A Van Gogh!

The Van Gogh project had, I thought, reached a natural and satisfying conclusion.  I auctioned off Charlie’s painting and donated the money to ArtWorks945; and I had started to plan a new project with Tyler Helfrich, the director of ArtWorks945.  We decided that we would try to get the city of Charlotte to donate a wall so that the artists of ArtWorks945 could paint Falling Down Man as a mural.

Although I had given up my dream of owning a Van Gogh, I really couldn’t have been happier with the way that the Van Gogh Project finished.  I met some great people, traded for some amazing art, and raised some money for a truly deserving organization.  What else could I have wanted? 

But then Friday evening I received a text from Tyler.  She said that she was at Summit Coffee Shop and had a present for me.

I had no idea what to expect.   I anxiously waited for Lisa to get home so that we could head over to Summit together.  And as we drove over there, I kept asking: what could it be?  What could it be?  I had a feeling that Lisa knew what was going on – she seemed to have a wry smile on her face that betrayed her protestations of ignorance – but before I could wrestle anything out of her, we arrived at Summit.

When I saw what Tyler had, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  She presented me with a Van Gogh, not an actual Van Gogh but a replication of one that the artists at ArtWorks945 painted for me.  You can see the original and then the replication up above.

What a painting!

Thirty different artists over four months worked together to produce it.  It is, without a doubt, the most moving gift anyone has ever given to me. 

I wish I could be more articulate about it.  But all I can muster is: what a painting!

Tyler said that originally the canvas was divided into eight horizontal sections and that eight artists were each assigned a section.   But as the project unfolded, thirty different artists ended up contributing to the painting.

It really is one of a kind.  Indeed, it is more one of a kind than any Van Gogh painting.  Van Gogh’s paintings all have a price tag.  This painting, however, in some genuine sense of the term, is priceless.

Thank you, Tyler!

Thank you artists of ArtWorks945!

Thank you Universe!