A painting displayed in the Russel H. Kirkhof Center has ignited controversy at Grand Valley State University due to its depiction of Christian religious figures. The piece, titled “Pétalos De Cambio” (“Petals of Change”), was created by Irlanda Beltran for her graphic design senior thesis exhibition, and bought by the University for $1,800. The controversial piece of artwork, which has caused a stir among students and state lawmakers, was taken down on Thursday, Feb. 6 for relocation.
One of three panels in the 8-by-10 foot installation depicts a gun pointing toward Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic apparition of the Virgin Mary. According to the GVSU Art Gallery, the piece’s supposed intention is “to raise awareness around issues such as gender-based violence, mental health, gun control and homophobia,” especially in Mexico.
Christopher Knape, the assistant vice president of University Communications, gave some insight into the University’s decision to purchase and display Beltran’s piece.
“Our museum staff have conversations on every piece of artwork that comes into Grand Valley’s collection,” Knape said. “There is a collections committee that reviews every piece that comes into the collection, including student work.”
Jamie Thompson, a Michigan Republican House representative, took to social media to voice her concerns over the artwork’s display at GVSU.
“(I am) deeply concerned about the ‘Art’ that Grand Valley University felt so inclined to purchase and display,” Thompson posted on X. “Rep Luke Meerman, myself and other leaders will be addressing this insulting attack on Christianity.”
Though the piece was intended to call attention to issues of oppression and femicide in Mexico, the piece itself is coming under fire for its loose usage of religious iconography.
Beltran, however, remains committed to the piece’s positive intentions.
“Ultimately, the purpose is to envision a future where the murals serve as symbols of hope and solidarity, guiding us towards a more just and compassionate society for generations to come,” Beltran said in a statement on the piece.
Still, some students at the University disagree with the effectiveness of Beltran’s method. Katie Eckenrode, a Catholic student at GVSU, pointed out the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to both Catholics and Christians alike, and said that she found the image offensive. Eckenrode believes the piece failed to meet its intended message.
“I can quite easily see how Catholic, Lutheran, Orthodox and other Christian brothers and sisters could find this (the artwork) very offensive,” Eckenrode said. “Our Lady of Guadalupe is honored and venerated by millions of Christians in Mexico, the Philippines, the U.S. and dozens of other countries. Any significant religious figure with a gun or a red ‘x’ over the head would be seen as offensive by any religion, even if created by someone within that faith.”
Though Eckenrode believes the University has a right to hang what it wants, she believes this move was in bad taste.
“Artwork on the walls should not represent gunning down, defiling or crossing out a religious figure and claiming it symbolizes social issues,” Eckenrode said. “It is not the same as any other opinion piece representing politicians or crises when a role model of over 2 billion Christians is defiled, and illustrates a threat toward Christians on campus.”
Eckenrode feels GVSU purchased the artwork in an attempt to promote conversation.
“Many diverse paintings in other buildings represent equality, sexuality and identity, none of which have been a direct depiction of violating a sacred icon,” Eckenrode said. “This painting poorly represents serious issues in Mexico when it comes off as sacrilegious and (as) a threat toward anyone on campus who venerates the Mother of God.”
Eckenrode believes the University can and should raise awareness about gender-based violence and other forms of oppression, but believes it can be done without creating imagery that many Christians find offensive.
“There are better ways for the University to represent student artwork than choosing pieces that decimate the mother of our faith in three different depictions,” Eckenrode said.
On the other side of the issue, at least one student found the piece to be effective in conveying its message. Education major Nikolas Tompkins said that he believes critical thinking is a necessary key in deciphering the painting. As an institution, Tompkins believes Christianity has oppressed certain individuals throughout history, and that the painting’s use of religious imagery makes sense.
“I do think that if Christian students find this work offensive, they should take the time to understand why the artwork was made in the first place,” Tompkins said. “American Christians specifically have a long history of suppressing and attacking various groups in the name of the Lord and the Bible, such as those who identify as LGBTQ+.”
To this end, Tompkins believes the painting accomplished its task. To him, it’s a valid claim to use Christian symbols to represent oppression.
“The painting’s original message is to give a spotlight toward these (identities) that have been suppressed and attacked by Christian groups, and those who claim to be doing those actions in the name of Christianity,” Tompkins said. “I think many Christians who find the painting offensive due to its ‘anti-Christianity’ symbolism choose to ignore a lot of the history surrounding suppression by the church, especially in America.”
Since the University has a history of purchasing and displaying a vast variety of paintings, Tompkins isn’t quite sure why this one is facing opposition for its spot in the melting pot.
“GVSU is a university that has shown it allows the opinions of many different groups to be displayed on campus,” Tompkins said. “You can search through the campus art database and see there are multiple religious paintings hung up around campus.”
Still, the public outcry surrounding the piece has proved to be enough to warrant its taking down. Knape admitted the University has never removed artwork during his tenure. Seeking to avoid similar issues in the future, the University has decided to turn to students to help make decisions on which pieces of art are displayed on campus.
“A student art advisory committee is being formed to provide feedback on the current art in the Kirkhof Center and to provide feedback on new artwork being considered for display in the Kirkhof Center,” Knape said.
However, the painting isn’t going away permanently. The University seeks to place it somewhere where it can exist in a better context and spread its message more effectively. To that end, the University released the following message to help explain its actions in displaying the piece:
“The concerns expressed about a piece of art in GVSU’s Kirkhof Center, “Pétalos De Cambio” (Petals of Change), revolve around the nature, location, and context of the piece. We understand that artistic content is often viewed differently by individuals, and therefore are compelled to provide the context necessary to accurately reflect the artist’s stated intent of the piece. We must also place art where we can respectfully care for the work, the artist and the broader viewing community.
The piece was not in a location to allow those things to happen. The GVSU Art Museum will be relocating the piece to a space where it can be presented with greater context, allowing for deeper discussion and understanding while enhancing safety and respecting all voices that might find themselves in that space.
Our approach to our living gallery and broad and diverse collection hanging throughout every building on campus is rooted in our belief that art is an important aspect of education. Grand Valley State University affirms our commitment to free expression and our university values while we also acknowledge that some pieces, like this one, can cause discomfort. It is our goal to display art in a way that productively allows for the pursuit of knowledge, empathy, and social understanding and we will continue to work to create processes that help us achieve that goal.”
