HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – A collaboration between a Holland art studio and a local retirement community will be on display for this year’s ArtPrize festival.
Local artist Carolyn Stich worked with Freedom Village to create a 5-by-20-foot mural depicting an older gentleman with his grandson. The piece, titled “Path of Wisdom,” is made up of 400 squares that were each painted by a different resident of Freedom Village. In addition to painting their square, the residents were also invited to write their favorite words of wisdom, which varied from simple, yet pleasant, phrases like “don’t be afraid to be happy,” to more witty lines like “if you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.”
Stich said that she loved getting so many people involved on one project as it gave a unique spin to a more traditionally painted mural.
“The fun thing about it is they don’t all have to fit perfectly,” Carolyn said. “The colors are just a little off on every square, but that’s the beauty of it.”
The mural will be on display at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market at Simpatico Coffee during this year’s ArtPrize, which runs from September 23 to October 11.
– Daniel Rayzel