Artist Mia Tavonatti, formerly shown in the Kwan Fong Gallery, was recently awarded first place by popular choice at this year’s annual ArtPrize contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tavonatti is a local Santa Ana artist whose work you may recognize from CLU’s recent New Romantic Figure Show. Some pieces on display include work from her previous “Svelata” collection; a collection containing a mosaic that took second place in ArtPrize’s same competition of 2010.

To see “Crucifixion,” pieces displayed in the Kwan Fong Gallery New Romantic Figures Show, or more of her body of work, go to http://www.svelata.org/, or click on this link Svelata

Mia’s “Crucifixion” piece that received first place this year as well as a $250,000 cash prize is a mosaic work of art, proving that she can truly paint with glass. The 13 x 9 ft 2-D mosaic sculpture is made from hand-cut stained glass, taking approximately 2500 hours to complete. In creating an accurate design to work from, Mia first had her model pose on a self-constructed cross, placed in the woods of Santa Cruz, then layered this with two separate sunsets she photographed in both Italy and Hawaii. While the subject matter is quite religiously specific, she is still approached by many people of differing religions who recognize the piece’s undeniable beauty.

For more information on the Kwan Fong Gallery or Mia Tavonatti, please visit:

http://blogs.callutheran.edu/kwanfong/

http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/49426