On Saturday, August 30, the Templeton Honors College celebrated the official opening of the Merriman Family Art Gallery with a reception that welcomed students, faculty, alumni, and community members into a new space dedicated to the intersection of faith, beauty, and creativity.
The inaugural exhibition, titled The Body: Broken | Falling | Rising, presents a powerful collection of works by two of the most influential Christian artists of the last half-century: Edward Knippers and Bruce Herman. Both artists were in attendance, offering reflections on their art, their vocation, and the deep theological themes woven through their work.
Knippers emphasized the profound importance of the body in Christian theology, noting how doctrines of Creation, Incarnation, and Resurrection are inseparably tied to the reality of embodiment. “Disembodiment is not an option for the Christian,” he remarked. “Our faith comes to naught if the Incarnation was not accomplished in actual time and space.”
Herman reflected on his depictions of the vulnerable, broken body of Christ, describing how this paradox of weakness and glory reveals God’s intimate presence with humanity. Drawing on St. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9—“My power is made perfect in weakness”—he invited attendees to consider how art can reveal divine beauty even through suffering.
The reception filled Templeton Hall with energy and anticipation, as guests explored the newly completed gallery and engaged in meaningful conversation. The Merriman Family Art Gallery was created as part of the vision for Templeton Hall: to be not only a space for learning but also a place where beauty and contemplation are cultivated.
The exhibition will remain open to the public through December 19, 2025, giving visitors the opportunity to experience and reflect on its themes. It marks the beginning of a vibrant schedule of exhibitions and events hosted by the Templeton Honors College in the years to come.
The opening of the Merriman Family Art Gallery represents more than just the launch of a new space—it is a commitment to the integration of faith and the arts, and to the cultivation of beauty as an essential part of education and community life at the Templeton Honors College.
