'Homeless Jesus' sculptor unveils his 'Pieta' for Good Friday

Timothy Schmalz, the world-renowned Canadian sculptor whose controversial 'Homeless Jesus' statue recently triggered a heated national debate, has just unveiled his latest work for Good Friday. Called the 'Pieta' the work is a modern-day interpretation of the Renaissance masterpiece by Michelangelo.

Tim talks about the work and the inspiration behind it on this Youtube film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtfgPtbOQn8

“It was while I was working on my 'Mother and Child' statue that I thought to do a Pieta-like version with Jesus, the man, in his mother’s arms as the crucified Christ,” said Tim.

“Of course, it was incredibly humbling, working on my model in the shadow of the master, knowing that there will never be another Pieta to rival Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Of all the Pietas I have done, this is my favourite,” Tim said.

The process for casting hasn’t changed since the ancient Greeks: after the clay is done, a mould is made. The mould is then filled with wax after the clay is removed. The wax is then put in the ceramic shell, heated up till the wax burns out and then filled with liquid bronze. The Pieta took six months to sculpt and another six months to cast.

Tim is currently working on a life-sized bronze of Pope John XXIII, to commemorate his canonization, along with Pope John Paul II, on April 27. Last November, Tim was invited to the Vatican to present the 'Homeless Jesus' to Pope Francis. The Pope was moved by the work and blessed it. Later this year the City of Rome will install the statue on the street leading to St Peter’s on the spot where a homeless woman died.