CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITS

The Crucifixion:
The Shekel of Pontius Pilate

September 24, 2021 to TBA

Art Piece with a Rare 2,000-Year-Old Coin from Pontius Pilate Rule over Judea On Display at the Metzger Collection in Abbotsford, BC

A rare artifact attributed and verified as coinage stamped during Pontius Pilate’s reign forms part of an art piece by Canadian artist Catherine Adamson and titled “The Crucifixion: The shekel of Pontius Pilate.”

The piece, which will be on display in the Metzger Collection this fall, is the first work in a wider collection entitled, “Authentic: A Study in Evil.” A collaborative effort, the collection focuses on rulers who, in order to satisfy their own ego and/or ideology, use their power to suppress both people and nature. In even common items that are either directly or indirectly inspired by the Creators themselves, we can see a hidden agenda of evil.

It is rare that Pontius Pilate would be sourced as an evil dictator but to the over 2.1 billion Christians around the World, the title rings true. Pontius Pilate is known for condemning Jesus Christ to death by crucifixion in Judea during his reign as Roman Governor.

“However, there is enough evidence outside of biblical scripture to prove that he was an evil dictator whom the Roman Senate had to recall for his terrible abuses of power.” Says Canadian author Robert Joseph Greene and collaborator on the Authentic project.

Two Jewish historians documented the acts of Pontius Pilate during his reign: Philo (20 B.C.-A.D. 50) and Josephus (A.D. 37-100) have both described incidents in which Pilate dictated cruel and unusual punishments to his subjects.

Canadian artist Catherine Adamson wanted to present a more authentic approach to the act of crucifixion and from research discovered that Olive wood was used to make the crucifixion crosses. Because bodies were left to rot as a deterrent to others, there was only one archaeological discovery of a crucified victim by the name of Jehohanan (Yehohanan). Fragments of Olive wood were found at the heel of his corpse.

“When the offer came to showcase ‘The Crucifixion,’ we were thrilled by the prospect and its natural tie-in to the Collection,” said Greg Thiessen, Metzger Collection Manager.  “How often does anyone get to see a 2,000-year-old coin from Judea during the time of Jesus Christ, let alone see it integrated within a stunning art piece?”

The exhibition is free to the public but by appointment only. The piece will be on display at the Metzger Collection located on the campus of Columbia Bible College – 2940 Clearbrook Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2T 2Z8, Canada from September 24, 2021 - undetermined end date.