University of Notre Dames Associate Professional Specialist in the Department of Art, Art History and Design John Shermans graphic design work will be on display Jan. 9 through Feb. 10 at Goshen College in a new exhibit, The Way of the Cross, in the Hershberger Art Gallery.

An exhibit reception will be held Jan. 16 from 2-4 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

This exhibition is a creative interpretation of the Way of the Cross set with the text of twenty-three languages and a minimal use of images. Sherman said, By using languages from all around the world, I hope to communicate that Christ came into this world to demonstrate a path to redemption by his ultimate sacrifice for all peoples of the world. My intention in this work is to show the journey Christ took to the cross is not only his journey, but my journey and the journey taken by everyone.

The Way of the Cross is a centuries-old Catholic liturgy usually held during the six weeks of Lent. Also known as the Stations of the Cross, each station relates one chapter in the story of Jesus road to the cross. The fourteen stations are spaced throughout the interior of most Catholic churches and are often an integral component to the interior architecture by way of sculptural relief, mosaic or painting. The Lenten liturgy of the Way of the Cross consists of prayers both sung and recited while a presider and/or group journey from station to station.

Throughout the centuries, different variations of Way of the Cross have come into popularity; most people are only familiar with the set used in recent centuries. Sherman has chosen not to use these traditional 14 stations, though many overlap, but rather has based his designs on a set of stations celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday in 1991.

Since each station contains essentially text alone, the reflection that develops at each station is not based on an illustration but on a reflection based on what the words are saying to us. Since so many of the words are foreign to us, we cannot help but intertwine into our reflection the struggles and concerns of the people of Africa, Asia, Europe and South America, Sherman said.

Sherman received a bachelors degree in graphic design from Ball State University and a masters of fine art degree in graphic design from Indiana University. Solo exhibitions of his work have been held at Calvin College, Anderson University, University of West Virginia and University of Notre Dame. He taught previously at Louisiana State University and University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign.

The Hershberger Art Gallery, located in the Goshen College Music Center, is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, except during school vacations. The building is accessible to people using wheelchairs and others with physical limitations.