Maggie June Samples was a creator, critic and lover of art. She served as the student member of the McInteer Aesthetics Committee for two years and was closely involved in the annual student art competition. Whether in her writing, her painting or her personal style, she intentionally sought to make everyday moments beautiful and to help others open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds us all. Maggie died tragically in the summer of 2025, but her legacy of seeking beauty like flecks of gold in the sand continues on campus through this contest named in her honor.
You’re invited to honor her legacy by supporting student artists. Select "Give Now" and write in “Maggie June Samples Art Competition Endowed Fund" as the designation.
Theme: "Lifted Up"
Melanie’s designs will be executed in linocut, using imagery of stained glass to show how God reaches down to us and makes it possible for us to be “lifted up” to Him. By depicting events like Pentecost (Acts 2), the tearing of the veil (Matt. 27), as well as the sacraments of Communion (Matt. 26) and Baptism (Matt. 3), Melanie’s work shows that faith is a vertical conversation where God’s light comes down so we can rise up to meet Him.
Next year's theme will be announced by September 2026.
Students are asked to design a series of four original compositions highlighting passages or imagery in Scripture connected with the theme (e.g., Ps. 93, Isa 63, Lk 1, Jn 3, Jn 12, etc.).
The winner receives a $2,000 prize upon completion of the final series and up to $500 to cover the cost of supplies. The student will have three months to complete the series: four large-scale panels (scale discussed and approved by the committee). Upon completion of the series, there will be a reception and an Artist Q&A for the 91ÆÞÓÑ community. The final pieces will be added to the collection of the McInteer Bible and World Missions Center. All winnings are subject to U.S. taxes.
Any 2D media are welcome (painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed-media, and collage). Be bold with the art concept as you contemporize these ideas. Think about how both the idea and look will age. Will the concept and visual language still communicate effectively in 20 years?
To enter, submit 3-5 original designs of the proposals created digitally or by hand. The designs are a small-scale version of the final images and should be detailed enough to demonstrate your artistic vision.
Students must email the 3-5 designs to the Aesthetics Committee at mcinteerart@harding.edu as a JPG or PDF by April 18, 2027.
Design concepts must be original and the use of AI-generated images is forbidden and will not be considered for this competition.
The Aesthetics Committee will evaluate designs based on the following criteria:
Would these designs harmonize and relate to the space (McInteer Building and classrooms)
Do the designs reflect the theme and relate to the theological emphasis and scriptural context?
Do the designs demonstrate strong craftsmanship and technical facility?
Are the designs elegant, balanced, and harmonious, and utilize effective design principles?
Do the designs demonstrate creativity and originality?
Are the designs interesting and engaging?
This series combines three-dimensional elements with two-dimensional media. The series begins with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (humanity’s choice represented with the different types of branches), the second image depicts an olive tree to symbolize God’s relationship with Israel. Lastly, Tree of Life makes reference to the tree of life in both Genesis and Revelation. This final scene symbolizes the complete restoration of God’s kingdom and eternal life with Him.
These pieces are made with sloped Lego pieces arranged in vertical columns that alternate the slope direction to produce a very cool effect. When viewed from the front, the artwork looks like an abstract assortment of colors. When viewed at an angle from the left or the right, the artwork transforms into a recognizable image representing the miracle that Jesus performed.
The subject matter focuses on miracles of transformation to go along with the idea of the ‘transforming’ artworks.
These pieces represent the various aspects of David's life through a dynamic display of David's hands interacting with various symbolic objects. As a warrior, David is depicted with his hand holding smooth stones. As a psalmist, he is shown by his hand plucking a lyre. As a king, he is portrayed by the hand grasping a crown (to be rendered in more detail). And as a sinner, he is represented by an entangling red ribbon.
These large oil paintings feature three women in the parables of Jesus. The first woman is reminiscent of the wise virgins trimming their lamps, but the direct inspiration was Jesus’s short parable, “you are the light of the world.” The second one depicts the woman from the parable of the lost coin. Finally, “The Persistent Widow” depicts the woman who demanded justice from the court and would not take no for an answer.
This series depicts powerful scenes and images from the major Prophets. The first piece draws on the call of Isaiah in which his tongue is touched with a coal from the altar. The second depicts the cup of the wrath of God from Jeremiah 25:15-16. The third, from Ezekiel 37, shows the valley of dry bones. The final piece, “Daniel in the Lion’s Den,” portrays the hand of the angel of the Lord closing the mouth of the lion.
The four living creatures depicted in Ezekiel and Revelation have long been a popular subject in Christian art. In the early church, the creatures became associated with the four Gospels and the major themes or characteristics of each. In iconography, a book and/or quill is frequently included to make this connection to the Four Evangelists explicit. These pieces are notable for their connection to the artistic tradition but also for the contemporary presentation of the creatures with bold colors and background designs aimed to enhance the connection to particular gospels.
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