Angel in the Forest, a large 16 ft x 7ft canvas, was on display at Metropolitan United Church, the historical Toronto landmark church, as part of the 10^th anniversary celebration of Doors Open Toronto. It was the first public showing of this beautiful and ethereal painting. Over 2,000 people came through the doors of the church and saw this magnificent work of art. The painting couldn’t have been in a more appropriate setting.

 As one viewer commented,

“We dropped by to see your Angel yesterday at Metropolitan United Church. The Metropolitan Silver Band was performing and behind them was your magnificent Angel. They played a beautiful arrangement of Amazing Grace. When they took a break we went to have a closer look at your Angel – The subtlety of light captured behind bold drippings of pure colour, hanging there on the altar!  It is truly amazing!”

The work will be on view at the Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East, Toronto, for the remainder of the summer months.

The painting “Angel in the Forest” has been both a work and a life in progress for artist Crawford. In her early days the Angel sat, always poised but alone and vulnerable on the new canvas. Her classical features spoke of timeless beauty. Little did anyone know she would become lost in layers of life, colour upon colour, running, flowing, changing, blending, and clashing. Little did the artist know it either.

Now she stands complete, as all angels do, a little hidden, a bit obscure, and always mysterious. It is deeply pleasing to know she is there among the challenges of the wilderness. We all experience her occasionally, when the undergrowth chokes and the trees bend with menace. Yet, as living beings we all carry stories of new hopes, miraculous encounters, and changes of heart.

It is said that symbols still choose us, so, when we see the Angel in the forest we recognize in it.  We see ourselves, our situation, and the nearness of our rescue. The colours are right, the constriction certainly feels real, and the lady herself is as full of grace and truth as any dear friend we might meet in the clearing of our dearest longings.

photographed by Ian Levack

Angel in the Forest at Met