Mixed media oilgraph on canvas with blood and human hair // 36” x 36"

In this Station, Mary, Jesus's mother risks her safety to comfort Him and to say good-bye. So close and yet not being able to look into each other's eyes.

“I'm sorry...
Mother, I'm sorry
You never deserved this

This is the chapter the angel never told you
And would you have accepted it
if you knew?

Joseph gone and
it was just you and me then...

I'm sorry, Mother
Your last soldier
goes to war”

***

This was one of the more emotional scenes to shoot. The ones with Mary always seemed to be. The only direction I gave was to fight looking into each others’ eyes. Their performance was spectacular.

But this Station holds a secret. During the shooting of the Stations a friend of mine was about to start her battle against cancer. She and her husband showed up to the studio to photograph him shaving her head before the chemotherapy took it. It was a profound and humbling experience. She ultimately succumbed to the disease, but a lock of her hair can be seen in the bottom right corner as a tribute.

CAST
JESUS: Paolo Durrazzo
MARY: Sylvia Sanchez