Welcome to Episode 5 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art!

In this episode, I introduce the final piece in my Matthew 25 series, my sculpture When I Was in Prison. I share how hearing about a horrific crime on the radio in Canada initially filled me with anger, but ultimately led me to reflect on Jesus's call to love everyone and to recognize the sacred within the marginalized—even within a criminal or a prisoner.

I dive into the minimalist design of this piece, explaining why I chose to sculpt only a prison with a hand reaching out, marked by the stigmata, rather than a full life-sized figure or a perfect face.

I discuss my philosophy of religious art as a vehicle for the message of Scripture rather than personal style, explaining why art must serve to glorify God and challenge our comfort zones.

Finally, I share the journey of creating this sculpture, the challenge of seeing Christ in modern contexts of suffering, and how it became a global piece installed in historical locations from Rome to Hong Kong and Toronto.

When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by ⁠La Machi Communication for Good Causes⁠. Executive Producer: Juan della Torre.

Follow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1!

Connect with me on social media!

Instagram: ⁠@timschmalz⁠

Facebook: ⁠@SculptureByTimothySchmalz⁠

X: ⁠@timothyschmalz⁠