“Direct metal, welded steel, seemed an appropriate medium; fire and steel were expressive of the enormous theme.” -Fran Moyer
The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as Way of Sorrows or Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion… The stations grew out of imitations of Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem which is believed to be the actual path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. The object of the stations is to help the Christians faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ. It has become one of the most popular devotions and the stations can be found in many Western Christian churches, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic. Source: Wikipedia
The first major showing of Fran Moyer’s Stations of the Cross was in 1954, a solo exhibit at the Oakland Museum of Art . Over the years, the Stations were shown in many places, including Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. In 1985 Moyer’s Stations of the Cross found a permanent home at St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette, where they are mounted on individual panels in the Sanctuary. Photographs by CG Blick.
Stations of the Cross 01: Jesus is condemned to death. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 01: Jesus is condemned to death. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 02: Jesus carries the cross. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 02: Jesus carries the cross. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 03: Jesus falls the first time. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 03: Jesus carries the cross. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 04: Jesus meets His Mother. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 04: Jesus meets His Mother. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, CaliforniaStations of the Cross 05: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 05: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Seen mounted in the Sanctuary of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 06: Veronica wipes Jesus’ Face. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 06: Veronica wipes Jesus’ Face. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 07: Jesus falls a second time. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 07: Jesus falls a second time. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 07: Jesus falls a second time. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 08: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 08: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 09: Jesus falls for a third time. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 09: Jesus falls for a third time. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 10: Jesus’ clothes are taken away. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 10: Jesus’ clothes are taken away. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 11: Jesus is nailed to the Cross. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 11: Jesus is nailed to the Cross. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 11: Jesus is nailed to the Cross. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 13: Jesus is taken down from the Cross. Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 13: Jesus is taken down from the Cross (detail). Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 13: Jesus is taken down from the Cross (detail). Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 14: Jesus is tlaid in the Tomb (detail). Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.Stations of the Cross 14: Jesus is tlaid in the Tomb (detail). Fran Moyer, welded steel (1954). Collection of Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette, California.
See Fran Moyer’s Stations of the Cross at Saint Anselm’s Episcopal Church, 682 Michael Lane, Lafayette, CA 94549. Please call the church office for information: 925-284-7420
Border text: All things that hath breath Praise the Lord / Praise Him ye Sun and Moon / All that hath breath praise, praise ye the Lord / Praise the Lord ye Sun and Moon / All ye that hath breath Praise ye the Lord / Praise Him all ye Stars of Light /
Fran Moyer’s Stations of the Cross were part of the Grace Cathedral Show of Art for the Sanctuary and Art for the Home (October 14 – November 10, 1972), Gresham Hall, 1011 Taylor Street, San Francisco. Other participating artists, all from Mendocino: Sasha Makovkin (liturgical ceramics), Wheatley Allen (sculpture), Eleanor Edwards (handwoven textiles), Susan Makovkin (ceramics), and Rosemary Allen (paintings).
