Art highlights story of cross

By NATASHA HARRIS

A skeleton, a toilet and a floor covered in sand are the focus of Easter celebrations at an Auckland church this weekend.

The Cityside Baptist Church exhibition, now in its seventh year, tells the story of Easter set in a New Zealand coastal garden.

Twelve cubic metres of sand, 150 plants and 14 pieces of art line the inside of the Mt Eden church to depict the Stations of the Cross.

At Easter Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The 14 Stations of the Cross depict stages in his arrest, trial and eventualcrucifixion.

Cityside church artists have interpreted the stations in an unusual way, including a skeleton carrying a cross, a toilet dubbed "King of the Lose", and a bleeding hand that is nailed to a piece of driftwood.

Viewers walk on a sand-pavement, through a "garden" to view the 14 works, which curator Mark Pierson said made the artwork "multi-sensory".

The light is dimmed and ambient sounds play in the background.

"People can watch the art, feel the sand on their feet and smell the plants - it all helps to bring the art together."

Mr Pierson said the exhibition started as a showcase for church artists and now attracted 1000 people a year, Christians and non-Christians, from all over the North Island.

The exhibition runs until Saturday.