Chad Jay, Assistant Professor of Art at 大象视频, prefers that the subjects of his paintings reflect people or images he has seen in real life. This can be clearly seen in his new exhibit for Via Crucis, a series of 15 paintings depicting the stations of the cross.
Early in 2023, Jay and Becki Graves, Director of Worship Arts, were looking for a way to engage students in art across multiple disciplines. They wanted to create a project that would highlight topics that bring Christians together.
鈥淲hat connects us all across so many denominations?鈥 Jay asks from his seat in the Weaver art gallery on campus, where his paintings are currently showcased. 鈥淭he Passion story.鈥
Soon after starting to collaborate, Jay and Graves discovered a unique funding opportunity to make their project come to life. Graves applied for and was awarded a Vital Worship Grant from Calvin University. With the funding in place, they agreed to launch a project called Via Crucis, or 鈥淭he Way of Suffering鈥.
The entirety of the project features art from multiple disciplines including choral arrangements, original music written and produced by the Worship Arts class and Jay鈥檚 series of paintings.
鈥淐reating this body of work was a deeply personal and moving experience.鈥 Jay says. 鈥淢y hope is that Via Crucis will not simply be viewed but prayerfully experienced, drawing viewers into the mystery of Christ鈥檚 Passion and Resurrection in a way that resonates with their own journey of faith.鈥
Bethel students and the community have been invited to engage with the Via Crucis paintings by walking through the gallery and leaving notes about their experience, which Jay has been pleasantly surprised to see more of every day.
The exhibit, along with choral music and original poetry, was presented to the public at St. Paul鈥檚 Memorial Church in South Bend on April 11, 2025. People throughout the community were able to experience the central story of the Gospel through art.