Sunday, April 22, 2007

Station 6 - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus


(click on the image to enlarge it)

Washing

This work has two major strands running through it. The first is that we are all created in the image of God and therefore when Veronica wipes Jesus' face she is also wiping our face. This is shown by the position of Veronica's hand coming out towards the viewer. You are standing in the place of Jesus, and Veronica is offering kindness to you.

The second strand of the piece focuses on the Biblical command that Jesus gives to his followers' right before his death. He washes their feet and says "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet! (John 13:14.)

In this commandment what Jesus is trying to show is that we must reach out as Veronica did and care for others.

The canvas which the arm of Veronica is coming out of is covered with hand prints of different colors to symbolize the diverse community which literally supports Veronica's actions though their own helping hands.

Finally the arm itself is covered with biblical quotes about when people helped each other by washing each other's wounds. This text is written in English, Hebrew and Greek.

How might you be a source of comfort to others?

artist: Terra Winston
Diameter: 20"
Length of hand sculpture: 12 ¼"
Plaster sculpture on stretched canvas with acrylic paint

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