Explore Michael Godard’s Exciting New Museum Exhibition ‘The Secret Life of Olives’
Michael Godard addresses the crowd at the grand opening of “The Secret Life of Olives.”
As a former musician, artist Michael Godard knows the importance of having a good opening act. Fortunately, he had one of the best for his museum exhibition at Hendersonville, Tennessee’s Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center.
“They had a Picasso last month and this month Godard!” the artist told his Facebook fans in January with a smile. “Not bad.”
Not bad at all. The Monthaven Arts Center followed their acclaimed exhibition featuring the works of Pablo Picasso and Marcel Mouly with an exciting new look at the career of Michael Godard titled “The Secret Life of Olives.”
An original sketch by Michael Godard welcomes visitors to the exhibition.
“Michael Godard: The Secret Life of Olives” appeared at the Monthaven from January 5 to February 2, 2020.
There are over 30 original paintings by Godard in the exhibition.
In her introduction to the exhibition, Cheryl Strichik, the Executive Director of the Monthaven, wrote, “By his own account, Michael Godard loves painting some of life’s vices, which, one might say, are but the more lighthearted side of life. His works are filled with the sort of delightfully mischievous images one might expect from a painter known as the ‘Rock Star of the Art World!’ Who else could imagine anthropomorphic olives shooting craps while floating in translucent martini glasses?”
The Monthaven Arts Center has also hosted exhibitions by artists like Pablo Picasso, Marcel Mouly, Tim Yanke, Autumn de Forest, and Alexandre Renoir, among others.
The Monthaven held a gala grand opening for “The Secret Lives of Olives” specially designed to make Godard, a Las Vegas native, feel right at home. The reception featured casino gambling, Rat Pack-inspired attire, and even costumed showgirls.
What happens at the Monthaven, stays at the Monthaven… particularly during their Las Vegas-themed opening for “The Secret Life of Olives.”
Two Monthaven patrons place their bets while surrounded by Michael Godard’s artwork.
Godard was on hand to greet guests and even arrived early to teach a painting masterclass to some of the Monthaven’s adult students. According to their mission statement, the Monthaven “exists to create a vibrant art, educational, and cultural experience for people of all ages.”
Godard teaches his masterclass to a group of interested students at the Monthaven.
Godard shares a laugh with his art students.
The guests were treated to a collection of over 30 paintings by Godard, which brilliantly show off both his technical skill as a painter and the uncanny way he uses his olive characters to convey his irreverent personality.
John Karay, Park West Gallery’s Executive Vice President of Operations; Ann Karay; LeeAnn Godard; and Michael Godard.
Godard’s “Elvi-Tini” painting is a perfect fit for the Vegas-theme of “The Secret Life of Olives.”
While discussing the exhibition, Strichik said that, “To me, Godard has become his art, it’s like the olives, grapes and strawberries orbit him like little moons. It’s no accident he has emerged as one of the leading ‘pop’ artists of the 21st century.”
Godard signs autographs for his fans at the Monthaven Arts Center.
“Michael Godard: The Secret Lives of Olives” was sponsored by Park West Gallery and the Park West Foundation.
To collect the art of Michael Godard, contact our gallery consultants at (800) 521-9654 ext. 4 or sales@parkwestgallery.com.
