Macie Cowan, a second-year Spanish and theology major, is this year’s worship visual arts coordinator. This position is considered part of the student worship team that also consists of two leaders for chapel and two others for Hosanna. Every month, Cowan works with the chapel pastors to discuss their sermons and create a painting that captures a theme or image from one of those sermons.
So far, three of her paintings are on display in the Chapel. She started painting more seriously during a high school art class. That teacher really challenged her to take more time with her paintings to make them the best they could be. That’s how she discovered her love for painting and she’s enjoyed it as a hobby ever since.
Becoming the worship visual arts coordinator, or chapel artist, was something Cowan wasn’t really looking for. In fact, when she applied and interviewed for the job, she wasn’t even on campus. She was in the midst of a study abroad trip in Mexico. The campus pastors reached out to her and asked her if she wanted to apply, so she did. She found out she got the job before the end of spring semester and had the summer break to create the first painting for the year.
Ben Brody, director of campus worship, vets the applicants before bringing a select few to Forrest Buckner, dean of spiritual life and campus pastor. As they look for an artist for the year, Buckner says they search for three distinct attributes. The first is a desire and passion for worshiping God. Secondly, artistic skill to create various works of art throughout the school year. And finally, the personal time to dedicate toward the artwork.
When thinking about Cowan, Buckner says she fits all three categories. “She has a commitment to seeking to love and follow Jesus that is very sincere and a deep part of who she is, mixed with this beautiful skill,” he said.
Buckner says that the overall goal of this position is to work alongside the other chapel staff in a way that, “recognizes that worship can be done in ways beyond music.”
The paintings that she’s done for this job are the biggest she’s ever created. Cowan says, “I was really nervous to do it at first […] It’s kind of vulnerable to put [my art] up on display, especially for so many people walking in here [the chapel]. But everyone’s just been so encouraging and loving. It makes me feel more and more excited every time there’s a new painting out.”
To showcase her talent Cowan has an Instagram page dedicated to her creations where viewers can see the process she goes through to create her paintings. This includes using an inspiration picture on a projector to plan out her paintings, before going in and creating the finer details on the canvas alone.
Buckner said the response to her artwork has been very positive. “I’ve seen people just standing in front of them, staring at them, contemplating them. And that’s been a really exciting thing to see. People really engaging in what we hope is an invitation to worship, to contemplate the truth of God from the Bible, but made in a visual form.”
Buckner said, “I do think it’s a neat reminder that worship is bigger than just music. The invitation to worship is to give everything in our lives as an offering of gratitude to God and for His purposes in the world. I think Macy’s gift to us has been, an inspiration to everybody that they can bring their own gifts in worship to God.”
