The annual SEARCH Symposium and competition celebrates great ideas in art and research through conversation across the liberal arts. It’s an occasion for students and faculty of every major and level of experience to come together for learning and discovery.
Garment of Peacefabrics, sequins, hot glue, ribbon, foam, wood, nails, and push pins
“Garment of Peace is inspired by the passage in Matthew 10 where Jesus tells the disciples that they needn’t take anything with them as they spread the good news of the gospel. He says that everything they need will be provided to them; they need only to have peace. He tells them to take their peace with them as they go about their journey, letting it rest on each household where they stay. This piece is my visual interpretation of what that peace looks like, with flowing, shimmering fabric like water and willow branches that calmly sway with the wind. The organic movement and the light diffusion that this material allows lends itself to this project because it allows the garment to capture the soft and ethereal nature of peace. This piece can be worn so that we can take it with us as we emulate the apostles on their journey. It is also able to be displayed like the peace that rests on the places where we stay. Through the materials used and the multiple functions, I hoped to capture the essence of peace as a means for survival. Because we can rely on God for all our needs, the only thing we need to bring for the journey is peace.
Moth E erfabric, batting, straps, bolts, nuts and screws, hot glue
“Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth, but how can one be warm alone?” Ecclesiastes 4:11
“We need warmth, heat, and light for our survival. So, we put on clothes, we dwell close together, we make a fire, we light up oil and kerosene lamps, we use electricity, and pray for the return of the summer sun. Without any fabric, warmth, or light, we would dwell in darkness, naked and cold. But the same things that we use for our survival attract the lacy creatures that are moths. They eat at fabric, fly to the light, and flock around fires. And we kill them with lamps, scare them away with moth-balls, and watch as they get burnt up in the fire, their wings lighting up. They finally receive the desired heat, and they are consumed by it. We are all just creatures, like the moths, needing warmth and connection. Why should my need for warmth and connection be more important than the moths? This piece is made to wear by placing the straps overyour shoulder and on your wrist. The person who wears it can flock around a room and be a little bit moth-e-er, dwelling in the pursuit of warmth. May we have empathy for small creatures.”
“I had a dream that I was commissioned to write a poem from a bug to god, and I do not remember any of the poem, except for the last line, which was: I pray nobody kills me for the crime of being small.” — Kayla Ancrum (@KaylaAncrum) December 7, 2022
Searching for Someonefound objects, wood blocks, and digital media
“Searching for Someone represents the inner struggle between the definition of who we want to be and who we are looking for with the outer beauty of the surrounding world. By forming the word “someone” with hidden objects, in plain sight, or in settings that demand attention through simple photography measures, the piece draws attention to the idea that who we are reflects our surroundings, and in contrast that the someone we are looking for is often less important than the glorious surrounding crafted by the Creator. Through seven distinct images, the representation of human knowledge, nature, technology, relationships, and religion are brought into question. Should these be places where we are wondering about our place in the world? Where should we be looking for our other half? Should we be more concerned with what these things represent? Should we be called to worship? With simple photography mimicking the glance, the viewer can be asked to wonder about their own ideas of “someone” and what it means to search for their own personhood, or their lack of companion, amidst a widely vast, complicated, and beautiful world.”
Untitledband-aid fabric, thread, velcro
“The prompt for this sculpture was to make something out of fabric with the aspects of survival in mind. I created a large bandaid; it was hand-cut and sewn. When coming back to the project, I chose to take off the cotton and replace it with something softer. Then, I also added the velcro, so it imitated the adhesive of a bandaid. I focused on the need for medical supplies. Bandaids are a fairly easy object to buy here in the U.S. If you get a little cut, you put a bandaid on it and continue on with what you’re doing. Band-Aids are useful and reliable. In my opinion, it is a common memory for a parent to put a bandaid on a “boo-boo” to make it feel better. They help us cover up our wounds and heal. “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Psalms 147:3 NLT”
Supportmixed media
“When I think of the needs of Asbury and how the community needs to come together. I think of the word support. Students and faculty need to support each other and work together. I wanted to emphasize support with this sculpture by asking some friends, Josh and Charles, to help hold up certain letters. By doing this, they are supporting me and my project! A variety of materials, colors, shapes, and depth are used intentionally. Not only to create space but also to show that support can look different for everyone. Some people need more or less support than others; people who are far away may still need financial support or food. People who are close to us may need words of encouragement or a hug. The important thing to note is that no matter what, everyone needs support.”
To Make A Conversationcardboard, hot glue and sticks, packing tape
“When first creating this piece, I wanted to replicate a beautiful antique phone that I had found in a prop room on my college campus. I was drawn to it because I wanted to create something whimsical, detailed, and intriguing to draw the viewer in. However, I quickly found out that replicating this phone in exact detail would be harder than I thought. However, it did make me aware of something. When we, as the human race, communicate with each other, we find anything we can to get meaning across: text, emails, letters, sign language, signs, pictures, languages, etc. We will act out movements, events, and stories just to get a point across and give our thoughts on the subject matter. We value our voices as a human race and try to use them as much as humanly possible, including myself as an artist. My original plan was to communicate the feelings, beauty, and detail that come with antiquity, but with my limited knowledge and time to understand and replicate it, I fell short. I was only able to get a basic idea across, a shape of what I wanted. Therefore, this sculpture is here to showcase that difficulty, desperation, and determination that comes with trying to communicate. As humans are always trying to communicate, since the moment we are born. However, because we live in a broken world, we will fall short. But just because we fall short doesn’t mean that we give up on the hope of making a conversation.“
翻译popsicle sticks, pipe cleaner, and craft glue
“翻译 (Fān yì) is the Chinese word for translation. I have made that word into the beams of a crate, fashioned after the crates that were used to ship goods across long distances. My thought was to base a piece on the poem that I wrote a year ago (below). I specifically meditated on the line, “My love comes to you/ Sugar bruised, shipped /in crates from the foreign land of /My ribcage to yours.” I have included little sugar-bruised peaches made out of pipe cleaners in the crate. I feel like the childish supplies that I used to craft it juxtapose the serious tone of the poem.” I speak to you in my mother tongue and yet I cannot translate everything my love comes to you Sugar bruised, shipped in crates from the foreign land of My ribcage to yours still you call it precious, miles between us, years to go, we meet in the middle. fine-china Feelings exchanged in second language shards, but you, You treasure my weary sweetness So I’ll seal your cracks with gold -Silk Road
Write Me Something Prettymetal wire, cotton ball/stuffing, fabric, red paint, empty pilot G-2 0.7
“Over the years, I have been ridiculed for my desire to become a writer, especially since AI has become such a casual part of daily life. Many like to let me know I will be jobless since technology can do what I can and might even become better than I do over time. But as people berate my passion, I found that the rock of despair does not kick me due to their words against me, but instead, I feel that blow because of their words against themselves. Write Me Something Pretty is a piece designated to the death of human creativity and how comfortable we shred it just to make our lives “easier”. But what truly instigated this piece was an interaction that happened to me not so long ago. After I had finished writing a paper for a class, I had a conversation about it with a family friend (older than me). They were so taken aback by the fact I could write an essay without the assistance of AI that I felt compelled to explore more about why this odd congratulation made me feel… sad. We often forget how much we are capable of since we have become accustomed to the life we have created that caters to us. Not only that, most of us suffer from perfectionism or the need to be the best at something the quickest. The idea that we cannot finish a project, come up with an idea, be absolutely exceptional, or even just “passable” without the use of AI is horrific. We are reaped with self-doubt, and we have become okay with that. However, when days pass to months, which goes into years, if we are not careful, our humanness will only be found in the shreds of our skin.”
A Fairy’s Gift to a Childcardboard and tape
“This piece is a large-scale replication of a small plastic ring I had as a child. As a large work of art, it is not immediately recognizable as what it used to be. It is an abstract form that could be a figment of someone’s imagination if the viewer is unaware that it is a copy of another object. Cardboard is often just used as a cheap vessel for transporting other more valuable items, but when you are a child, it can create whole worlds. When I was a kid, I was excited when my family received a big package, because it meant that I got to keep the box. It could be a house, a hotel, a spaceship, or a boat. Often, it was all of those things. It was a part of a fantasy world, an everyday scene, or a grand adventure. The possibilities were limitless. As I grew older, I’ve lost the whimsy I used to have and worked to reclaim it every day. The choice to use cardboard was a conscious one, meant to emphasize the childlike nature of the piece. The viewer should feel small in front of it. Hopefully, it will make them remember a time in the past when the world seemed big and anything seemed possible.”
The “Trash Can”cardboard, tape, and Sharpie
“This sculpture of a can has a removable lid, so it can serve multiple purposes. It could be used for storage or as a “trash can.” It remains with the appearance of cardboard and some artistic details of Sharpie in order to provide a retro look. I believe that by not covering up the cardboard it reveals the bones and foundation of the piece. Cardboard is such a wonderful and interesting material because it is everywhere, and yet is rarely thought about. The purpose of this piece is to make something ordinary and overlooked and present it with a new use. The object of a can is usually thrown away and never focused on again; however, this can could be used for a long time and even help upcycle its smaller version. In addition to this, the brand “Big Red” was inspired by my father, who had this around the house from time to time when I was a child. It was always a fun occasion and brought back nostalgia. I enjoy intertwining comedy into some of my pieces, such as this one. It is shown through the ingredients on the back of the sculpture, which are the materials it was made of rather than the ingredients of the drink itself. Along with this, the title of the piece, “Trash Can,” is a play on words. Yes, it can be used as a trash can; however, it is also a can that is built on the foundation of being more aware of our waste.”
Comfortred cedar staves, various woodchips, and lighter fluid
“Text I have entitled my final project Comfort. It is a reworking of a project; in the original assignment, I wrote the word “suffer” in front of Hughes Auditorium and set it on fire. The intent was to make a snarky comment about the way the Asbury community handled the revival. I felt that, as a whole, we were bitter and unwelcoming to those who traveled here. We were unwilling to undergo the discomforts and dangers of sharing the Outpouring with others. If we could not suffer in that way, how could we follow in the tradition of Jesus’ great sacrifice? The main critique I received was a lack of clarity surrounding the meaning. I sought to address this problem in Comfort. The point of the piece is to contrast the word with the rest of the picture, where a man is carrying a cross down a road. Aside from the obvious contrast of meanings, there is also a contrast of value (the bright fire against the dark road) and temperature (the heat of the fire against the snowy surroundings). Comfort’s intent is broader than the original, speaking to the whole church rather than Asbury alone. I hope to express my belief that in order to carry our crosses as Jesus did, we must set fire to our comforts.”
A Cold Roomfoam, fabrics, acrylic paints
“Home is a word with a definition that varies from person to person. “Home” isn’t always confined to a physical space but is also tied to feelings and memories. For my project, I wanted to convey a mixture of what being home can feel like to me. Translating my thoughts and my emotions of home into a piece that feels dreamlike, ephemeral, and slightly surreal. For me, home is a place of comfort and vulnerability. While I don’t consider my childhood house my only home, I think of it often in terms of an idealized space where I feel “at home.” This is my room, sculpted and painted in a way that draws attention to how my living space is my own, juxtaposed by conveying the emotions I feel when I’m away from home. My room is a space where I can sleep during the day, pile up laundry, listen to music under a pile of bed sheets, and, most importantly, simply rest. When I’m far away from the feeling of being “at home,” I feel melancholy. The feeling of being at home can’t be imitated or substituted, and an imitation of that can only scare away the important feelings that home is supposed to give me: security, peace, and comfort. When I’m not at home, the room is cold.”
Up in Knotsfabric, yarn, wood, and cloth
“The idea for this piece originated from my fabric sculpture earlier this semester. There are different colors and textures of fabric that represent different people, places, and events that have been important and impactful in my life. The idea of the knots is that we are always tying ourselves to people, places, and things that happen to us. This sculpture is a representation of both the chaos and the beauty that is everyday life, relationships, and events that we experience.”
Placedhangers, lamps, pencils, trophies, neck pillow, paintbrushes, belt, canvas fabric, and books
“The title of this piece, Placed, was used with an assortment of materials found in my room back home. My purpose in doing this was to create a more personal feel into my pieces and relate to myself. For me, the word placed used to have negative connotations, but with the help of hindsight, I can see the goodness of what I have been blessed with in my life. Each place I have been to, I have been placed there for a reason. Did I know the reason upon my placement as to why I was there? I did not, but by the midway point of each place I have been to, I have been able to see why I was there. Each background is a landmark of important locations I have been or where I am currently placed. The materials used represent me in its own unique way because there are no other materials that could capture the essence of each location that made me the person I am today. But this isn’t just about the past alone; this is about my present and future. God has placed me where I am at this very moment for a purpose. God has also placed me where I used to be for a reason as well. Knowing his hand in the places I was and currently are, then I know that the future, no matter where I will be placed, I know that I will be okay. Not because of what I have done, but because of what God has done with each little aspect of myself up to this point in my life.”
Untitledvinyl records, foam
“What is Home to me? Is it a Physical space? A certain location? Or something else? How do I represent that? When I sat down and just thought about these questions, I realized that home to me is not as much of a specific place but rather certain feelings I feel. Some of the feelings I connect with my idea of home are comfort and calm. I thought about what I could create out of foam to represent this. While thinking back through my life, I realized one item of many I would use for comfort and calmness was a record player and vinyl records. I remember going to friends and family’s houses who had vinyl records and just listening to that subtle crackle as we played games and talked. Going to many hole-in-the-wall vinyl stores around town and sifting through the stacks of records with my friends and family is something I still do to this day. I have my own record player now, too. I went to record stores around town, buying old, warped, and scratched vinyl records to repurpose in my art. The songs and specific records don’t have as much meaning to me, but I made sure to get ones from the stores I grew up going to to represent that comfort. One of them has writing on it which shows these were once a part of someone else’s home and life and now it’s a part of mine. I scratched into the vinyl some of the important aspects of home to me. Even if something is scratched or damaged, it doesn’t mean its use is over for good.”
‘Blending In’cardboard, aluminum foil, tape, paper mache, paint, fabric, hot glue
“This piece, ‘Blending In,’ shows the struggles in fitting in with different crowds. I used materials like aluminum foil, tape and paper mache to help mold this octopus to make it feel natural in its body movements. I chose fabric to show aspects of the octopus trying to blend in because this material felt like a personal relationship with humans and how this generation uses clothes now to blend in more than their actions. I chose to use symbolism with an octopus because, as a defense mechanism, they change their colors to hide from predators. In this era, there are so many trends that change rather quickly. Growing up, I was always trying to follow trends to fit in with the other people in my school. I have also personally seen struggles in the younger generation wanting to catch up quickly with these trends. There are so many switch-ups that there is a feeling of never quite blending in with others, and that is all a lot of younger kids want to do. They want to fit in and belong with a group of peers. As you look at this piece, have it be a reminder that being yourself is enough and you don’t need to blend in a crowd.”
The Baggage We Carry with Us Oldold suitcase, foam, acrylic paint, cardboard, paper, graphite, ribbon
“My mother and I often talk about the things that bother me or that I struggle with today, as I learned or watched from my parents growing up. Growing up, I had a standard family situation, except for the fact that my father has a lot of mental health struggles, which has caused my family a lot of divides. These divides have left the whole family fumbling and unsure in many areas. “The Baggage We Carry with Us” displays the areas I find I am fumbling in due to my upbringing. I will never see the world the same because of it, and I carry the good and the bad experiences with me even into adulthood. The darker side should represent my burdensome baggage and the things I am healing from. In contrast, the lighter side should represent my easy or good memories, the easier baggage. Both sides are a part of who I am and influence my choices today, the good and the bad. The man in the middle is struggling between this divide of easier baggage vs. heavy baggage. He shows being torn between these two opposites, these two dyads, and how his memories can be very contradicting because of his different life experiences. No matter the baggage we carry, we need to remember what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'”
Home?fabric, batting, straps, bolts, nuts and screws, hot glue
Foam board, Gaps & Cracks foam, acrylic paint, hot glue, toothpicks “There are two questions I get asked often, “Where are you from?” and “Where’s home for you?” I struggle to answer both of these questions because the more I move, the more my concept of home changes and shifts. My sculpture “Home?” was created to communicate the uncertainty I feel surrounding the question, “Where’s home for you?”My sculpture was carved out of foam board, painted with acrylic paint, and stuck together with Gaps & Cracks foam and toothpicks. Each stacked building is a place that I once called home. The bottom house is the home where I was born, and the top house is the home where I currently live. The more houses I have lived in, the more confused I became when asked, “Where’s home for you?” Is my home the place I was born? Or the place I loved the most? Each place I lived has felt like home at some point and is a part of my story. To communicate this, the first two houses on my sculpture are stable and neater, but the houses become more messy and upturned as they go up. This represents how the concept of home can become more complicated and confusing the more homes one lives in. The little toothpick people on the sculpture show how people shift and change along with their homes. Moving can cause you to change, the people around you to fade, or new people to become your home. To me, a home is a place and a concept that shifts and changes.