When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him. Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt." --Matthew 2: 13-14 CEB
I recently came across a painting called Streetcar Madonna by Allan Rohan Crite, and was instantly drawn to it. It's certainly different from the "Flight into Egypt" paintings we are used to.
Allan Rohan Crite ( 1910-2007) was born in New Jersey and raised and spent the duration of his life in Boston. He participated in the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930's. He created neighborhood paintings depicting Boston's predominantly African American Roxbury district. Community was sacred to Crite. His art and generosity endure through his depictions of neighborhood life and the many artists and leaders he inspired. His Episcopalian faith influenced many of his works. He often presented iconic Christian imagery overlaid onto contemporary city life. He designed the covers of church bulletins in several states.
Streetcar Madonna (1946) depicts a Black Mary and baby riding Boston's Orange Line. I wonder what the women behind them are thinking. Are they judgmental of this woman in strange clothes with a crown of stars and a baby emanating rays of light? Or do they even notice this strange twosome? Maybe they are just talking about their day.
Would we recognize the Holy Family if we came upon them?
Anita Farrell
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