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A First For Cork Church

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By PAUL CATALA

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 24, 2008

CORK - What was once a barren, cream-colored wall is now an elaborate backdrop for a replica of one of history's most revered paintings: "The Last Supper."

The 5-by-10-foot mural depicting Leonardo da Vinci's renowned work was unveiled Sept. 7 at a ceremony in the welcome center at Cork United Methodist Church, 4815 Sam Allen Road.

At the unveiling after the church's 10:45 a.m. service, parishioners gathered with the Lakeland-based artist, Robert Blair, and got their first glimpse of what the church hopes will be a permanent fixture.

Ironically, Blair, who works as a landscape architect, said he had pretty much given up painting for the past 20 years, but something "spiritual" got him to break out his brushes and begin again.

He said it took him more than 2,000 research hours and 500,000 brush strokes to get the painting completed - a task that turned out to be more than he expected.

"I thought it would be a little easier than this," he said. "Painting a lot of it was a new learning experience. There were mistakes along the way. I got help from God along the way. It's the only way I could be real about it."

The painting was commissioned by the church through the Bailey Family Foundation of Tampa. The foundation was established in 1997 by Cork member Ron Bailey to improve the availability and quality of post-secondary education.

At the unveiling, the Rev. Barry Bahr gave Blair a brief introduction and with help from the artist, pulled down a sheet covering the new mural. In front of about 40 church members, "The Last Supper" became a lasting part of the church's family.

Blair said he used the painting styles of da Vinci and Titan to create his version of the famous work depicting the biblical story of Christ's last supper before his crucifixion, working with "acrylic color, creativity and interpretation of this commanding moment in biblical history."

"The perspective was key. The center of the painting is in the middle of Jesus' head. It had to be perfect," he said. "The viewer feels the illusion that he is almost able to enter the painting.

"This painting was like earning my Ph.D."

Blair said he has been painting since he was 16 and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he got his bachelor of fine arts degree.

In addition to the church, he currently has paintings in Winter Haven City Hall.

Bahr, who has served at Cork Methodist for six years, said the new mural would "bring togetherness" to those visiting the welcome center.

"Now, we have a visual reminder of this moment and it really enlightens this room," he said.

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