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Builder erects sculpture of Jesus
The body of Jesus, “calmly victorious, his arms poised to welcome and embrace”, greeted those attending the Easter service at Glendowie Presbyterian Church, Auckland.
Created by Rudy Vogels, an elder at Glendowie Presbyterian Church, the sculpture was inspired by the last words of Jesus on the cross as recorded in John’s gospel.
“I had a mental picture of an Olympic gymnast on the rings, suspended in mid air, arms outstretched and in control,” Rudy explains. “The perfect human form impressed on me the possibility of a physical and spiritual expression of Jesus and his victory on the cross.”
Made from chicken wire and recycled construction timber, the sculpture was erected at the front of the church on Easter Sunday.
Rudy, who is completing papers at Carey Bible College, runs a successful building business. He has been encouraged by his minister, the Rev Douglas Bradley, to use his builder’s skills to rediscover his artistic talent. Rudy says he is heartened by, “a general rekindling of appreciation of the arts by the wider Christian community. To be a part of that movement has been a joy for me and a bit of a risk is turning out to be rewarding.”