Sunday, July 5, 2026

Picturing: Church of the Redeemer Sculpture



On my walk back home from an errand today here in the great city of Toronto, I noticed a beautiful bronze sculpture outside the Church of the Redeemer. I did some research minutes ago: it's titled When I Was Sick, by acclaimed Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz.

I'm an atheist, and a former art student, don't get me going about "Early Christian Art", but I absolutely love bronze sculptures and appreciate those of a beautiful place of worship.

Apparently it was unveiled in September of 2023. I must have the habit of walking on the south side of Bloor Street when crossing the Avenue Road / University Avenue intersection.

How could I have not noticed When I Was Sick till an hour ago?


Postscript: years ago I was a fairly regular concertgoer at that lovely church. I would bump into an old college teacher there. It was at the Church of the Redeemer that I attended a performance of a pretty magnificent piece for solo violin composed by Srul Glick, superbly performed by a young woman who was a York University student. I've since forgotten the name of the piece and the violinist, unfortunately. Glick was in attendance. The year would have been 1987 or 1988. I was young. There's nothing stopping me from again being a 'regular'.

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