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'Homeless Jesus' Sculpture Coming to Glasgow

Monday June 19 2017

A sculpture depicting Jesus as a homeless man is to be installed in Glasgow city centre.

Canadian artist Timothy P Schmaltz’s sculpture shows a figure sleeping on a bench, covered in a blanket. His face is covered, but there are nail marks in his exposed feet.

A planning application for the installation, to be placed near St George’s Tron Church, just off Buchanan Street, was approved by Glasgow City Council last week. The application was made in partnership with St George’s Tron and Glasgow Churches Together, and follows two years of work after the artist approached Father Willy Slavin, former chairman of Emmaus Glasgow.

The Rev Alastair Duncan, transition minister at St George’s Tron, said that the church was an appropriate location as it is actively engaged with helping the homeless, through partnerships with Glasgow City Mission and Glasgow Street Pastors.

Mr Duncan said: “I thought it was an interesting, provocative and yet sensitive piece that addresses the whole question of our responsibility as Christians to identify with the least and the lowest, and to see their care as a priority – ‘what you do for the least of these you do for me’.

“Obviously the fusion of the image of the homeless person sleeping rough on the streets and Jesus was one I can recognise and am happy to endorse.”

The hope is that the statue will be in place in time to be dedicated in late November.

There are around 50 casts of Schmaltz’s statue in major cities around the world, including the Vatican. However they have sometimes proved controversial: Westminster City Council in London refused permission for an installation. The Glasgow sculpture will be the first in Scotland.


Comments

Helen Wright - Friday, June 23rd, 2017

“Great vision again by St George's Tron and a great permission granted by Glasgow City Council, well done all ”


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