Client: Cloisters on the Platte

Overview

Martin Eichinger is one of several artists commissioned to create 58 bronze figures for the Cloisters on the Platte, a 930-acre spiritual retreat center in Sarpy County, NE. Eichinger created 9 figures and 2 crosses for stations 6 & 8 at 125% life-size. A three-year, multi-million dollar project, all artists involved met at the beginning and throughout the project to ensure the completed body of work was cohesive and uniform in design, style, representation, patination, etc. Average
size: H.8'x W.12'x D.10'.

Goals

Cloisters on the Platte is a retreat center for meditative reflection. The goal of the Stations of the Cross was to create an immersive experience with emotional impact. The sculptures are arranged along a foot path. Visitors walk among the 7' tall figures. It is the largest depiction of the Stations of the Cross in the world. It opened to the public in 2018. The power of the overall experience is clearly evident.

Process

The Stations of the Cross project was a collaboration of five teams including over a dozen sculptors, foundries and additional resources. A total of 58 bronze figures up to 7' tall were conceived, created in clay, cast in bronze and given a common patina before delivery to the site near Omaha. Collaboration at all levels was essential to create a consistent theme, design, style, and color.

Additional Information

These images show several angles of Eichinger's contribution to this epic project. The Cloisters project required several site visits and extensive interaction between artists, client, digitally scanned models, 3D scans of half-size finished clay sculptures, and 3D printing of full size casting molds. Each figure was created in clay at 1/2 scale and cast at 200% (average 7' tall).