“IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN WERE
THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND BAD”
— THE BOOK OF GENESIS
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Within a biblical survey of trees, I see them appear at strategic moments in the biblical story. Trees mark moments of choice & testing but also an overlap of God’s presence and human presence. The design and placement of ancient near eastern historical references & contemporary domestic references all become vessels for metaphor. The dichotomy of flat graphics vs. volumetric rendering point to the symbiotic nature of an abstract vs. material world. Through captivating realism, I curate a sense of wonder and curiosity with the use of both toys and religious symbols that point to imagination and meaning in a chaotic world.
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Craig Hawkins, a studio artist and educator in South Georgia, centers his studio practice on drawing and painting. With an M.F.A. from the University of Georgia, he skillfully balances being a dedicated studio artist and respected professor at Valdosta State University.
Hawkins' work wrestles with the tension between ancient wisdom and present reality. Shaped by his experience growing up in the Southeast and his engagement with Near Eastern wisdom literature, it reflects both a deep respect for Scripture’s design and a recognition of how often its depth is overlooked or misunderstood. "I keep returning to the rhythms and symbols of ancient Hebrew scripture—not because I always understand them, but because they continue to hold more than I can grasp. They are a garden—a place to take root, wrestle, grow, and search for the One who gives and sustains life. My work is a response to the beauty and brokenness I see in the world and the conviction that community and meaning can still be found within it." |
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All artwork © Craig Hawkins
