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Carvings with a Christian theme
Click on an image to see details and different views
Sculpture With A Christian Theme
This gallery started when I was asked if I would do a crucifix. My first reaction was, Oh no, anything but that... But, then it became a
challange - how to do a crucifixion that doesnt look painful?
And just why would I want to do that?...
Well.., some people might like looking at images of Jesus suffering, but I don't. I prefer positive images that convey goodness, inner strength, and hope.
Maybe I like my cup half full. Yes, Jesus died for us, but he also LIVED for us.
The last thing this world needs is another image of suffering and death. And I don't think Jesus would want to see any more crosses.
There's a Spenser Tracy film, "Inherit the wind", which warns against being too high-minded. It ends with a quote:
"He looked for God too high up and too far away".
The highbrows can't keep Jesus all to themselves.
I'm a sculptor, not a philosopher. I don't try to influence anybody's beliefs, I just try to create images that are pleasing to look at.
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Suitable scenes
Painters can set their subjects against backgrounds which tell entire stories. In sculpture however, there's no background setting, so the figures and
scene have to be self-explantory.
Not all scenes are going to work that well, eg. Jesus in the stars (left), might look like a juggler.
On the other hand, Jesus showing his pierced hands to Thomas would be quite unmistakeable.
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Detail
I would avoid putting in too much detail, especially facial features. Everyone has their own idea of what Jesus looked like, and by
leaving faces vague it lets each viewer superimpose their own favourite face. The face that stuck in my mind for years is that of Robert Powell in Zeffirelli's
"Jesus of Nazareth". But there again, Willem Dafoe's strong-jawed image in "Last Temptation" also springs to mind.
Funny, because one of the few things that is certain about Jesus's appearance is that he didnt have blue eyes and light brown, middle parted hair.
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The BBC recently came up with a "photo-fit" actually based on racial features and the known styles of the time.
Being a woodworker, Jesus would have been a physically strong man, with powerful upper-body muscles.
Takes a bit of adjusting to, doesn't it?
So, best to fill in your own blanks.
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