesting to see what they come up with.”
The Stations of the Cross and Resurrection are a set of 28 images which are traditionally used in the Catholic Church to reflect upon the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “The “Via Crucis” (Way of the Cross) is better known,” continues Callaghan, “but there is evidence of a tradition called the ‘Via Lucis’ (Way of Light), which takes us up to the Descent of the Holy Spirit and this deserves our attention too because the Christian story does not end with suffering and death but with hope and enlightenment.”
Archbishop Mario Conti, the festival’s patron, added: “I am delighted that we have the support of the University of Glasgow Chaplaincy for this exhibition and I hope that many will take advantage of the opportunity to visit the exhibition during Lent and use it as a means of reflection and prayer.”
The twenty-eight artists who will depict the Stations consented to have their names entered into a draw to be allocated their particular subject. (A video of the draw can be viewed here.) The twenty-ninth artist is sculptress, Kate Robinson, who is working on a three-dimensional reflection on the Crucifixion. This will complement an installation featuring ancient Roman nails, of the type used in the practice of crucifixion, which are housed by the Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow, and which will be on display in the exhibition space during the exhibition.
The list of participating artists and their subjects is as follows:
Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) 1.Jesus is condemned to death – Terry Ann Newman 2.Jesus is given his cross – David Adam 3.Jesus falls the first time – David Gibson 4.Jesus meets His Mother – Tommy Canning 5.Simon of Cyrene carries the cross – Richard de Marco 6.Veronica wipes the face of Jesus – James Callaghan 7.Jesus falls the second time – Tom Cahill 8.Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem – John Byars 9.Jesus falls the third time – Susie Batey 10.Jesus is stripped of His garments – Christine Mailley 11.Jesus is nailed to the cross – Peter Howson 12.Jesus dies on the cross – Aleksander Zysko 13.Jesus’ body is removed from the cross (Deposition or Lamentation) – James Sheridan 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense. – Sarah T. Bookless Via Lucis (Way of Light) 1.Jesus is raised from the dead – Jolomo (John Lowrie Morrison) 2.The finding of the empty tomb – Michael Gilfedder 3.Mary Magdalene meets the risen Jesus – Gillian Stephen 4.Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus – Gerard Burns 5.Jesus is known in the breaking of bread – Brendan Berry 6.Jesus appears to the disciples in Jerusalem – Lynne Scobbie 7.Jesus gives the disciples his peace and the power to forgive sins – Michael Savage 8.Jesus strengthens the faith of Thomas – Audrey McAnea 9.Jesus appears by the Sea of Tiberias – David T. Collins 10.Jesus forgives Peter and commands him to feed his sheep – Sandy Moffat 11.Jesus commissions the disciples upon the mountain – Marlena Nizio 12.The Ascension of Jesus – Anne Devine 13.Mary and the disciples wait in prayer – Vivienne MacKenzie 14.The Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost – Margaret Connelly