On our recent visit to Gibbs Farm one of my favourite sculptures was a new installation by Gerry Judah called "Jacob's Ladder." This prompted a discussion with the friends we were with, since I remembered a song we sang growing up about Jacob's Ladder. I thought it might have been a hymn, since the words were about climbing Jacob's ladder and being a "soldier of the Cross." I also remembered a string creation like "Cat's Cradle" that was called "Jacob's Ladder." My memory banks were bubbling away.
I decided that this sculpture was meant to represent a ladder up to heaven, and it certainly looks like that to me.
Seems there's considerably more to the story about Jacob's Ladder now that I've done a bit of homework. Jacob's Ladder does have a biblical origin, in Genesis. The prophet Jacob is travelling and dreams of a ladder or stairway on which angels are ascending to and descending from heaven. Later God reveals himself to Jacob, promising him his family will be large and will inherit the Promised Land. In this vision Jacob also sees a ladder/stairway that is meant to be the connection between God and Man. Many Christians believe Jesus Christ became the ladder, reconnecting Man with God after the connection was severed due to original sin.
The song I remembered takes its origins from an African American slave spiritual dating back to 1825. It was one of the few spirituals to be adopted by white Christians, and was recorded as a folk song with somewhat different lyrics by Pete Seeger in the 1930's/40's, Arlo Guthrie, and Bruce Springsteen, amongst others. The spiritual implies God's promise to Jacob of finding the Promised Land will also lead the slaves to freedom.
And yes, there is a string game called "Jacob's Ladder." Find out how to make it here.
I've spent some time searching for British artist Gerry Judah's statement about the sculpture to get an idea of what he was trying to express, but haven't found anything as yet. Perhaps it's so obvious that we're meant to know, I'm just not inclined to try to second guess any artist.
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