Pope John Paul II once wrote,
“In order to communicate the message entrusted to us by Christ, the Church needs art.” (Letter to Artists, 12).
In honor of Holy Week, we wanted to call attention to a contemporary artist whose work on the Passion of Christ invites us into a deeper appreciation of the paschal mystery.
Sandra Bowden is a teacher and much-exhibited artist who works in multiple media. In the course of her career, she has worked with many people of faith; her work is found in synagogues as well as Christian churches of a variety of traditions. Her “Crucifixion” series is a series of four meditations on the death of Christ.
Ms. Bowden describes her piece, “It is Finished,” in this way:
The inscription above Christ’s head reads, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”, written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The plate was constructed using textured fabrics and materials adhered to the surface, painted and then transferred to the paper as it is run through an etching press.
View her entire Crucifixion Series here.
Her Bowden Collections site also offers a series called Holy Week: Through the Eyes of Children. These tempera paintings, created by children, are inspired by the art of Georges Rouault.
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