Crispin Webb Art Endowed Scholarship

Born on December 12, 1977, in Charleston, West Virginia, Crispin found himself on the verge of crisis during his teenage years. According to him, trouble had a way of knowing where he was at any given moment. His mother's prayers and hope for her son eventually led Crispin to Jesus and Mount Vernon Nazarene University where he arrived as a confused 'nipple-pierced,' energetic, questioning young man.

He found his way to the Art Department, interested in photography, but inquisitive about everything. Here he met photography professor Brian Baby, painting and drawing professors Jim Hendrickx and John Donnelly, and Fluxus sculptor and professor Don Boyd, along with a core group of student artists and Christians. At that point, his life transformed and he, in turn, changed us. Crispin produced a massive amount of work and challenged others around him to do the same, who answered the call as witnessed by his alumni peers continuing to make art. Crispin's work culminated in one of the most intriguing senior exhibitions in MVNU's history.

Following graduation, Crispin was accepted as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidate at Bard College in The Milton Avery School of Painting and Sculpture, one of the premier art schools in the nation. Crispin was one of 11 students accepted worldwide that year in sculpture. He was the only non-New Yorker accepted, and the only student who did not possess a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Crispin had a lasting impression upon students and faculty there artistically and spiritually.

After completing a successful three-year MFA at Bard, Crispin was invited in 2004 to apply to The Ohio State University graduate art program in art and technology for a second MFA. He was accepted and there began similar exploration into his art and life with Jesus Christ. Without missing a beat, living modestly and working diligently Crispin began to impress upon the faculty and students at OSU what we at MVNU had come to love and appreciate in him, a young man full of vigor, love, faith and art that had no boundaries. This led Crispin to be selected by nationally known artists Ann Hamilton and Michael Mercil to work closely in an apprenticeship-like atmosphere that grew into friendship.