Stations of the Cross
An Easter Art event transforming an inner city Church into an interior garden and art gallery.
New Stations of the Cross:
Alternative twist on ancient Easter tradition
12 cubic meters of sand, 200 plants and large trees, a water feature and fourteen original art installations will go into a dramatic visual and multi-sensory exhibition in central Auckland this Easter.
“Logistically, it’s our most ambitious Easter project to date”, says series curator Mark Pierson. “We expect over a 1000 visitors this year.”
Every year for the past six Easters, Cityside, an inner city Baptist church, has put together a series of contemporary interactive installations reflecting on the ancient mystical devotional tool the Stations of the Cross.
“Basically it’s a multi-media art exhibition which takes a reflective look at the traditional Easter story through contemporary Kiwi eyes,” says Pierson.
This year the Stations will be located within a moody coastal-New Zealand garden of Gethsemane setting. A path will wind through the garden, allowing visitors to walk barefoot through the sand of the installation.
The Stations of the Cross is an ancient devotional aid developed by the early Christian church after wars and natural disasters made visiting the actual site of Jesus’ last days too difficult. Together the fourteen stations tell the Easter story.
Now at Cityside artists take each station and re-present it using whatever medium or method they wish.
Stations take a variety of forms; past installations have featured decomposing meat, shocking images, humorous cartoons, photography, sculpture, fine art, calligraphy, video playing on banks of TV screens, and once a very large brass and copper three headed rooster.
Ambient soundtracks specifically composed and recorded for the event play in the background.
Every year more people seek out Cityside’s Easter installation; last year’s exhibition attracted around 1000 visitors over the 24 hour period it was open.
“Very moving and beautiful”, “An encounter of the best kind”, “A thought provoking and at times disturbing journey – well done!” are just some of the recorded comments.
Taking the installation concept even further this year is a second project using digital art called “Stations: Temporary Icons”. This involves taking eight of the Stations to be interpreted by digital artists. This exhibition can be viewed on computer screens at 259 Symonds St. (The shop known previously as Bungalow Bills Music Store, is situated at the corner of Upper Symonds St, New North Road and Mt Eden.)
Dates: 2003
Opening (all welcome)
Wednesday, April 16th 5pm – 6pm
Regular opening times:
Wednesday April 16th 6pm -Midnight
Maundy Thursday April 17th 6pm – Midnight
Good Friday April 18th Midday — Midnight
Saturday April 19th Midday — 6pm
Cityside Baptist Church, 8 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden.
Contact:
For more information email
Mark Pierson at mark@cityside.org.nz
or phone 377 3512.