Crossings Art Exhibition Offers a Powerful Message of Hope and a COVID-safe Experience
2022 is off to a rough start. Ontarians are weary and their resilience is at an all-time low. Nearly all events and group outings are cancelled or moved online. But there is hope found in a modern take on a centuries-old practice: walking the Stations of the Cross as a pilgrimage in the weeks leading up to Easter. From March 2nd – April 14th, 2022, Imago’s outdoor public art experience Crossings: A Journey to Easter will provide inspiration and hope to those deeply hungry for it.
Inspired by previous Crossings exhibits in Amsterdam and Washington, D.C. Crossings Toronto offers the faithful, the spiritually curious, and art lovers a unique opportunity to take a pilgrimage through the iconic story of the Passion of Jesus in the lead up to Easter. The outdoor exhibition includes 16 original art pieces from Canadian artists including renowned Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, creator of the Homeless Jesus sculpture found at the Vatican and other locations in Europe and North America, and James Paterson, whose wire sculptures have been found at top exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia.
This all-outdoor exhibit found on the University of Toronto campus and at five churches in midtown Toronto is organized by Imago, a Canadian charity dedicated to championing the intersection of faith, art, and culture. John Franklin, Executive Director of Imago and seasoned professor of philosophy and theology, shares, “Crossings speaks powerfully to our human situation. Connecting art with faith deeply engages the human heart reminding us of the possibility of beauty, hope, and healing, even in the times of suffering and uncertainty.”
As our society continues to search for ways to overcome their weariness, Crossings: A Journey to Easter speaks powerfully to our human situation and reminds us of the possibility of hope and healing.
Event Details
- When: March 2nd – April 14th, 2022
- Where: University of Toronto campus and midtown Toronto churches
- Who can attend: The art exhibit is free to the public and all are welcome. Guided tours are available upon request.
- What time: You can visit the exhibits at any time within the dates
To schedule an interview with Imago’s Executive Director, John Franklin, or the accomplished Artist Ambassadors Ruthia Pak Regis or James Paterson, contact Shannon Mischuk (shannon@grafmartin.com), or call the Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. office: 519-342-3703 ext. 107.
To learn more about Crossings: A Journey to Easter visit www.crossingstoronto.com
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About Imago
IMAGO is a Toronto-based registered charity operating at the intersection of faith, art, and culture and is committed to promoting, supporting, and advocating for Christian artists in Canada. Rooted in a biblical understanding of the world, we affirm the imago dei – that we bear the image of God – and the cultural mandate through which we are invited to do creative and imaginative work for shaping human society and to bear witness for the Kingdom.
About Crossings
Crossings will take place in Toronto from March 2 – April 14, 2022, and is part of an international series of exhibitions that began in 2016. It will feature sixteen original works by Canadian artists of faith engaging the Scriptural Stations of the Cross. It is an all-outdoor exhibit with locations on the University of Toronto campus and at five churches in midtown Toronto. Offering a unique opportunity to bring the iconic story of the Passion of Jesus to a wide audience, opening the way for both personal and social transformation.
About John Franklin (Executive Director, Imago)
John Franklin is the Executive Director of Imago. He has served in that position for the last 23 years. John was also a professor of philosophy and theology at Tyndale University. John continues to deliver lectures with a focus on theology and the arts. A gifted speaker with a compassionate heart, John was inspired to bring Crossings to Toronto after hearing about the project and meeting the person who initiated the first Stations of the Cross exhibit in London (Aaron Rosen).
Ruthia Pak Regis
Ruthia is a painter based in Toronto. She specialized in painting and drawing at York University (BFA, 2000), also studying painting in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK (1999). She continued her studies at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto (Master of Theological Studies, 2009). Her painting looks towards abstraction using patterns found in nature; whether in shadows, placement of branches, clusters of leaves, or dappled sunlight. For her, the process of painting and growing in spiritual disciplines is intimately intertwined. In between studio work, she produces commissioned pieces. She is represented by Roberts Gallery in Toronto.
James Paterson
James Paterson / JP has spent most of his life as an Artist and all his life as an “Imagineer,” creating and implementing the ideas originating deep within his heart and imagination. For over 20 years JP’s work has won numerous awards and received mainstream media coverage. His wire sculptures have been found at top exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. The JP collections can be seen in select galleries in Canada and the U.S. Large signature pieces have been commissioned for some of the world’s most renowned children’s hospitals and private collectors.
Media Contacts:
Shannon Mischuk
GRAF-MARTIN, PR Manager
shannon@grafmartin.com
Office: 519-342-3703 ext. 107