Prisoner Raises Over $1000 For World Relief

Popsicle sticks, pebbles and other other odds and ends in 
and around Building 2A went into this amazing contribution to
the Virginia Mennonite Relief's effort to raise funds for
Mennonite Central Committee.

The following post is by a local incarcerated friend whose artistic work was sold at the October 6-7 Relief Sale auction for a gratifying $1050.

Title: "Crucifixion Week"

B. Brubaker

Dillwyn Correctional Center

Hometown: Harrisonburg, VA

I must recognize my peers at DWCC, in Building 2A, who contributed in some manner to the timely and successful completion of my 2023 donation to the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale. One man in particular, Tim Burnopp, took my ideas and made them come to fruition as he painted the underside of the lid that becomes the backdrop when the box is opened during the spring when we honor the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have more than 700 hours of artistic focus in this year's project along with the hours Tim Burnopp had in the paintings. My peers also helped pick up pebbles on the yard, made the linens in tomb, and gave me tidbits of yarn and other items that I used in the making of this creation. A big thank you to my peers at DWCC, dorm 2A, who contributed in some manner.

I attempted to make the outside of the closed box look like a medieval papal strongbox used to transport the church's treasury or significant decrees. I made the faux jade stone out of pink erasers and capped the stone with halved pencils that I must soak in boiling water for the glue to release that holds a pencil together. I dispose of the pencil lead and use the small pencil top erasers split in half on other projects. This year I accented or created the wood grain with a black wash paint and then added some gold metallic paint along these striations to give the trim pieces a gilded look. The narrative unfolding inside the box is certainly precious to all who believe in Jesus Christ who transformed God's first covenant made with Abraham and his descendants.

The perspective I created when the box is open is of the viewer standing inside the City of Jerusalem looking outward. A sojourner sent me a photo of Jerusalem's, Jaffa Gate, where the road to Emmaus exits Jerusalem. I did my best to match the city's wall design though my stones were quite different in shape and my space limited. On the inside of the city wall lying about the street or leaned up against the wall are painted palm branches that I imagine the children were still playing with days after Jesus road into the city on a donkey, His triumphant entry.

Exiting the city to the left is a road that leads past the representation of the Garden of Gethsemane and on up the hill to Golgotha. I imagine that most gardens in this arid landscape need a water source so I placed a spring coming out of the rocky point upon which Christ was crucified. The spring giving life to the vine in the garden that grows seemingly out of the stone. There are many metaphors tied to this spring, the paramount one being Christ being our source of "living water." In the garden I placed one plant, a climbing wild rose, as Christ is referred to as, "The Rose of Sharon." Christ refers to Himself as the vine in several passages in the New Testament and for this reason I chose to define the Garden of Gethsemane in this manner. Though seasonally it may not have been the time for the roses to blossom, my artist's mind likes to think that Christ's tears shed that night in the garden and His blood running down the cross touching the vine burst the vine into glorious bloom. 

Moving to the left past the Garden of Gethsemane, the path begins to climb the rocky point known as Golgotha. The path trodden up this hill is soiled and likely stained by the blood of many men who had died at the hands of the Romans who had conquered Jerusalem. At the top of the incline are two women depicted of the many who were likely there witnessing Christ's crucifixion. I chose to make Mary, the mother of Jesus kneeling, and Mary Magdalene standing consoling her. Behind these two women is the first mural that holds events taking place prior to Christ's crucifixion. In this first painting is a representation of Christ driving the money changers out of the temple. Next to that is a table that holds a cup of wine and a loaf of bread. Under the table is a water pitcher, basin, and towel. Together representing the last supper.

Centered on the promenade of the rocky point is Christ with the two thieves on each side of Him. The middle mural depicts the darkness as the day turned to night when God turned away from the sin Christ bore for us on the cross. At this moment the Temple veil tore as Christ became our forever intercessory, through Him we can enter into the Father's presence. During this darkness, Christ defeats Death and takes back the keys which are painted in the lower right of the middle mural.

Behind Christ and the two thieves are two Roman soldiers, one with the sword that pierced His side. Behind the thief on the right are two of the disciples, in my mind the two men who traveled back to Emmaus very discouraged and confused about the death of Jesus. The entire right-hand side of the mural and the right interior of the box is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The empty tomb, Christ's ascension, and my favorite event of Easter, the reference to the men walking home to Emmaus from Jerusalem.

None of the 80 men in my dorm, except for one, knew the story of Christ joining these two distraught men on their journey home to Emmaus. Working on this year's project became an opportunity for me to share with my peers here the motivations for sitting these 3 months focused on this project day and night. My most asked question was, "Why don't you sell it on eBay and make some money?" The closer the project came to its completion, the more I saw the value of the process as a means to share with others what God has done for me, my testimony, and introduce them to a Savior that promises them that He will lighten their burdens. Thinking about these interactions with my peers here caused me to inscribe John 3:16 on the interior of the removable panel because that is the ultimate quantifier of what took place when Christ was crucified. I can, but hope, someone will view my creation, seeing all that He suffered for us, sparking in them a desire to define in their own mind what these events mean to them.

It is with great wonder, excitement, and joy that I release this project into His hands for His purpose in helping others in need, whatever their need may be. It is an honor and a privilege to give back to the One who is my provision and protection on this ardent journey. I am only able to express my journey through artistic endeavors because of my sojourners, who enable me to purchase the many items used in my creations. I thank them for making it possible to express my journey and to share with others what God inspires me to make within my constraints. 

For His Glory, Bear Brubaker