A new sculpture entitled “Serenity,” has been dedicated by the Roanoke Rescue Mission on the John A. Sylvester-Johnson Plaza. The sculpture was created by David Wertz, a local artist with a national reputation who works exclusively with recycled metals.
“David has captured John’s vision of recovery and the Christian life. It is not always easy, clear or pretty, but if we keep focused on God’s idea for our lives…it leads us upward beyond ourselves to another reality—closer to heaven,” said Joy Sylvester-Johnson, CEO of the Rescue Mission.
“What I hope I have brought to the work is the freedom of constraints on the imagination. Beyond that, my hope is that the viewers will feel free to engage their personal feeling with their own imagination to feel an emotion, whatever that may be, as much as to define a shape or a thing,” commented Wertz.
“The Rescue Mission wanted to honor John and his ministry here so the Plaza has been named in his honor. We knew David as a winner in the Mission’s Permanent Art Collection and as a friend to those in recovery, so he was a natural choice as the artist chosen to create this sculpture,” said Billy Kingery of the Mission’s board.
Because the Rescue Mission is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, the annual meeting is the one time during the year that the Mission’s entire staff and board members gather in the same room at the same time.
The Rescue Mission of Roanoke receives no government funding of any kind and is supported by the generous donations of community partners. Since 1948, The Rescue Mission has consistently served all people in need regardless of race, creed, gender, age, or ethnicity. For more information visit www.rescuemission.net, or call (540) 343-7227.
