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God, Art and a Better Future

by Jess Willard

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Every artist has their muse. Freshman art major Autumn Cardinal draws her inspiration from two sources: her firm foundation in Christian beliefs and her hope for a better future.

Cardinal is originally from Lansing, Michigan, and the place she laid her head for five to six months was a homeless shelter. During her stay there, she was introduced to a program called “Pictures of Hope.”

Cardinal was asked to take pictures of what hope meant to her and ultimately chose to photograph rose petals alongside scarred wrists. “My interpretation was that hope is false advertisement,” she said. “So I was romanticizing the idea of self-harm.” After her photographs were showcased, she was offered a full tuition scholarship to a college of her choice.

Founder of “Pictures of Hope” Linda Solomon matched Cardinal to Blackburn College, and they visited the campus together this past June. During that time, Cardinal met President John Comerford. Through their hour-long chat, Comerford said he thought of Cardinal as a very strong woman who had been dealt a difficult hand, yet she was very future-oriented. “She’s a gifted artist and will be a great contribution to Blackburn,” he said.

However, Cardinal’s experiences before moving to Blackburn’s campus were difficult and life-shaping. Her initial drive came from her father’s drug addiction. She wanted a different life than the one he was living and decided to complete high school.

In addition to the scholarship, Cardinal credits God for helping her get to college. “I’m here because God wants me here, and I talk to God every single day of my life,” she said. From boys to her future, she consults with God about everything.

The free education was not the only factor in Cardinal’s decision to come to Blackburn College – she enjoyed the way it felt. She added, “When I came down here, I felt safe, and I had not known that prior.” Cardinal recognized that the chance to experience a different environment will be one of her biggest takeaways.

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Cardinal chose art as she paints murals, performs spoken words and possesses a variety of other artistic talents.

Freshman Abigail Gathard is Cardinal’s roommate and saw her passion for art from the moment they met. “Her art is very bright. She uses lots of reds and purples,” she added. “Her art really reflects her. She’s been through a lot of pain and is overcoming it. That art is a symbol of her starting a new life.”

After college, Cardinal hopes to sell her art, but her ultimate goal is to be a ghost writer. “I want to be a lyricist for famous rappers,” she said. “I don’t care if I’m the face of fame, but I want to be the brains behind it.”

Overall, Cardinal’s transition to Carlinville and Blackburn College has been positive. “I don’t feel homeless anymore. I feel like I legitimately have a home. It’s not very big, but everything here I worked for,” she said.

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