Milligan welcomed Dr. He Qi on Thursday, Sept. 21, as the inaugural speaker for the university’s “Magness Lectureship on Jesus in the Arts.” He’s first of two lectures on that day, “My Journey of Christian Art,” was given during an 11 a.m. chapel service in Seeger Chapel, followed by a 7 p.m. evening service in the Gregory Center titled, “Images of Jesus in Asian Christian Art.”
“We first saw his paintings online, and kind of fell in love with his art,” said former Milligan professor and Jesus in the Arts Lectureship creator Dr. Lee Magness. “We ended up using his work in our classes. We were overjoyed when we got the honor to actually meet him back in 2006.”
“We first saw his paintings online, and kind of fell in love with his art,”
former milligan professor
He currently serves as the artist-in-residence at Fuller Theological Seminary, and has served the same position or as a visiting professor at Yale Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Samford University, University of Toronto, and Wheaton College. His work has been exhibited around the world, and is known for its unique influences of many different cultures, such as folk art, Tibetan art, medieval European art, and modern art.
Dr. He Qi’s lecture was the first in an ongoing lecture series at Milligan, The Jesus in the Arts Lectureship. Focusing on the depictions of Jesus’ ministry in the arts, the series was created through a generous gift from beloved retired Milligan professors, Drs. Lee and Pat Magness.
“The Magness Lectureship came out of an old class at Milligan called, ‘Images of Jesus in the Arts,’ said Lee Magness. “After we retired, we wanted to keep that interest alive and share it with the school and students here.”
The Jesus in the Arts Lectureship was envisioned and founded by the Magness’ with the aim of providing the Milligan community the chance to engage with artists and their expressions hailing from marginalized ethnic backgrounds.
“We are eager for people to not just make connections with their faith and the arts, but also to see cross-cultural ones with underrepresented artists,” said former Milligan professor Dr. Pat Magness. “That’s why we were happy to see this lectureship carried out at Milligan.”
“We are eager for people to not just make connections with their faith and the arts, but also to see cross-cultural ones with underrepresented artists,”
Pat magness
Following He’s 7 p.m. evening service later that night, his artwork was set up in the Gregory Center lobby, which will remain there through Oct. 18.
