257 MCINTEER ART CONTEST PAINTING GOD’S PROMISES Sophomore Braydon Letsinger wins the McInteer art contest. In spring 2020, Harding University’s Aesthetics Committee was created for the purpose of bringing beauty to the McInteer Bible and World Missions Center. During a time of isolation, students were given the opportunity to contribute their talents in the form of an art competition. When the Provost Office asked Mac Sandlin, assistant professor of bible and ministry, what they could do for the Bible department, Sandlin suggested an aesthetic addition to the McInteer building. Dr. Monte Cox, dean of the College of Bible and Ministry, agreed and introduced the idea of creating the Aesthetics Committee. The committee consisted of Dr. Kevin Youngblood, Dr. Jim Bury, Tessa Davidson and Cade Williams. “We should do something to make our spaces more beautiful to honor God in that way,” Sandlin said. The first project was a contest that aimed to connect the students and faculty in the departments of Bible, theology, and art and design. The designs were to be a series of four large art pieces, 4 feet by 5 feet, inspired by the four evangelists’ creatures: winged man, lion, ox and eagle. In summer 2020, the committee carefully looked at each submission and decided which would be hung in the McInteer. Sophomore Braydon Letsinger was the chosen artist and was awarded $1,500 for his work. “It was a really fulfilling experience,” Letsinger said. “I hope that it set a good precedent and more people are excited to try it out.” Each painting had a creature at the centerfold of the canvas in black and white, while the backgrounds were painted with designs and colors. During the design process, Letsinger considered the symbology of every aspect— from the connotation of the vibrant colors such as the red color of the ox, representing the Gospel of Luke and Jesus’ humanity and sacrifice; to the historical context of the bodies with a halo around their heads. Even the patterns of the background referred to the structure of each Gospel account. Letsinger said he put the time and effort into these pieces to ensure every detail of the paintings had a purpose and reflected the glory of God. “I was drawn to how Braydon juxtaposed the black and white imagery with the exploding abstract patterns and vibrant colors,” Davidson said. “It reminds me of how when we read the Gospels, we may be reading black ink and white pages of ancient text, but scripture has the power to continually transform and color our world from the inside out. The paintings brought life to the McInteer building and started conversations among students as the committee had hoped. “The goal is to have something that is of quality and size such as Braydon’s so that every classroom in the McInteer has a unique and interesting piece of art,” Sandlin said. “Students will no longer say, ‘Oh, I’m in Room 233.’ Students would say, ‘Oh, I’m in the Prophets room,’ or ‘I’m in the Gospels room.’” story by Kaitlyn Francois
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