A Croxley artist has transformed Croxley Green Baptist Church through the creation of a life-sized nativity scene, in the hopes of sharing the incredible journey that led to the birth of Jesus.
Victoria Culf’s nativity scene is a life-sized creation made of recycled materials and upcycled everyday objects installed in the front entrance of Croxley Baptist Church. There is a pedestrian cut-through beside it, making the space a perfect public art gallery for the community, and it’s free to view.
Speaking to Croxley News, Victoria said: “I wanted to create a modern nativity that mirrored the fragility of the scene; a young couple with nowhere to go, giving birth to their first baby without hospitals, modern medicine or midwives. The whole thing could have unravelled at any minute.
“I wanted to use materials that reflected this ‘stuff of life’ and incorporate things we overlook and discard but still have great potential. I mean, did the couple really know what they were doing? It’s a repeating scene that’s so overlooked. If you’re alive today and you’re reading this, you survived the trauma of birth, and with the world the way it is, that’s pretty amazing.
“What amazes me more is that despite having their very lives threatened (if you know the story, Herod ordered mass infanticide) both Mary and her baby survived. If Joseph hadn’t shown his strength and listened to his intuition, they could have all died. She needed him to protect her. Fast forward to the 21st century and this situation could be Israel, Gaza, Syria or Ukraine. And that’s the wars we know of.”
The exhibition can be seen at Croxley Baptist Church until January 5, 2024. To find out more about Victoria’s work, head to www.victoriaculf.com
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