History

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History of Mic Carlson’s Career

This page is currently being worked on. Please be patient. Scroll down to see Exhibitions.

2019

2018 Unveiling of the bronze monument Jesus and the Children at the Basilica of Saint Adalberts, Grand Rapids, Michigan

2018 Bronze Candle Stick holders of Steve and Darlene Private collection Steve Billmeier and Darlene Frederick

2018

2017 (May) Bronze relief memorial of fallen police officer "Robert Kozminski" is located at Richmond Park, 1101 Richmond St NW, Grand Rapids.

2015 (April) "Christ at the Pillar" bronze is located in the courtyard at Holy Redeemer Church. 2700 Baldwin St., Jenison, Michigan.

2015 (September) "The Living Cross” a 13 foot bronze cross is located at Cascade Christian Church, 2829 Thornapple River Dr Cascade, SE, Grand Rapids.

2014 (Oil Portrait of Steve and Darlene and sculpted custom Frame) Oil on Italian Linen, Private collection Steve Billmeier and Darlene Frederick

2013 (May) Reverse Glass exhibition in the Waters Building down town Grand Rapids.

2012 (November) "Madonna of the Streets" his first bronze is located at 659 Bridge Street in Grand Rapids, next door to HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid. The bronze is surrounded by the 20 mysteries of the Rosary in a relaxing green space.

2012 Art Prize "Madonna of the Streets" Original located in front of the Geral R Ford Presidential Museum

2011 (Started Michigan Fallen Warrior Memorial).

2010 “Saint Philomena” Private Collection at Saint John Vianny, Wyoming Michigan.

2010 Assisi Wall, Susan and Jack Hessler.

2010 ArtPrize “The Way” Jesus and Saint Francis

2009 ArtPrize World Peace Staue. “Saint Francis leaping over the world”

2008

2007

2006 Mic Re-creates the Masters, White House Bistro and Gallery.

2005 16 bronze statues of St. Francis). Summer long exhibition at the National Shrine of The Cross in the Woods. Indian River, Michigan.

2004 Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy. Invited by Padre Coli, Father Superior September 18th – October 16th Mic was the first American sculptor to have a show there.

2003 Two man show with Photographer Andrea Angelucci in Assisi, Italy. (Paintings and sculptures).

2003 Mic then had a wonderful opportunity to get an office in the Waters Building in He expanded from a 6th? floor space to a first floor galley larger space which he occupied until they made it into apartments in 2014.

2003 “Everyone loves flower exhibition”. Showcasing a collection of still life oil paintings of flowers decoratively arranged in Phil Wilson pottery.

2002 Mic had an exhibit in a gallery in the center of Assisi, Italy. His charismatic paintings of Saint Francis of Assisi filled the walls of the Galleria La Loggie, Commune de Assisi. Local Italian TV hosts came in to interview Mic. There were also Italian newspaper articles about his exhibition.

1999 to 2001 Mic moved his showcase of paintings to Saugatuck, Michigan to be featured in the Jhon Kleyn Gallery. This gallery was detrimental in lifelong connections with very special people he met. After Jhon closed the Saugatuck Gallery, Mic had many new ventures that took his works of art to Europe.

During the Jhon Kleyn Gallery years, Mic met David Barton, who opened up a Restaurant called The White House in that city. He loved Mics paintings and ended up buying a large one of Elton John. When the Jhon Kleyn Gallery closed, David then asked Mic to display some of his works of art in his restaurant, now gallery. That wonderful gallery existed until 2013. It was during that time that Mic met Johannes Schoepf, who was visiting from Germany. They became instant friends and Jojo (Johannes) with his wonderful spiritual being, would later become Mic’s model for his Francis of Assisi sculptures. Mic had been searching for someone special who would exude the loving kindness and love for all nature and people he needed for his sculptures of Francis.

1997 Mic teamed up with like minded people to open a gallery in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fine Art Frame & Gallery featured Mic’s paintings. Since Mic has great people skills and had many connections with business owners, he was also the marketer for this new gallery.

Pace e Bene

Dates

Sculptor Mic Carlson’s Exhibitions and Publicity

May 31, 2002
2002 One Man show in Assisi, Italy.

In 2002, Mic had an exhibit in a gallery in the center of Assisi, Italy. His charismatic paintings of Saint Francis of Assisi filled the walls of the Galleria La Loggie, Commune de Assisi. Local Italian TV hosts came in to interview Mic. There were also newspaper articles about his exhibition.

DSC00421 mic opening gallery perugia.jpg

October 3, 2003

2003 Italian Exhibitions Perugia/Assisi Italy

In 2003, Perugian delegates visiting Grand Rapids asked Mic if he would exhibit paintings showing Perugia and it’s Sister City Grand Rapids, Michigan for a 10 year anniversary of the Sister City bond. Mic's next step was to travel to Perugia to meet with the Vice Mayor to coordinate the exhibition. Mic created 16 oil paintings, Italian and Grand Rapids scenes and 4 bronze statues of St. Francis of Assisi for the show which was held at the Gallery Ciesa S. Maria Della Misericordia in Perugia, Italy from October 3rd through the 12th, 2003. On October 17, after the Perugia exhibit was finished, Mic had his 2nd exhibition in Assisi at Raffaele Ariante Gallery. It was at this display that Padre Enzo Fortunato, from the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, loved the bronze sculptures and inquired about Mic having an exhibition at the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi the following year. He introduced Mic to Padre Vincenzo Coli, head Prior of the Basilica. The exhibition was agreed upon for September 18 through October 16, 2004, during the feast of Francis of Assisi.

The White House Saugatuck, Michigan

July 14th Mic unveiled a collection of his own rendering of 20 masterpieces from the famed d'Orsay Museum and the Louvre Museum. Mic is bringing Paris to Saugatuck (The White House Gallery and Bistro) in a one time summer exhibition of famous paintings such as the Mona Lisa, Whistler's Mother and other classics by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Manet, Rembrandt, Degas and Toulouse Lautrec.

Before the commercial art market, copying a work of a master was considered a tribute, not a forgery. In the previous centuries, many painters like Rembrandt had workshops with apprentices that studied painting techniques by copying the works and style of the master.

2004 Exhibition of Bronze in Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy.

In 2004, Mic was invited to the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi for a bronze exhibition in the Cloister of Pope Sixtus IV depicting St. Francis in postures of prayer, meditation, preaching and interacting with nature. Mic was the first American artist to be bestowed with such an honor. The Basilica of St. Francis is 800 years old and is graced with the incredible frescoes of the perhaps first modern artist Giotto. Michelangelo visited the magnificent basilica to study these frescoes before painting the Sistine Chapel.

The exhibition officially opened with a press conference filled with TV and News media taking photos and video of Mic, Andrea and Padre Vincenzo Coli speaking. Mic had a translator seated next to him as he spoke. Mic and Andrea were also interviewed on Vatican Radio
http://miccarlson.com/Vatican%20interview%20AUDIO.mp3 in Rome about the exhibition. Over 30,000 people from all walks of life visited Mics St. Francis bronze exhibition, from September 18th through October 16th, 2004. Mic met the President of the Senate Marcello Pera and presented him with a painting of St. Francis.

The exhibition was also a collaboration with Italian Photographer Andrea Angelucci. His photos were placed behind the bronzes of Francis as backdrops
presenting scenes of places Francis visited in Assisi. A remarkable exhibition of true brotherhood and friendship, it would have made St. Francis proud.

The majority of these Bronze Statues Inspired by events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi, are now placed along the garden trails located at the Saint Francis of Assisi Sculpture Garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Storyboards sharing the life of this inspirational and much-loved saint accompany the statues in areas where you can walk, sit, breathe and enjoy in quiet reflection. Please visit http://www.instrumentsofhope.net/ for more info about the garden.