Michele Hilbing received the 2019 Gesso Magazine Collegiate Artist Award at the Annual Schmidt Art Center Student Art and Design Exhibit on April 25. The award winning piece, entitled “For Danna”, is an oil on canvas painting. Michele provides the following story behind this striking work of art:
My friend Danna was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. Before her double mastectomy she went out to California to see her family. While there, her daughter took a picture of her standing on the rocks – bare chested to the ocean making peace with her future. This painting reflects my version of what I saw in the photograph; her power mixing with the forces of nature. I wasn’t sure if I should give her the painting because I didn’t want to take her back in time to such a difficult period in her life. But recently she celebrated the birth of her first grandchild. That gave the painting new meaning to me. Now when I think about that painting, I think of her grandson looking at it and seeing what an amazing and powerful grandmother he has. So I’m looking forward to giving it to her later this summer.
Michele can be reached at: MRH6416@aol.com
