THE WINNER
of the Face of Christ survey is “Gentle Healer,” by Greg Olsen. It won handily with 47% of the final vote, significantly higher than the second place photo of Jim Caviezel at 27%
To see the full painting that this was cropped from, please visit Greg Olsen’s website here.
It was interesting to me that this painting won for personal reasons. My EC and I wanted to have a picture of the Savior in our living room. Not that we worship paintings, but as a constant reminder of who we are, who He is to us, and what we are supposed to be about.
After a lot of looking, we decided to purchase this very same print, and now it hangs on our wall.
To me it conveys a fascinating mix of strength and gentleness. I wouldn’t confuse this painting with so many where Jesus is portrayed as weak or effeminate, he looks plenty manly. But his face and expression – to me – also portray kindness, patience, and an underlying sense of joy. Is it accurate? Who knows? But it works for me. I feel good things when I see this painting.
Being the audacious man that I am, I wrote to Greg Olsen, to tell him that he won. I doubt Brother Olsen will put this victory on his resume or website, but I thought he should know. Here’s the cool part: He wrote back with a message for all of us.
“I think as artists we create “symbols” of Jesus. Every viewer brings their own spiritual eyes to each and every image they view, as a result different images resonate with different people…that is the beauty of art! Personally I’m pleased that there are so many wonderful depictions. Each one reminds us of some facet of his personality and each one will be of benefit to someone out there.” – Greg Olsen –
How cool is that? My appreciation to Brother Olsen for writing back, and for sharing his amazing talent with us and the rest of the world.
I’m sure many of you have more thoughts to share about this contest. I know it got me thinking more about my Savior this week. I plan on posting some final thought either tonight or tomorrow. Please share yours!
Thanks for participating!
I know this is old, but I fell in love with this painting after this contest. It helped me look at many pictures of the Savior and this one was my favorite. So lucky me got this print for my birthday. Then a few days later I go to my local Costco and guess whose there? Greg Olson himself. So I get to take it in and have it signed by him! Best birthday present EVER! So excited! So thanks to this contest I got an autographed print. Thanks MMM I owe you one!
I didn’t participate in the contest, but this is one of my favorites. A lot of portraits of the Savior kind of weird me out for some reason.
Great series MMM, though I’m late to it (I was out of internet range last week…)
We have three images of the Savior in our living room. The first came to us as a Christmas gift from my lovely wife’s brother — a large framed print of Olsen’s “O Jerusalem”. I particularly like the fact that the Savior’s face is partly obscured in that painting.
The second is a painting of the Savior with a lamb on his shoulders. It is not Del Parson’s “The Good Shepherd” but has many of the same elements. I had admired the painting in the home of a counselor, and when he was released, he gave me the painting as a gift, since it was emblematic of the work I was doing as bishop. Quite a touching tribute. (Sadly, I can’t remember the artist, and I can’t find the print online…)
The third was a gift from my lovely wife to me — also by Olsen, “Precious in his sight” in which he Savior holds a child on his lap and together they examine a butterfly. It is what I want to be to my children (and yet I fail), a loving and gentle teacher.
Those paintings are as important to me for how they came to me as what they stand for.
(In response to your FOML#1 comment about Minerva Teichert — it has taken me a long time to appreciate her art. That particular painting he cited hangs in the Taipei Temple and I grew to love it in that setting. Now when I see a print of it, I think of that temple and the work we did there.)
My favorite artist is J. Kirk Richards, but I have several Simon Dewey’s and Greg Olsen’s in our home.
Yay! My favorite won!!! I have three of Greg Olsen’s paintings and they all speak love to me.
I never voted, but that is my favorite painting as well. I met Bro. Olsen a couple of years ago when he was exhibiting his art at our local Costco of all places. I hoped to find that painting to put up in our home, so I was browsing through the art. When I saw him at the table I asked him if he was Greg Olsen and when he affirmed that he was I had the instant reaction of tears coming to my eyes and a lump to my throat so I could barely croak out my appreciation for his art and all that it means to me. It was completely embarrassing, but memorable!
When my wife and I got married, my bishopric bought us a large framed copy of that painting. We’ve been married almost ten years, and still keep it front and center in our living room.
That print is hanging in my family room too. Love it!
Awesome that he responded with such a beautiful message! I don’t have that painting in my home… yet. I have always the the print my parents have in theirs. I’m sure I’ll break down and get it dooner than later after this. 🙂 It’s one of my fave depictions as well.
I really enjoyed this contest and seeing the different things that others saw in the art. It made me examine what I knew in of my Saviour. Then I started thinking, “What do others see in me?” Am I living my life in a way that others can see unconditional love and compassion in my eyes.
So cool that he emailed you back! I like what he said about the artistic portrayals being symbols. One of the paintings of Christ that resonates with me the most is Minerva Teichert’s “Christ in Red Robe,” which is not very realistic-looking at all.
Totally agree. Minerva Teichert’s art, while very stylistic, is really powerful.
I have this one on my wall now: http://delparson.com/gallery_pages/facing_eternity.html I love it too, but I have to admit that I don’t feel the emotion that I feel when I look at the Greg Olsen painting. 🙂
That painting of Christ has always been my favorite, for the very reasons that you stated. I can see love… and sometimes even a little sadness. Kindness, and patience definitely. And that bit of a twinkle in his eye does speak joy to me. 🙂 He doesn’t look like a GQ model, or girly in this painting. I really do love it.
I enjoyed the art very much. One thing I like about Jesus pictures is the effect they have on children. I had several children, and have worked with many children as a teacher and in church callings, and am amazed at the response little children give. Without fail, when I am holding or leading a little child, and we pass a portrait of the Savior, the child will reach out to the picture. Often, very young, they will say, “Jesus!” It doesn’t matter that each artist has a different rendering. Somehow the children know.
I like that you contacted Greg Olson and I like what Brother Olson said about each depiction reminding us of some facet of Christ’s personality. Perhaps that is why very different portrayals, even some I don’t particularly like artistically, nearly bring me to tears.
Considering these pictures this week, my mind keeps going back to the story of 3 men who died and are each called to an interview room and asked what they know about Christ. I want to live so that I will know my Savior.