Old St. Mary's Catholic Church - Ambulatory Window
"Broken Sun / Broken Son"
(Artwork #123)
1500 South Michigan - Chicago, Illinois
Along the perimeter of the main sanctuary is the Ambulatory Walk, where the Stations of the Cross are hung. Because of the proximity of the Ambulatory Window to the Stations, it symbolizes “broken sun, broken Son,” Christ’s somber journey of conflict and resolution. The horizontal flow of the design carries the eye through the window, suggesting that the journey does not stop there, the yellow glass pointing the way towards the Resurrection. The Ambulatory window is also the western portrayal of the 113 th Psalm (“From the rising of the sun to the setting thereof, may the name of the Lord be praised”), a subdued, contemplative counterpoint to the bright Day Chapel window. The colors of the setting sun lend a quiet, meditative ambiance to the space. The setting sun coloration furthers the sense of continuum, with the inherent promise of a new dawn. Opak glasses were again used to block the view of the alley outside.
