Draped Cross and Shadow
by John C. Little
(Photograph, 2006)
St. Stephen’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church - San Jose, CA
apwgfx@comcast.net
 

 
The found cross in this image is the shadow of the wooden cross which is cast onto the wall behind, causing a doubling of the image. The double image sets up rhythms in the almost identical positive and negative shapes formed by the crossing of the horizontal and vertical pieces. I’ve had a series of images in mind for some time. It’s a series of 14 images for use in The Stations of the Cross. It would show the stations from Christ’s perspective, and in each would include a shadow of a cross (cast either from his cross, or one formed by a window frame or something existing in that environment). That is my main reason for noticing naturally existing cross shapes and shadows. I believe that Jesus lived his life with the shadow of the cross never far from his conscious mind. And yet, he did his father work, even giving up his life for our sake! To me, the shadow of the cross is a symbolic reminder of His “Love Astounding”.