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Crucifixion is a 2011 stained glass mosaic by artist and author, Mia Tavonatti. The piece was the 2011 winner of the ArtPrize competition, held annually in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Description
The piece is a 9' x 13' stained glass mosaic depicting Jesus Christ, cast before blooming clouds and dramatic lighting, hanging and dying upon a cross. It was a commissioned altarpiece for a Catholic church in California. In Tavonatti's own word, taken from the mosaic's description,


 * "I created this design by photographing my model in the woods of Santa Cruz, California, tied to a huge cross made of Home Depot beams, and wearing a crown of thorns crafted from a Michael's wreath. By layering this imagery with two sunsets I photographed in Italy and Hawaii, I was able to compose the powerful light sources so relevant to this and all of my work. This 'Crucifixion' took 2500 hours, is made of hand-cut stained glass, is attached to a custom wood structure and weighs 425 lbs."

The delayed construction of the church allowed Tavonatti to submit the work to ArtPrize.

Reception
Upon winning ArtPrize 2011, a polarity was stressed between the general public and art critics, both on Crucifixion and the ArtPrize competition. The general voting public hailed the mosaic as a worthy champion piece, making reference to its grandiose beauty, message, and great effort put forth in depicting the sacrifice of the Christian savior. Critics of the winner declared the piece as not true art, but instead a "pandering to a region that is very religious," referring to West Michigan, a statistically large Christian conservative demographic, and only aiming to win rather than express. Criticisms were also made about the structure of the competition, likening the audience-vote to American Idol. The worry here is that interstate and international artists, along with "true artists" who neither pander nor reaffirm Michigan/American/Christian-themes, will take their work elsewhere.