Embracing Heart
Owner: Knox Presbyterian Church
Artist: David Platter
Dates: Dedicated May 4, 2014
Medium: Aquatic-grade fiberglass resin, automotive-grade paint and clear coat
Description:
This striking sculpture on the front lawn of the Knox Presbyterian Church is based upon the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son, specifically Luke 15:20: "...but while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him." One of the hands represents the father, the other hand is the son. However, the sculpture was designed in a way to represent everyone.
The heart is a universal symbol of love. The artist also considered it to be a symbol of unconditional love which he combined with the image of someone throwing their arms around another. The paint used on the sculpture was in the shade of an individually-mixed Brandywine. Depending on the position of the sun when one looks at the sculpture, it reflects different colours without ever being a primary red. According to the artist, the combination of all the pieces creates a symbol of unconditional acceptance serving as a visual definition of acceptance.
