About
“Why have you forsaken me?”
The words spoken by Jesus from the cross resonate with the anguish felt by many people today. This feeling is especially acute in a time of upheaval as the world deals with a global health crisis and the open wounds of systemic racism.
Stations of the Cross is a public art project that seeks to use the story of the Passion to prompt reflection and action in response to challenges of social justice. While it draws upon the traditional Christian practice of walking and praying the fourteen stations—iconic moments in Jesus’ final hours—it is designed to engage people of all faiths and none. Instead of easy answers, Stations aim to provoke the passions: artistically, spiritually, and ethically.
In each city that hosts the project, a team of curators designs a bespoke route with fourteen stops, creating a form of contemporary pilgrimage marked by works of art, old and new. The journey weaves through both sacred and secular sites, and indeed often breaks down the boundaries between these categories. At every location, participants are encouraged to read reflections and listen to podcasts by leading artists, thinkers, and activists on their phones.
The project began in London in 2016, and has since traveled to Washington, D.C. (2017), New York City (2018), Amsterdam (2019), and Deventer in the Netherlands (2020). In 2021, as we face the challenges of physical distancing during the pandemic, the exhibition is online, with stops in locations across the world, from South Korea to St. Petersburg. In 2022, it will travel to Toronto, with a city-wide experience foregrounding the voices of Canada’s First Nations.
Stations co-founders Dr. Aaron Rosen, based in Washington, DC, and the Rev. Dr. Catriona Laing, based in Brussels, welcome individuals and teams interested in hosting Stations in their own city to contact them.
For further information, email the curators.
