During the Season of Lent, I will be featuring crosses and crucifixes in different media by various international artists, which have just been added to the Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection. My first offerings are two mahogany crosses by Balinese Wood Carver Nyoman Subrata and British Stained Glass Designer Gerald Anthony Cole, now on view in the image gallery of the Crosses and Crucifixes page in the Schools of Sacred Art section. Subrata has carved a cross with an intricately patterned grape vine design out of a piece of mahogany, using the same traditional wood working techniques local artisans have employed to decorate Balinese Hindu temples and home altars since the 13th century. His Parable of the Vine cross was, no doubt, made with an overseas market in mind. Hiis choice of the grape and vine motif has special resonance for Christians, suggesting Christ's vineyard parables, his description of himself as "The Vine," and the Eucharist. British Artist Cole has created an abstract image of Christ on the Cross, which looks like a deep carved mahogany piece. It is actually a pen-and-ink drawing on a sheet of mahogany veneer. This latest work by Cole joins a similar crucifix on veneer drawing already in the Crosses and Crucifixes image gallery. (John Kohan)