The School of Creative Arts & Humanities, in collaboration with the J.N. Andrews Honors Program and the Explore Andrews Program, will be hosting a Faith & Arts High School Retreat from Nov. 5-9. This opportunity is aimed at high school students who are passionate about the arts and want to learn more about how art can speak to and deepen their faith. Students and their families will be able to stay on campus throughout the retreat, providing participants with an opportunity to experience campus life while also connecting with college students and exploring the intersection of faith and the arts.
Leena Moses, the administrative assistant for the SCAH, shared that she hopes that the students who come for this weekend will get to know Andrews University and what the campus has to offer a bit better. “We really want high school students to be exposed to the creative arts in ways that are really meaningful with professionals who are doing that craft. So meeting with authors, meeting with artists, and really exposing them to what a career in the creative arts may look like is the goal of the weekend,” Moses explained.
The weekend will start off with a panel led by authors Kelly Baptist and MariJean Wegert. During the panel, students will get to learn about the creative process and how to pursue a career as an author. The event is open to visiting high school students, Approaches to English Studies students, and current college students. Friday’s activities also include a campus art tour, a visit to Adventist painter Nathan Greene’s studio, and a Faith and Arts Vespers and dinner.
On Saturday, the J.N. Andrews Honors Program will host a church service at 11:45 a.m. in the seminary building. Visiting high school students as well as current college students are encouraged to attend. In the afternoon, students will get to explore the Institute of Archaeology and Siegfried H. Horn Museum and discover the connections between art, archaeology, and the Bible. Later in the evening, the AU Art Club will host a ceramics night for the students to enjoy.
To close out the weekend, students will get to spend their Sunday exploring Chicago, including a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago and an architecture tour. The weekend will end with a farewell dinner.
Kristin Denslow, the chair of the SCAH, emphasized the diverse array of artistic experiences that students will be able to take part in. “Some are academic in nature, others are immersive, and then there are opportunities to make things together!” Denslow explained. “We want students to learn through making art, analyzing art and worshiping God through our artistic expression.”
Out of all the events and activities scheduled for the weekend, Moses believes students involved will enjoy visiting Nathan Greene’s art studio the most. “Greene is an artist who has done several really interesting pieces, and I think the tour really allows students to get to know him and his art,” Moses shared. She also thinks that the students participating will enjoy spending a day exploring the art that Chicago has to offer. “I'm really excited for students to visit and really be able to engage with the artwork and with their friends who are there with them,” Moses said.
College students interested in participating in this amazing weekend can contact Professor Denslow at denslow@andrews.edu. “If students want to participate more fully, we can use some student ambassadors willing to engage with our guests and help with event coordination,” Denslow said.
The weekend offers both high school and college students an opportunity to explore the connection between creativity, community, and faith. “My hope is that the event helps students learn more about the arts, connect them to their own spiritual journeys, and see that there are opportunities for creative expression in their future lives as well,” Denslow said. “Creativity is something we have to cultivate and grow in the context of communities, and this event is an attempt to do some of that work.”
There are some activities that are available for college students to participate in, as well as opportunities to help set up for various events that will occur during the weekend. “We want high school students to see themselves here at Andrews University, and what that looks like, so I think the college students, much better than the faculty and staff, could really inspire the students,” Moses said.
The event is free to attend and also includes lodging and food. Limited spaces are available, so if you know of someone who may be interested, please encourage them to apply ASAP before all the spots fill up. Applications can be filled out online using this link.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.