MELANIE VOGEL | guest writer
ELISSA EMOTO | guest writer
Art students create Stations of the Cross to “understand the humanity” of Jesus’ crucifixion.
On Thursday March 26, bystanders watched as students of the Department of Art used different media to construct Stations of the Cross around APU’s East Campus representing Jesus’ journey to His crucifixion. The stations are part of APU’s celebration of Holy Week.
“One of our major themes is that we’re trying to get across the idea of journey and a pilgrimage,” senior graphic design major Samuel Prince said. “It’s just about, essentially, reliving the steps that Christ took in coming to the cross and the journey that he went through and how that affects us today and how we can live that out.”
The students of the Department of Art collaborated with APU’s Campus Pastor Office to create a display that would affect each student in a personal way.
Each station depicts an artistic interpretation of the steps within this journey.
Art classes created their own stations with a vision and meaning behind each one. Students of Painting 1 created an unconventional portrayal of Jesus’ tomb that reflects His ministry.
“We have a sort of homeless shanty going on here,” sophomore studio art major Cory Schmeck said. “We really want people to go into a place that feels uncomfortable and dark and it’s not a place that you really want to be, but to then be able to emerge on the other side and reflect on the fact that Jesus did come out of the tomb and that is why we have the hope that we have today.”
APU’s Stations of the Cross project is inspired by the traditional stations found in Jerusalem. They were first created in the 1500s to commemorate the places where Jesus spent His final hours, according to the project pamphlet.
Art students in charge of the project focused on bringing humanity to the story of Holy Week. Several of them have specific goals for how the stations affect other students.
Senior studio art major Andrew Hamilton hopes to provide a deeper understanding of what Jesus was going through in his final hours.
“I guess I would hope that they would understand the humanity of the story a little more, both from Christ’s standpoint and from the standpoint of the people who were alive and witnessed it at that time,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton also believes the interactivity of the stations will be beneficial to students.
“It’s a good way to get people to interact with the story more,” Hamilton said. “I think a lot of times we read it, but we don’t really go deeper than that.”
At Station IV participants are given an opportunity to feel Peter’s denial.
“I liked the idea of putting ourselves in the position of Peter and seeing ourselves in the biblical narrative,” Director of Chapel Programs Tim Peck said. “It’s a good way to draw people in. It’s always good to use image and space and senses, I think, to stimulate our reflection on that.”
Station I offers a place for meditation and prayer. Participants are able to write a word or phrase on a stone to represent prayers with Jesus. “Restoration,” “hope,” and “harmony” are among the words written.
According to Hamilton, the art students also benefited from the construction process as it provides Hamilton a new perspective on Jesus’ journey.
“Just understanding the human aspect a little more especially coming up with the ideas for the stations, kind of makes you stop and think about what must have been going through the people’s minds,” Hamilton said. “It makes it more real, to me at least.”
Stations of the Cross will be available for student interaction and meditation until April 2.
