On Thursday, the University of San Diego unveiled “Angels Unawares”, a sculpture that brings together 140 figures huddled on a raft, symbolizing the worldwide plight of migrants.
The Sculpture and Its Inspiration
The piece is a smaller replica of a work found at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, a commission that began under Pope Francis in 2019.
USD President James T. Harris explained the visual narrative: “The sculpture is a depiction of migrant refugees from different cultures and ethic backgrounds from throughout history and different diverse periods,” said USD President James T. Harris. “They stand together shoulder-to-shoulder, huddled on a raft.”
Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, who created the sculpture, said the idea sprang from a biblical verse. “Hebrew 13-2 to be welcoming to strangers, this became Angels Unawares’ subject for this piece,” said Schmalz. “It’s a raft, a boat, with migrants from around the world from all historical periods of time and in the center of this boat is an angel, but because of the crowd you can only see the angel’s wings.”
Schmalz added that the angel’s wings are symbolic, representing “all of us.” The wings are hidden behind the mass of figures, hinting that the collective experience eclipses individual visibility.
The Message and Meaning
Harris emphasized the sculpture’s role as a reminder of migrants’ struggles and their contributions. “We honor migrants across the country, we honor their hard work, integrity and the faith that brought them to this country,” Harris said.
Schmalz described the 140 figures as representing individual stories from history, including figures such as Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. “Each one of those figures allows us to capture the emotions of what one would feel dropping, leaving everything behind and starting a new life in a new place,” said Schmalz.
He further noted that the sculpture is a tapestry of the human condition, encompassing happiness, sorrow, and a spectrum of emotions. “So really, it’s a tapestry of the human condition, there’s happiness, there’s sorrow, there are so many different emotions, so many faces here … so much important detail work within the sculpture.”
Placement and Context
The artwork now sits in a courtyard outside USD’s Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. Its location near the institute underscores the connection between the sculpture’s themes of migration, peace, and justice.
Key Takeaways
- “Angels Unawares” features 140 figures on a raft, echoing a Vatican commission by Pope Francis in 2019.
- The sculpture highlights migrants’ struggles, honoring their hard work, integrity, and faith.
- Artist Timothy Schmalz uses biblical inspiration and hidden angel wings to symbolize collective humanity.
The unveiling of “Angels Unawares” at the University of San Diego invites viewers to reflect on the enduring journey of migrants and the shared humanity that binds us all.
