As we move forward after election day, we’re given an opportunity to reflect on what this moment means for us as a nation. In this context, I believe two works on display in the Davidson College Library by Bethany Collins, America: A Hymnal and The Star Spangled Banner: A Hymnal provide a good lens through which to view this moment. Through these pieces, Collins offers a unique perspective on unity and national identity that resonates with civic participation and the ongoing journey to define what it means to be American.
America: A Hymnal includes 100 variations of “My Country ’Tis of Thee,” each adapted to serve different movements and ideals over time. Originally written by Rev. Samuel F. Smith in 1831, the song’s melody has united many versions of American voices, from abolitionists to suffragists, and even groups as conflicting as temperance activists and the Confederacy. Collins’ work brings together these reinterpretations, presented in a horizontal book format that echoes old congregational songbooks. The pages are etched and charred, leaving behind a burnt, fragile text that changes with each handling. This dissonant presentation suggests that even as these songs share a common tune, the underlying messages diverge, exposing both harmony and tension within the American story.
Bethany Collins (American, b. 1984)
America: A Hymnal, 2017
Book with 100 laser cut leaves
6 x 9 x 1 in
Gallery Purchase
Photo by Tim Johnson, courtesy of the artist and PATRON Gallery, Chicago, IL
Similarly, The Star Spangled Banner: A Hymnal gathers 100 alternative versions of the U.S. national anthem, exploring its layered meanings. From its first rendition in 1814, the anthem has come to represent various ideals and contradictions. Some versions celebrate “the land of the free,” while others allude to “the land of the slave,” capturing the anthem’s use by both those celebrating liberty and those protesting inequality. Through this juxtaposition, Collins pushes us to confront the ways national symbols like the anthem reflect different facets of the American experience. Her work reminds us that patriotism is complex and that even shared symbols can reveal vastly different interpretations.
Bethany Collins (American, b. 1984)
The Star Spangled Banner: A Hymnal, 2020
Book with 100 laser cut leaves
1 x 9 x 6 in
Gallery Purchase
Photo by Evan Jenkins, courtesy of the artist and PATRON Gallery, Chicago, IL
After this election, Collins’ hymnals serve as timely reflections on the diverse voices that make up the American narrative. Much like the differing interpretations of familiar songs, each voter’s voice represents unique experiences, values, and visions for the country’s future. These works remind us that unity does not require uniformity but rather an acceptance and even celebration of our differences.
In America: A Hymnal, the charred and fragile pages suggest that each generation leaves its own mark on the idea of America, changing it with every new touch. Similarly, The Star Spangled Banner: A Hymnal reveals how the meaning of freedom has been both celebrated and contested. In the context of this election, these works challenge us to see our shared identity and to acknowledge that unity is as much about understanding differences as it is about finding common ground.
I invite you to experience these powerful works at the college library. Let them prompt reflection on your own beliefs and values, and consider how your vote, your voice, adds to the collective story of our nation. In the end, Collins’ work encourages us to view American identity as an evolving hymn, a chorus of voices, not always in harmony, but together in purpose.
– Oliver Poduschnick ’25
Collins (American, b. 1984) is a multidisciplinary artist whose conceptually driven work explores the intersection of race and language. She earned her BA from University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and her MFA from Georgia State University. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the U.S., including at the Studio Museum in Harlem, NY; Seattle Art Museum, WA; Drawing Center, NY; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA; the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College, and the Birmingham Museum of Art, AL, among many others. She has been an Artist-in-Residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem, MacDowell Colony, Bemis Center, McColl Center, and the Hyde Park Art Center. She is a recipient of numerous awards and honors including 2014 Atlanta Artadia Award, 2015 Hudgens Prize, 2019 LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Artadia Award, 2023 Gwendolyn Knight & Jacob Lawrence Prize from the Seattle Art Museum, and 3Arts 2024 Next Level Award, among others. She currently lives in Chicago and is represented by Alexander Gray Associates in New York and Patron Gallery in Chicago.