Welcome to Episode 6 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art! In this episode, I introduce you to one of my favorite sculptures, Be Welcoming.

Located in the busy St. Peter’s Square right in front of the health clinic for the homeless, this piece serves as a powerful and symbolic face for the vulnerable.

I share the inspiration behind the sculpture, which is grounded in the poetic scripture of Hebrews 13:2: "Be welcoming to strangers, many have entertained angels unawares".

I dive into the artistic design of the bronze, explaining how the transformation happens sequentially—as you approach, a rough, torn stranger turns into a smooth angelic form, complete with a backpack that becomes wings and a soft face with a subtle smile.

I discuss the deep personal meaning behind this installation, which was the final sculpture commissioned by Pope Francis to be installed in Rome just two weeks before he passed away.

Presented to the Pope by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the sculpture stands as a three-dimensional tribute to both the scripture and the Pope's legacy of driving this message within our culture.

I talk about my philosophy of keeping art accessible on the streets rather than hidden in galleries, inviting people to sit, touch, and engage with the message directly.

Finally, I celebrate how Be Welcoming has become a global piece, installed in pilgrimage sites and cities around the world, from Canterbury and Spain to Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States.

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

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

Welcome to Episode 4 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art!

In this episode, I share the history and meaning behind my sculpture "When I Was Sick." I talk about what it means to represent suffering in the human form — a piece that took six years to complete, and the challenge of using only the body and drapery to convey agony and a longing for connection without the figure being mistaken for someone who has died.

I also dive into the "slow reveal" of Christ, whose face is hidden by an arm so that a universal image of suffering discloses itself only through the wounds on the hands and feet. Along the way I explore the deep history of its home outside Santo Spirito, one of the oldest hospitals in the world, where caring for the sick became a recognized duty of the Church; how the work speaks to invisible illness such as mental illness and addiction in a busy secular city; and why sculpture can serve as a visual prayer on the street.

Finally, I trace how this life-sized bronze connects Rome to installations around the world, from Hong Kong to upcoming sites in Spain and Bethlehem.

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!