Artwork

The statues that will dominate the east and west transepts of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception are taking shape.

Sculptor Rip Caswell, who works from his studio in Troutdale, Ore., was commissioned to create two heroic size bronze sculptures as part of the cathedral renovation project. The two sculptures, “Mary and Joseph” and “The Crucifixion” will face each other from the east and west alcoves of the cross-shaped cathedral. The statues are scheduled to be installed in late August or early September.

The first piece, “Mary and Joseph,” depicts a pregnant Mary with her hand on her womb and Joseph as a supportive father figure and husband standing behind her. Mary is looking across the cathedral to a scene of the Crucifixion.

“We’ve made some bold departures with this piece,” Caswell said.

Sculptor developing ideas for two powerful scenes that will
lift the faith of those visiting the mother church of the diocese

By Christopher M. Riggs

The meetings are over and Rip Caswell is ready to work.

Caswell, an artist from Troutdale, Ore., has been commissioned to sculpt two works for the anticipated renovation of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita, that is part of the TOGETHER vision.

“The concept is to sculpt Mary and Joseph – Joseph as a protector, a supporter, a father figure, husband. He’ll be behind Mary and she’ll be slightly pregnant. She’ll be looking across the cathedral to the other alcove on the other side of the cathedral at the Crucifixion.”

It’s like looking across time, he said. “Mary is pregnant, knowing and accepting that Jesus will eventually die for us all. It’s going to be very powerful to see that interplay between the two sculptures, but also with the viewer.”

The cross will seem to come up right out of the floor in the crucifixion scene on the east transept, Caswell said during a visit to Wichita late last month.

“You’ll be able to touch the feet of Christ and walk around him. It’s really going to be very powerful. He’ll be looking down. His face will not be that of a victim – in John it talks about how he was in control at every moment and willingly did this. There will be a sense of serenity and calm in his face.”

The sculptor said visitors will be able to look up into Jesus’ face and will be able to kneel at the foot of the cross. “It will be a very powerful experience,” he said. “The same with Mary and Joseph. They’ll be right there where they can be touched.”
Once Caswell and the committee reach an agreement on the drawings for the two scenes, he will begin sculpting models for their approval.

“I call it a heroic size, it’s larger-than-life,” he said. “In the scale of that building, if we were to do them life-size, they would look too small. The size of the columns, the height of the cathedral – it’s really quite impressive.”
Caswell has been sculpting full-time in bronze for about 20 years, building on his previous vocation of taxidermy.

“My dad was a professional hunter, outdoorsman, guide, and outfitter, so he was always taking me into nature,” Caswell said. “I was fascinated with the anatomy of animals. My dad saw this when I was about 15 and he said you should try taxidermy. He had met a guy in Oregon who was one of the best, so I started mentoring with him.”

He was mentored well. Caswell, who studied animal anatomy in detail, was named best taxidermist in the nation in 1991, but a love of sculpting that also began when he was a child never left him. He began casting in bronze and was soon commissioned by hunters who began purchasing his works of animals. “I eventually gave my business of taxidermy over to my apprentice and I focused on my artwork,” he said.