Faith Cross

Polished aluminum and brass on quarter-sawn oak halo.

Faith United Methodist Church: Altar Cross

Complete view of the Faith Cross installed on the altar's organ pipe screen
transepts.

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It was humbling to be asked to create a new cross design for the altar of Faith United Methodist Church. The Christian cross is one of the most powerful and revered symbols in human history, so I certainly felt the magnitude of such an undertaking.

The design process was a lovely collaboration with the Cross Committee of the church. I did a batch of sketches based on decorative motifs in the church and a sleeker more modern look was preferred. Before the Cross was installed, I thought
the organ pipes overwhelmed and demanded attention. So, utilizing their "look" to
then focus attention to the Cross was my goal. Aluminum with brass accents were deemed best with a quarter-sawn oak "halo" to visually tie into all the woodwork.

It was also a most satisfying return venture into seemingly simple, clean geometry.
A late-in-the-design process epiphany---the mitered ends of the particular Methodist
Cross design---really made the final design sing.

While working on its creation, I realized that is was exactly "30 Years Ago . . ."
that I had played Jesus in a community theater production of "J. C. Superstar".
The full circle of having hung on a Cross to creating one decades later struck me,
so that is what I deemed the unseen title inscribed on the Faith Cross.

"very elegant design"

"It does balance out the organ pipes like you said."

Designer, Draftsman, Metalworker, Sculptor, Woodworker

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