Art at Mountain View

Jesus’ parable (or story) of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11–32 tells of a younger son who demands his inheritance, leaves home, and wastes it in reckless living.  His friends desert him once the money runs out and he is left feeding pigs, wishing he could eat their food.  To a Jew, there could barely be anything lower than being associated with pigs!

Reduced to poverty and regret, he realises his father’s staff are far-better treated, decides to repent (turn around),  return to his father and ask only to be treated as a servant. Instead, his father, who has been looking out for him, runs to welcome him, embraces him, forgives him completely, and celebrates his return with a feast.

In this powerful illustration of God’s grace (unmerited favour), the parable shows that God lovingly welcomes repentant sinners, offering forgiveness and restoration not because they have earned it, but because of His overwhelming and boundless mercy and love. It emphasizes that God’s grace is freely given to those who turn back to Him, no matter how far they have strayed.

There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

So he got up and went to his father…

Luke 15:11-20

… But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.’

‘For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

So they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:20-24

See James’s design and building process of the sculptures in this series of images shown below.

James works in stone, metal and bronze from his studio on Hall farm in Gainsborough. He produces work to commission and exhibits throughout the uk creating small personal works and Public Art.

James grew up in Manchester in a Christian home and from a young age had a passion for art and creativity. After graduating from studying Art at the University of Lincoln and getting married in 2005, James and his wife Helen setteled in Lincoln and started a family. Thanks to their support James has worked full time as a sculptor ever since. In 2010 he set up his current studio The Sculpture Barn on Hall Farm in Harpswell, Gainsbrough. Over the past 16+ years his work has taken many directions but always inspired by his love of nature and the emotions it evokes. His work can be both figurative and abstract. Currently James works mostly to commission, creating personal works for a wide range of clients from private homes and gardens to large pieces of public art for businesses and councils. He also exhibits at galleries and sculpture shows and sells his work through his website shop.

You can find out more about James and his work by visiting his website or following him on social media.

www.jamessutton.co.uk

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