Art has filled H. Michael Hendrix’s life ever since he figured out as a child he was good at drawing people’s faces ? even after two heart surgeries 13 years ago and two brain surgeries eight years ago left him with short term memory loss.
For that, he’s grateful.
‘I shouldn’t be alive, with all the surgeries. God allowed me to keep going,? said Hendrix, who has lived in Independence Township with his wife, Brenda Hendrix, for the past 37 years.
“I thankful the Lord let him keep his ability to paint and draw,” Brenda said.
He expressed his gratefulness with his latest work of art, a three-dimensional, 8-by-12-foot mural entitled ‘Moses.?
‘It was going to be either Moses or Einstein, with his hair going everywhere. I decided on Moses because he is more spiritual,? Michael said. ‘It was time for that.?
It depicts the life of Moses from the book of Genesis, as an infant, fearing the Egyptians? orders to kill all Hebrew baby boys, his mother placing him in a basket on the River Nile; found and reared by Pharaoh’s daughter as her own son; fleeing Egypt and meeting Jehovah God on Mt. Sinai; leading the children of Israel out of bondage by crossing the parted Red Sea.
Images also include the names of God in Hebrew ? he researched the type of Hebrew used in ancient times ? as well as buttons, nuts, bolts, and other items enbedded in the paint to add texture.
“It took one-and-a-half skeines of yarn from Jo-Ann’s for his beard,” Brenda said.
He started the project in January, carving the body and tablet out of plywood and styrofoam, and priming it with a coat of paint.
By April, he moved it into the garage for painting, which took all summer, he said.
He entered the piece in the ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids. For the second consecutive year, his entry was accepted and will be shown at the DeVos Place Convention Center. ArtPrize is the largest art contest in the world, and over $500,000 will be awarded as prizes this year.
They hope to get a good spot at the event.
‘We hope to have a long view in the hallway,? Brenda said.
‘I like the competition,? Michael said. ‘You never know what the judges are going to do. They can pick the worst pieces.?
‘It’s all subjective,? Brenda said.
Last year, his entry was seven life-size sculptured busts, called ‘Council of Men.?
That art work required a caravan of vehicles to transport. “This one will require a truck,” Michael said.
He went to commercial art school in Detroit, and worked in the automotive industry for 40 years, retouching automobile photographs and artwork for catalogues and ads.
Now retired, he paints portraits on Monday nights at the Lake Orion Art Center, in addition to his ongoing art projects.
“I use my spare time to create. I’ve had a lot of that in the last few years,” Michael said. “I like the challenge, to be able to do it, especially for me. I push myself to do things I don’t feel like doing.”
His art work is on display throughout their house, along with works in progress.
“On the kitchen counter, in the basement ? I’m grateful she allows me to do that,? he said.
‘It’s great, neat,? Brenda said. “We’ve been married for 45 years and he still amazes me.”
His next project will feature Sacagawea, the Lemhi Shoshone woman who helped the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804-1806.
The Sacagawea piece will look like it was carved out of a dead tree, but it’ll be made out of styrofoam, Michael said.
“I remember rolling boards with primer paint in the yard ? I made him promise the next one won’t be so big,” Brenda said.
For information on the ArtPrize contest, check www.artprize.org/h-michael-hendrix/2015/moses.