Stations of the Cross Created by Local Artists

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Praying the Stations of the Cross is a common Christian practice during the six weeks of Lent, a time of contemplation before Easter. To that end, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church of Perrysburg invited nine Toledo-area artists to create artwork for the Stations, which will go on display in the parish hall starting on Ash Wednesday, February 18, and will be available for viewing until Easter Sunday, April 5.

“During Lent we journey with Christ to the cross and grave,” said the Reverend Matthew Wahlgren, rector of St. Timothy’s. “The Stations of the Cross invite us to experience this journey visually as well as through spoken prayers.”

Dating back to the 15th century, Stations of the Cross are a series of 14 images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion, starting with Jesus being condemned to death and ending with his body being laid in the tomb.

Wahlgren asked the nine artists to depict these stations with little direction other than the traditional prayer and prompt.

“Through their art, we hope to be able to see the depth and breadth of God’s work through their diverse interpretations of Jesus’s sacrifice,” Wahlgren said.

Jennifer Balogh, an artist, muralist, and illustrator, is one of the nine and is known for her work with local churches and community projects. A graduate of Lourdes University, she specializes in large-scale murals, one of which was created for Toledo’s Regina Coeli Catholic Church. She approached Wahlgren’s invitation with enthusiasm.

“When Father Matt and I spoke, one of the stations left to pick was Jesus Falls a First Time—I jumped at the chance to take this station,” Balogh said.

Another participating artist, Robert Vanitvelt, also turned to stained glass and film when researching his station, The Cross Is Laid on Simon of Cyrene.

Vanitvelt found a stained-glass image that depicted Simon of Cyrene “as white,” and yet other research indicated that Simon was most likely from North Africa and might have had black skin. Sidney Poitier, the renowned Bahamian-American actor, also played Simon of Cyrene in the 1965 biblical epic film, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” Therefore, Vanitvelt decided to paint Simon of Cyrene as Black.

“In the film, it was the Roman soldiers who tasked Simon with carrying Jesus’s cross,” Vanitvelt said. “He didn’t just step up to help of his own accord.”

Although much of the piece is black-and-white, the artist has added watercolor “to make it colorful, like stained glass.” He wanted the piece to emphasize that “now is your time to take up that cross without being asked.”

Other artists participating in St. Timothy’s Stations of the Cross include Robert Cummerow, Paula Davis, Samantha Gwyn, Stephanie Knowlton, Steve Mockensturm, Joe Pinciotti, and Melanie Wahlgren. An artists’ reception will be held March 15, 3:00-4:30 p.m.

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church’s parish hall “gallery” will be open special times during Lent for the public to view artists’ Stations of the Cross. These begin on Ash Wednesday, February 18, following that holy day’s 7:00 p.m. service; stations may be viewed until 8:30 p.m.

Thursday evenings during Lent, February 19 through March 26, the gallery will be open
6:00-8:00 p.m., with the Rev. Matthew Wahlgren leading guided prayer at 7:00 p.m.

Daytime hours are also available for visitors to pray alone with the stations on Wednesdays, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., February 25 through April 1. To view the stations at other times, please contact the church office Mondays through Thursdays at 419.874.5704, or sttimothys871@gmail.com.

Jesus Falls a First Time

Artist: Jennifer Balogh

Size: 12”x12”

Mixed Media - Black light paints, black marker, and photography

The Cross Is Laid on Simon of Cyrene

Artist: Rob Vanitvelt

Size: 12”x12”

Mixed Media: Photography on transparency, silkscreen, watercolor