Pineville, La. (UrbanCast: 6/15/2026) – Louisiana Christian University has a new heart.
The beautiful new heart is one of the latest art installations of the Community Heart Project in central Louisiana, an initiative of the Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The heart was donated by the owners of Louisiana Fireplace in Pineville, Kristetta and Chuck Miller, who are 1994 and 1993 LCU alumni, respectively. Kristetta is also a current student in LCU’s MBA program. The Millers’ daughter Emma is a 2023 graduate.
“I met my husband at LC,” she said. “LC is the reason I live in Pineville. It became my home, and I am still here 35 years later.”
The Pineville Downtown Development District held a presentation on the community project, and Kristetta Miller, a commissioner for the organization, said she loved the idea and knew she wanted to get involved.
She also knew exactly the artist she wanted to design and create the look of the heart.
Michael Williams, who is an art professor at LCU and an alumnus, worked with the Millers at Louisiana Fireplace years ago.
“When I was first approached by Kristetta Miller, the patron of this project, in late 2025 to serve as the artist, I was ecstatic,” Williams said. “In February 2026, I began the design process by sketching concepts and exploring various compositions. Once I developed front and back designs that worked together cohesively and captured the spirit of the university, I created acrylic paint studies and submitted them for approval.”
After design approval, Williams said he began the work on the heart sculpture itself, using lightfast acrylic paints to ensure the colors will resist fading from prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays. From the initial sketches to the finished sculpture, the project took just less than two months to complete.
“One side of the heart features an aerial view of campus, centered on Alexandria Hall and topped with the university’s institutional logo,” Williams said. “The reverse side showcases the iconic fountain at the heart of campus, accompanied by the classic LC logo. The entire piece is rendered in the university’s signature colors, orange and blue.”
Williams said his involvement in the project was incredibly meaningful to him.
“Louisiana Christian University has played a significant role in my life, both as a student and as an educator, making this project particularly rewarding,” Williams said. “I thoroughly enjoyed being part of it, and I hope that alumni, current students and future generations alike will feel that the artwork faithfully represents the university we all love.”
LCU President Dr. Mark Johnson expressed his gratitude for the Millers for their generosity and unwavering love for the university.
“Some moments remind us that a university is more than building and classrooms, it is a community of people whose lives have been shaped by its mission,” Johnson said. “This beautiful Community Heart Project installation is one of those times.”
The dedication of the LCU heart by the Millers is especially meaningful to Johnson, he said, because he had the privilege of teaching their daughter Emma at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary before he became LCU’s president.
“This heart represents far more than art,” Johnson said. “It symbolizes community, legacy, generosity and the bonds that unite generations of Wildcats. Thank you to the Millers for this meaningful gift, and to Michael Williams for creating a beautiful tribute to the university we cherish. May this heart always remind us that LCU thrives because of the faithful support of those who believe in our mission.”
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