Historical Painting Presented to 
Graceland University, Independence

Monday, July 23, at 10 a.m., accomplished artist Jack Garnier will be on hand as the Community of Christ World Headquarters presents his original watercolor painting of the historic Graceland College Administration Building, circa 1897, Lamoni, Iowa, USA, to the Graceland University Independence campus in Missouri. The original watercolor will replace a reproduction that currently resides at the Independence campus. Garnier created this painting in 1986 from a historic photograph taken around the time the building opened. Upon its completion, Garnier donated the painting to Community of Christ World Headquarters, where it has hung on display in the Temple.

Garnier studied at the Meinziner Foundation of Arts in Detroit, Michigan, and Park College, Parkville, Missouri. He began his art career in 1946 as a commercial artist in Windsor, Ontario. Garnier moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1950 and worked as an automotive and industrial engineer for Ford Motor Car Company, Chrysler Corporation, and American Motors. In 1962, after several additional years in advertising, illustration, design, and marketing, Garnier moved to Independence, Missouri, to become the art director for Community of Christ World Headquarters. He has taught as an adjunct professor of art at Park College, and appeared as a guest lecturer at Central Missouri State University and Graceland University. Garnier retired in December 1989 and has continued to serve the church for the last seven years as the Temple art consultant.

Garnier has painted in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Haiti, and the Philippines, and studied with Henry Casselli and Tom Hill. His work has appeared in national magazines including Time and Saturday Evening Post.

-Kendra Friend reporting