Written by Abbey Williams // Photo by Macy Cox
Assistant professor of art and design Tessa Davidson began working on an art piece commissioned by the College of Bible and Ministry in the summer of 2022. The piece will depict the entire Bible story and be displayed in the dean’s suite in the McInteer Bible and World Missions Center.
Davidson said the piece is a two-part project.
“This particular piece is one of two,” Davidson said. “This one is attempting to grab onto major themes of the entire Old Testament. The canvas behind it will try to do the same thing but with the New Testament. It will be one continual storyline.”
Davidson said she wanted to involve Harding’s community in creating these art pieces.
“When I was doing the initial drawings and stuff, I met with the Bible department and got their ideas, and then for the models, I have them all from the Harding community,” Davidson said. “The New Testament will be from this community as well. I tried to have students from all over the world. It’s a good representation of our student body and the diversity of our student body.”
Davidson said the project has been a discovery process for her.
“Learning about the beauty of scripture, having to think about all of the themes, the more I did that, the more I studied scripture and just [looked] at all of it so I [could] figure out what to picture, it has been very transformational,” Davidson said.
Junior Adrianna Davis said Davidson has a spiritual drive.
“With anything spiritual, it just clicks with her, and she’s able to just know what to do as soon as you’re able to give her your thoughts and what you have in mind,” Davis said.
Davis said the art piece will connect students from multiple departments.
“When you meet her, she makes any subject you find boring into something you love and adore because she loves it so much,” Davis said. “And for her to include students in her piece I even recognize it’s so cool, and I know that probably connects her to other students as well. It’s a very interconnecting piece that’s not just limited to the art department, and I love that.”
Junior Kit Moore said because faculty members get to see the students’ pieces, she loves getting to see their artwork.
“When I saw [Davidson’s art] for the first time, I was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know she did work like that,’” Moore said. “It’s really cool and really thought-provoking.”
Moore said Davidson connects with students all over campus.
“What’s really cool about Tessa is so many people, even if you’re not an art major, have taken her class, so it’s kind of a way to connect with other students,” Moore said.
