A Surprise at the Post Office – Mural Mosaic Reproduction

When I checked the morning mail yesterday, I found a pick-up notice for a parcel. Having just gone through the receipt period for the 2008 World of Small & Miniature Art exhibit at the Carriage Factory Gallery, I naturally thought of that show first. Could someone have sent something to the house in error?

But there was no way for anyone to have made that mistake without doing some research.

I hadn’t ordered anything, so what could it be?

The package that was brought from the storage area at the post office was surprisingly large and equally baffling until I caught the name on the return address label.

Mural Mosaic.

My copy of the Le Cadeau Du Cheval “The Horse Gift” mural. I’d forgotten all about it in the crush of other, more immediate events.

As soon as I got home, I opened it. This was the first time I’d seen an actual, physical representation of the much larger mural and it was stunning. It still is!

Every time I look at the reproduction, I see something new. I can pick out the paintings of some of my friends. Sheri Gordon’s excellent Storm Chaser, for example. Or Linda Shantz’ tribute to Canadian Thoroughbred champion Dance Smartly or Michelle Grant’s tribute to her long-time friend and equine companion, Peach.

But I knew those paintings were there. I’d seen them and many others in work in progress demonstrations by the various artists.

The real surprise was all the other treasures to be found in the mural. There are 238 paintings in the larger work and every single one is a gem.

Tom Dorr’s Heavy Haulers was an immediate favorite of Neal’s, but so was Twyla Wehnes Untitled, which features a jousting victor.

The treasures I found included Shannon Luyendyk’s Storm Rider, Bill Shaddix’s Untitled and Lewis Lavoie’s Untitled, but there is literally something new to be found every time I look at the reproduction.

I was excited to be accepted into the project months ago. During the painting process, I was alternately frustrated and disappointed with the work I was doing and ultimately relieved when it was finished (standard emotions with any painting).

Having seen the whole project, I am now in awe of the project itself, all the great work that went into it and thankful to God and to the organizers for having been allowed to participate.

Lewis Lavoie, Phil Alain and Paul Lavoie have done a great thing, as have all the artists who participated. If you have a chance to see the mural in person, take it. You will not be disappointed.

The next stop on the mural’s tour schedule is Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas, Nevada December 4-13, 2008.

If you can’t make it to see the actual mural, reproductions are available through Mural Mosaic.

In the meantime, thank you for reading and best wishes!