FAITH

Lifelike sculpture of Jesus at Topeka church 'very meaningful'

Phil Anderson
panderson@cjonline.com
A sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying a cross was on display during Holy Week at Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 S.W. Burlingame Road. The artist was Melissa Kingman Rau, of Topeka, who is a member of the church. [Phil Anderson/The Capital-Journal]

A new, lifelike sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying a cross helped bring Holy Week into focus this week for members of Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 S.W. Burlingame Road.

The sculpture, which was made by Topeka artist and church member Melissa Kingman Rau, was placed near the center of the altar area from Palm Sunday through Good Friday.

It will be moved to another area in the church for services on Easter Sunday.

Brenda Bauman Swank, coordinator of member development and missions for the Countryside church, said people stopped by throughout this past week to see the life-sized sculpture, with precise details including Jesus' hands on the cross.

"It's been overwhelming," Swank said of the response. "It's very meaningful."

Swank said church members have been inviting their friends to see the sculpture.

Some have sat in the silence of the sanctuary to meditate.

"We've had a steady stream of people this week," Swank said. "They'll be sitting in the sanctuary, having some quiet time."

For Rau, who has attended Countryside United Methodist Church since she was a child, making the sculpture was a deeply moving experience.

She said she came up with the idea of sculpting Jesus bearing the cross around Christmastime. Another of her sculptures, this one depicting a life-sized angel, was featured in the Countryside sanctuary during the Christmas season.

Rau said she spoke with the Rev. Paul Wilke, the pastor at Countryside, about her idea to sculpt Jesus bearing a cross, "and he was very supportive." She said she collaborated with Wilke about different ideas before she began sculpting in mid-January.

"I did not have any hesitation about sculpting Jesus," Rau said. "I felt as though I was ready to take on this complicated piece. I’ve done enough figures that I am fairly confident I can address most construction challenges."

Among other realistic sculptures Rau has made is one of Mother Teresa, which was dedicated in 2017 at Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, 2014 N.W. 46th.

She also has made other sculptures of historical figures, including Amelia Earhart, Wild Bill Hickock, James Naismith, Arthur Capper and Evel Knievel for the Topeka museum that bears his name.

But the sculpture of Jesus "is probably the most dramatic pose I've ever created," she said.

"In sculpting this piece, I attempted to convey the immeasurable agony Jesus suffered in order to ransom us from our mortal burdens," Rau said. "This sculpture represents the suffering and anguish Jesus bore for us all."

She said in making her sculptures, "a part of my process is to try to understand the character and spirit of the person I’m creating. I worried slightly before I started this project that I might feel a sense of anguish for the several months it took to create.

"As it turned out and as the project progressed, I was not feeling that anguish and I was curious as to why. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks one day that I wasn’t feeling the pain Jesus felt during the crucifixion because he had already set me free from that pain. It was an incredible moment for me. I immediately texted Pastor Paul and told him I’d had a revelation. I felt so humbled and grateful to Jesus for this gift."

As for the sculpture itself, Rau said, the face, hands and feet were made from strengthened polymer clay. The body was made of metal and wire.

The cross weighs approximately 50 pounds and is made from faux wood. She said the sculpture itself weighs around 40 pounds.

Rau credited Wilke for his encouragement during the process that resulted in a sculpture that has captivated hundreds of people at the church this week leading to Easter.

"I extend a heartfelt thank-you to Pastor Paul for his support of me in this process," Rau said. "He has always been so open to my ideas and encouraging of my work. We are so lucky to have him at Countryside. And a thank you to the congregation at Countryside, as well, as they have also offered support of my art. I’m so lucky to be a member there."