14 Artists, 14 Stations Of The Cross, And A Nationwide Tour That Starts At Saint Luke-Saint Matthew’s

The Stations of the Cross are known globally by people of the Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran faiths as a way to honor and celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as represented through 14 images of his crucification. Every Good Friday, churches hold the images aloft amid prayers.

But here in Fort Greene-Clinton Hill, at the Church of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew (520 Clinton Avenue), the usual images — often in muted colors and/or faded relief — have been replaced by 14 solemn images that are also works of contemporary art created by 14 Brooklyn-based artists “of broad ethnic and religious backgrounds including Buddhists, Catholics, Jews, agnostic, and even atheists” — “ambassadors” of open dialogue across cultures and faiths in a way that is uniquely and wonderfully Brooklyn.

“The great thing about Brooklyn is that it is one of the most inclusive places in the United States, socially and racially, and with camaraderie that makes it so much easier for people to interact over barriers and borders,” said Anders Knutsson, the Clinton Hill artist who curated the “ecumenical exhibition,” inviting local artists to each interpret one station in whatever way they chose.

The result? A three-dimensional and starkly gripping scene from Jesus’s point of view from behind bars, being condemned to death (Station 1), created by Joseph Anastasi. A quilted patchwork scene of Jesus carrying his cross, created by Danny Simmons out of pieces of cloth from countries around the world — Jesus himself being symbolized by a piece of fabric from the Ethiopian Coptic region (Station 2). A male figure with leaves — artist C. Bangs’ attempt to utilize the “Green Man pagan Celtic” symbol to represent death and resurrection for Jesus dying on the Cross (Station 12).

“This exhibit is another aspect of our [church’s] hope to connect people together and show the spiritual struggle of our community,” noted Reverend Michael Sniffen. “This story is over 2,000 years old and it is also our story. For Christians, we always talk about it. For Brooklyn, it’s the story of non-violent resistance to empire.

“These are realist, abstract, found object art. . . they reflect the diversity of our community,” Sniffen continued. “We walk [around looking at the stations] every Friday at 6pm with candles and every Sunday after 8am and 11am services (between Lent and Easter Sunday).”

Artists who contributed are Joseph Anastasi, Danny Simmons, Pamella Allen, Sylvia Maier, Anders Knutsson, Audrey Anastasi, Donovan Nelson, Willie Mae Brown, Anne Peabody, Lawrence Terry, Otto Neals, C. Bangs, Franz Lanspersky, and Andrea Spiros.

The Stations of the Cross exhibition has been on display inside the church since February 20 and will end on Friday, April 16. Then the exhibit will do a tour to churches across the world.

The Church of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew’s Stations of the Cross procession is tonight (Friday, April 3) at 7pm.