When in Rome, Touch the Art

Timothy Schmalz Sculptor
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Join me as I walk the streets of Rome and share the stories behind my sculptures installed throughout the Eternal City. Through personal reflections on art, faith, Scripture, and the creative process, I'll explore the people, places, and moments that inspired each work. Guided by six simple questions—Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How—I invite you to walk beside me as we discover the stories, insights, and moments of grace behind every sculpture.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 6: Be Welcoming

    Welcome to Episode 6 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art! In this episode, I introduce you to one of my favorite sculptures, Be Welcoming.  Located in the busy St. Peter’s Square right in front of the health clinic for the homeless, this piece serves as a powerful and symbolic face for the vulnerable. I share the inspiration behind the sculpture, which is grounded in the poetic scripture of Hebrews 13:2: "Be welcoming to strangers, many have entertained angels unawares".  I dive into the artistic design of the bronze, explaining how the transformation happens sequentially—as you approach, a rough, torn stranger turns into a smooth angelic form, complete with a backpack that becomes wings and a soft face with a subtle smile. I discuss the deep personal meaning behind this installation, which was the final sculpture commissioned by Pope Francis to be installed in Rome just two weeks before he passed away.  Presented to the Pope by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the sculpture stands as a three-dimensional tribute to both the scripture and the Pope's legacy of driving this message within our culture. I talk about my philosophy of keeping art accessible on the streets rather than hidden in galleries, inviting people to sit, touch, and engage with the message directly.  Finally, I celebrate how Be Welcoming has become a global piece, installed in pilgrimage sites and cities around the world, from Canterbury and Spain to Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States. When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by ⁠⁠La Machi Communication for Good Causes⁠⁠. Executive Producer: Juan della Torre.Follow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1! Connect with me on social media! Instagram: ⁠⁠@timschmalz⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠@SculptureByTimothySchmalz⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠@timothyschmalz⁠

  2. Sep 3

    Episode 5: When I was in Prison

    Welcome to Episode 5 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art!  In this episode, I introduce the final piece in my Matthew 25 series, my sculpture When I Was in Prison. I share how hearing about a horrific crime on the radio in Canada initially filled me with anger, but ultimately led me to reflect on Jesus's call to love everyone and to recognize the sacred within the marginalized—even within a criminal or a prisoner. I dive into the minimalist design of this piece, explaining why I chose to sculpt only a prison with a hand reaching out, marked by the stigmata, rather than a full life-sized figure or a perfect face.  I discuss my philosophy of religious art as a vehicle for the message of Scripture rather than personal style, explaining why art must serve to glorify God and challenge our comfort zones.  Finally, I share the journey of creating this sculpture, the challenge of seeing Christ in modern contexts of suffering, and how it became a global piece installed in historical locations from Rome to Hong Kong and Toronto. When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by ⁠La Machi Communication for Good Causes⁠. Executive Producer: Juan della Torre. Follow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1! Connect with me on social media! Instagram: ⁠@timschmalz⁠ Facebook: ⁠@SculptureByTimothySchmalz⁠ X: ⁠@timothyschmalz⁠

  3. Aug 27

    Episode 4: When I was Sick

    Welcome to Episode 4 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art! In this episode, I share the history and meaning behind my sculpture "When I Was Sick." I talk about what it means to represent suffering in the human form — a piece that took six years to complete, and the challenge of using only the body and drapery to convey agony and a longing for connection without the figure being mistaken for someone who has died. I also dive into the "slow reveal" of Christ, whose face is hidden by an arm so that a universal image of suffering discloses itself only through the wounds on the hands and feet. Along the way I explore the deep history of its home outside Santo Spirito, one of the oldest hospitals in the world, where caring for the sick became a recognized duty of the Church; how the work speaks to invisible illness such as mental illness and addiction in a busy secular city; and why sculpture can serve as a visual prayer on the street. Finally, I trace how this life-sized bronze connects Rome to installations around the world, from Hong Kong to upcoming sites in Spain and Bethlehem. When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by La Machi Communication for Good CausesExecutive Producer: Juan della TorreFollow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1!

  4. Aug 20

    Episode 3: When I was Hungry

    Welcome to Episode 3 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art! In this episode, I introduce the very first sculpture I ever installed in Rome: When I Was Hungry and Thirsty. I share the story of how this piece found its home at the entrance of the Santo Spirito Hospital, one of the oldest hospitals in the world, located just steps from St. Peter’s Square. I reflect on the incredible history of this site—from the work that once impressed Martin Luther to the moments where the Church first institutionalized the care of the poor and sick. I also discuss the spiritual process of creating this work, which began on a Good Friday and was born out of a desire for the most humble representation of Jesus: sitting cross-legged, cloaked in mystery, and accessible only to those willing to get on their hands and knees to see His face. We’ll explore why religious art must be raw and unpolished to truly reflect the intensity of Scripture and how a piece designed to be "part of the environment" has now spread from Rome to New York, the Philippines, and Bethlehem. Finally, I talk about my role as an "artistic soldier" for the Church and why it is so vital to use art to bring the closed pages of the Bible out into the streets, where everyone can encounter the eternal truths of our faith. When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by ⁠La Machi Communication for Good Causes⁠ Executive Producer: Juan della Torre Follow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1! Connect with me on social media! Instagram: ⁠@timschmalz⁠ Facebook: ⁠@SculptureByTimothySchmalz⁠ X: ⁠@timothyschmalz⁠

  5. Aug 13

    Episode 2: Homeless Jesus

    Welcome to Episode 2 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art! In this episode, I introduce one of my best-known sculptures, Homeless Jesus. I share why I placed it without a pedestal, directly on the streets of Trastevere — a space where people can sit close, interact, and encounter the sacred within the marginalized. I also dive into my philosophy of Catholic art as a way of pulling the eternal truths of Scripture into physical form, why religious sculpture must be raw and intense to reach a spiritually starving world, and why I left the face of Jesus covered — an element of theatrical mystery and discovery that mirrors the very moment of ambiguity and reveal in Matthew 25. Finally, I trace how a piece that first had no home became a viral, global phenomenon: blessed by Pope Francis and installed in major historical locations around the world. When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by La Machi Communication for Good CausesExecutive Producer: Juan della TorreFollow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1! Connect with me on social media! Instagram: @timschmalz Facebook: @SculptureByTimothySchmalz X: @timothyschmalz

  6. Aug 6

    Episode 1: Angels Unawares

    Welcome to Episode 1 of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art!In this episode, I take you behind the creation of Angels Unawares, permanently installed right in the heart of St. Peter’s Square. I share what it was like to receive this historic commission from the Vatican Department of Migrants and Refugees and how a bronze boat carrying 140 figures became one of the few new sculptures added to the Square in centuries.I also dive into my philosophy of Catholic art as a visual homily, why religious sculpture must be raw and engaging for today's world, and the powerful story of how Cardinal Konrad Krajewski defended the piece by reminding critics that "it matches the Gospels."When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by La Machi Communication for Good CausesExecutive Producer: Juan della TorreFollow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1!

  7. Jul 29

    Episode 0: Welcome To My Studio

    Welcome to the very first episode of my podcast, When in Rome, Touch the Art! In Episode 0, I take you inside my brand-new studio located just steps from St. Peter’s Square in Rome. I share what this historic and spiritual setting means for my work, serving as an initial canvas where I design, sketch, and build the small-scale maquettes that eventually become large bronze sculptures. I also dive into my personal process, share my conviction that art can visually preach, break down barriers, and show that sacred art is very much alive today. When in Rome, Touch the Art is a production by La Machi Communication for Good Causes. Executive Producer: Juan della Torre Follow the show so you don't miss an episode of Season 1!

  • 7 Episodes

About

Join me as I walk the streets of Rome and share the stories behind my sculptures installed throughout the Eternal City. Through personal reflections on art, faith, Scripture, and the creative process, I'll explore the people, places, and moments that inspired each work. Guided by six simple questions—Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How—I invite you to walk beside me as we discover the stories, insights, and moments of grace behind every sculpture.

Information

  • Creator
    Timothy Schmalz Sculptor
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Timothy Schmalz Sculptor
  • Show Website
    When in Rome, Touch the Art