Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields is inviting congregation artists to create an exhibition for the Stations of the Cross as part of its Lenten observance.
"The church has among its congregation many artists," said Tyrone Whiting, the church's director of music and arts. "This is a way to let those artists show, through their work, how the stations impact them."
This marks the third consecutive year the Episcopal church, located at 8000 St. Martin's Lane in Chestnut Hill, has solicited artwork for this purpose. According to Whiting, the only requirement is that submissions must reflect …
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Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields is inviting congregation artists to create an exhibition for the Stations of the Cross as part of its Lenten observance.
"The church has among its congregation many artists," said Tyrone Whiting, the church's director of music and arts. "This is a way to let those artists show, through their work, how the stations impact them."
This marks the third consecutive year the Episcopal church, located at 8000 St. Martin's Lane in Chestnut Hill, has solicited artwork for this purpose. According to Whiting, the only requirement is that submissions must reflect one of the 14 stations commemorating Jesus Christ's journey from condemnation to death to entombment.
When asked about preferred artistic styles, Whiting emphasized creative freedom.
"My answer is always that, it is your creation," he said. "I can't dictate that for you. Sometimes it will take people 10 minutes to create their artwork because they are so invested in that feeling. Others will labor on it for weeks. One artist who is submitting a ceramic cross will spend a lot of time because she wants to get it exactly right."
Lent represents Christianity's most solemn season. The 40 days leading to Easter were formalized in 325 A.D. by the First Council of Nicaea. It commemorates Jesus Christ's time in the wilderness fasting, praying and being tested, explained the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber, rector of St. Martin, which is celebrating its 135th anniversary this year.
"A lot of people think Lent is where you sort of punish yourself, or repent for your sins, or give up things," Barber said. "But really, it's a time to slow down, to put priority on your connection with God in whatever way you can get closer to God."
The Stations of the Cross (liturgically known as the Way of the Cross) provide one method for this spiritual connection. The Stations first appeared in Europe around the 12th century, but weren't standardized at 14 until the mid-18th century. While not appearing directly in the Bible, they're based on episodes from different Biblical accounts of Christ's crucifixion, Barber noted.
Like Lent itself, walking the Stations is a contemplative experience.
"It is solemn, clearly, because it ends with the death, not the resurrection," Barber said. "It is sort of walking in the way of Christ's suffering. There are readings at each station and the readings are taken from parts of scripture."
The integration of art with the Stations traces back to 2020 during the pandemic. Barber and Father Joseph Wallace Williams, then rector of The Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany, conceived the idea of curating artwork for parishioners to view online or in person.
The artwork accompanying each station highlighted contemporary social issues. One station addressed George Floyd's murder, while others focused on the border crisis, climate change and other current concerns.
"It is the tradition of using the Way of the Cross to talk about problems of our own times," Barber explained. "It is a chance to meditate on the sufferings of our own times – and just to be with everyone in the world who is suffering."
Children are also encouraged to participate. The church has created a coloring book and other materials allowing younger participants to engage with the same questions posed to adults.
"So, a woman wipes the face of Jesus, for example," Whiting said. "We ask the kids, when did someone look after you? When did someone help you? When Simon Cyrene picks up the cross. When have you needed help and when have you been helped? So you can engage with all ages using the Stations."
Lenten services at St. Martin are held every Sunday at 5 p.m. throughout the Holy season, featuring the Stations along with readings and music. Attendance has been strong, according to Barber.
"The reaction is usually pretty quiet, meditative, thoughtful," she said. "People have come to the Stations of the Cross that were grieving and just cried through the whole thing. It is very cathartic for them and it touches something raw that they might not have even realized before they come in and hear the reading."
As director of music and art, Whiting strives for that same emotional impact.
"I think the same is true of the music reflection because it is not a performance," he said. "People aren't coming to applaud. The last four weeks we have just experienced silence after the music sharing, which has been really powerful."
Artists can submit work in any form or medium – including sculpture, photography, drawing, painting, ceramics, or children's macaroni art – through April 18. The "most engaging" Way of the Cross artwork will receive honorariums of $300 (professional), $200 (amateur), and $100 (children/youth).
