The “Angels Unawares” sculpture created by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz will be on display in front of the Basilica of St. Mary (88 17th St. N., Minneapolis) from Aug. 1-30.
An opening celebration will take place at the Basilica Plaza at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, and a closing ceremony will be there at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26.
The three-and-a half-ton, 20-foot-long sculpture depicting 140 figures is a gift to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and currently on a national tour. The work depicts migrants and refugees from all cultural and racial backgrounds and from all historical periods of time together — shoulder to shoulder on a raft or boat. Within this diverse crowd of people, angel wings are visible in the center, suggesting that within the migrant and refugee is the sacred.
The sculptural work is a second casting of a piece commissioned by Pope Francis. The original casting was installed in St. Peter’s Square in Rome and unveiled by Pope Francis on Sept. 29, 2019, the 105th observance of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3wvqCMG.
Photo: The sculpture called “Angels Unawares” is seen at The Catholic University of America in Washington Sept. 27, 2020. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)