Bethel Bits: Paintings of faith
Bethel University visual arts education major expresses her beliefs through art.
By McKenzie Van Loh | Royal Report
Alyssa Norby grabbed her thick, dark hair and tied it into a ponytail as she walked onto the stage of Benson Great Hall. Bethel students crammed into narrow rows like they do every Sunday night, waiting to encounter God through worship. Norby approached the black canvas at center stage. The members of the band lifted their instruments and began to worship, Norby lifted her paint brush and did the same.
“It was cool to be in that atmosphere of everyone worshipping while I got to worship in the way that I’ve found that I enjoy worshipping,” Norby said while reflecting on her experience painting on stage during one of Bethel’s Vespers services.
Jenna Rylaarsdam, a Bethel student on the Vespers team sought Norby out after seeing the homecoming banner she painted framing a lion’s head with a quote from The Chronicles of Narnia. She asked Norby to paint the spiritual theme for the night on stage during Vespers. Norby agreed. The theme portrayed a burning apple resulting in green sprouts, meaning when God destroys our sin completely, that’s where we get our lives.
“She came back and told me that it’s hanging in her hallway at home and that it is a great reminder to her.” — Alyssa Norby, freshman
Norby has expressed her faith through her painting since her junior year of high school when she took a class from a family friend. Being more accustomed to small paintings, Norby sold her work at the Hopkins farmer’s market last summer. A regular stopped by Norby’s booth after observing a small painting on a three-inch by three-inch canvas. The painting displayed a picture of God’s hand reaching to save a drowning person. The woman bought the painting.
“She came back and told me that it’s hanging in her hallway at home and that it is a great reminder to her,” Norby said.
