In 2011 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, artist Rino Pizzi's ArtPrize entry, The Mona Lisa Project, inspired the masses who visited this dazzling, daring, and personally rich display reimaging one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous artworks as retold through other women. The memory of this project also haunted local artist Christine Olson, who decided to do something about it.
The result of her reaching out to Pizzi is that she gained his permission to stage a special presentation of 20 local women artists, who, after sitting for photographer Dianne Carroll Burdick, would then set out to recreate their vision of this iconic setting style locked in so many of our memories.
The Mona Lisa is famous for that slight, knowing smile from a woman we know so little about, even after all these years. To keep up this mystery, The Mona Lisa Project Revisited (MLPR) on display at Fountain Street Church’s Keeler Gallery sets out to reflect back on this enigmatic woman in a truly breathtaking display of diverse works of art.
Within our city, there have always been experiments in art, on a grand scale like Sculpture Off The Pedestal, to smaller (but no less important) events like UICA's Live Coverage.
The MLPR joins these events as a leap of faith that ultimately lands firmly on its feet as each artist has carefully considered the reflective task before them.
“'If I were you, would I be you or me?' is a question my identical twin sister and I had asked each other many times in the past," says Olson, recalling the empathy she felt while creating her work for this exhibition. "In looking at the works in the exhibit, I feel many of the artists empathized with Mona Lisa and may have asked that same question."
And while it is an easy path to become jaded when you've spent your life in the pursuit of excellence within the world of art, Olson offers up something fresh and very moving as she walks the gallery. "My faith in the creative spirit of my artist colleagues is once again renewed," she says. I could not agree more.
Artists participating in this project include Lynn Anderson, Margaret Benefiel, Abigail Bradley, Pamela Benjamin, Jean Allemier Boot, Robyn Bomhof, Dianne Carroll Burdick, Nancy Clouse, Cindi Ford, Barbara Groat, Rosemary Hayes, Sandi Lummen, Jan McLaughlin, Sandy Meyer, Christine Olson, Kendra Postma, Sue Remes, Patti Sevensma, Mariel Versluis, and Ann Wassman.
The Mona Lisa Project Revisited is open to the public March 3 through April 28, 2013. Hours are Sun. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; closed Saturday.
Admission: Free
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