Westmont Magazine Student Art Blooms Around Campus

Student artwork depicting events in Christ’s life appears throughout campus this semester, the result of a year of work, creativity and prayer. A $10,700 Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship funded the project. One group of students wrote the successful proposal, and another created the pieces. The artists used a variety of media to present biblical stories from the annunciation to the ascension. Christ’s passion was purposely omitted to link the artwork to stations of the cross at local Catholic churches.

Luke 8:24-25 inspired “Tempest” by Annemarie Moody. Six glass images twist in the breeze as they hang from a large tree in the formal gardens below Kerrwood Hall. “I wanted to draw a parallel between the storm that Jesus calmed and the different problems that confront us at Westmont,” Moody says. The “storms” include the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, war, AIDS in Africa and homelessness.

“Entry Into Jerusalem” by senior Stephanie Smith depicts Christ entering Jerusalem juxtaposed with images of him arriving in Santa Barbara. Instead of palm fronds, the modern-day Jesus is met by microphone-toting, Montecito resident Oprah Winfrey, among others.

Art Professor Lisa DeBoer directed the project, which will produce a devotional booklet and postcards. Photos of the artwork will also be projected during chapel.