St. Philip's exhibit brings new perspectives to Lenten season

Feb. 13—An upcoming art exhibit "New Perspectives on the Way of the Cross," at St. Philip's Episcopal Church seeks to help people connect with the death of Jesus during the Lenten season by pairing classical and contemporary art.

The Rev. Ted Estes, rector at the church, said Lent is a time to reflect on universal themes and eternal realities. During Lent, it's good for people to slow down and focus on what's important, sharing that with those who are important to them.

"One of my hopes is that there will be something in interacting with a piece and then discussing it among their family and friends so that we gain new perspectives on what it means to be truly human, what it means to be connected to people in a positive and life-giving way," Estes said.

St. Philip's, located at 706 S. Byers Ave. in Joplin, has installed 19th century Stations of the Cross in its sanctuary. These are oil paintings by an unknown German artist that were in a home in Joplin and acquired by a couple who were members.

Estes describes the Stations of the Cross as a virtual pilgrimage through the Holy Land. The 14 stations depict stages of the crucifixion of Jesus.

For the exhibit, these stations are paired with work from contemporary artists. In making a work to pair with each station, each artist took a different way of approaching the story. There are collages, digital artworks, oil paintings, acrylics, pen and inks and fiber arts.

"The idea was that the Gospel story is an eternal story, but every generation and every culture looks at it through their own lens," Estes said. "What we're trying to do is take this ancient story and provide a new way for people to see it, so that it will sing anew in their heart."

The exhibit can be appreciated by anyone, regardless of their knowledge about the Stations of the Cross, Estes said. He believes art is created to provoke a response and help people think in a new way.

"Very often, people focus on the specific physical actions of the story, but there's always a context," Estes said. "The death of Jesus is a collusion between political and religious powers that are challenged by a new narrative that brings freedom and liberation."

"New Perspectives on the Way of the Cross" will be open to the public from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It will also be open on Wednesdays during Lent from 5 to 6 p.m., with a guided Way of the Cross starting at 5:30 p.m.

Also on Wednesdays, the church will hold a Lenten program at 7 p.m. featuring the contemporary artists in a group discussion about their processes and themes.

A limited number of private viewings for groups of 10 or more may be scheduled by calling the church at 417-623-6893.

Carol Peterson, an ordained deacon with the Episcopal Church, created three pieces for the exhibit. These works focus on themes of suffering and compassion, depicting Jesus falling with the cross, a woman wiping the face of Jesus and Jesus placed in the tomb.

Peterson worked with mixed media of watercolor, acrylic and colored pencils. She has been to the Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem, which helped with her creative process of putting herself in the depicted situations.

"Lent is an important season in the church year, and it really speaks to me," Peterson said. "I have a background as a nurse, so the themes of suffering and compassion are very real for me."

Jory Mertens is a seminarian studying to be a deacon who has three pieces in the exhibit as well. These works are digital illustrations depicting Jesus bearing the cross, Simon of Cyrene assisting Jesus and the women of Jerusalem weeping for Jesus.

He said the last scene held meaning special for him, as Jesus was an advocate for women in a time when they had little social standing.

"What I really wanted to do was see the confusion and agony on women of Jerusalem's faces for someone who was a champion for them," Mertens said.

Jordan Murdock Thompson attends St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church and was invited by Mertens to participate. She has two pieces in the exhibit — Jesus falling for the third time and Jesus being taken down off the cross.

Murdock Thompson works in ink, and said it's an interesting medium because when you lay it down on the canvas, it doesn't come back up. Once it's down, it's permanent.

Many of her pieces deal with grief and impermanence, the way life moves on but grief is still embedded in a person. She said the stations of Jesus falling on the way to the crucifixion are relatable moments of deep grief and loneliness.

"The fact that he felt that as well is very powerful for me," Murdock Thompson said.

Estes has created pieces for the exhibit as well. He used family members as models for his works, making the stations personal for him.

Estes said he enjoyed the variety of the works. Sometimes a viewer can become lulled when the pieces are the same medium. Some works are soft, while some are stark.

Other artists featured in the exhibit include Susan Bewick and Brenda Squyres.