September/October 2024
We first introduced Carmel resident Gavin Goode in our September 2017 issue, where he shared his journey from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps to becoming a feature film actor, working alongside Hollywood stars like Orlando Bloom, Joaquin Phoenix, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Ice Cube, Samuel L. Jackson and Sylvester Stallone.
Beyond his acting career, Goode is also an accomplished artist, specializing in painted steel. His unique artistry has garnered both recognition and acclaim while his work has raised substantial funds for local and national charities.
Honoring Heroes Through Art and Charity
Over the years, Goode has made a name for himself not only through his artistic talents but also for his dedication to philanthropy. Goode has been commissioned for numerous high-profile pieces, including work for A-list celebrities and athletes. He has created artwork for some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports, including Snoop Dogg, Usher, Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns.
Goode’s involvement in Mark Wahlberg’s Detroit charity event, Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational, for the fourth consecutive year highlights his consistent contributions to charity. Goode’s painted steel pieces featuring iconic sports figures are auctioned off to raise significant funds for Wahlberg’s charity efforts.
Goode’s latest piece, unveiled at the Freedom Tower in New York City, marks the pinnacle of his career. He spent over 450 hours creating a 10-foot by 5-foot painting of the Statue of Liberty that pays tribute to the lives lost during the 9/11 attacks. Every detail of the artwork was crafted with precision and reverence. Using copper as the background, Goode collaborated with Metal Supermarkets to achieve a unique texture, adding depth to the powerful imagery.
Goode’s 9/11 tribute was chosen by the National Guard to be unveiled at the Freedom Tower, a remarkable honor for the artist. The unveiling ceremony was a moment of pride, not just for Goode but for everyone involved in the project.
Accompanying Goode at his table that evening were actors Kelsey Grammer [“Frasier”] and Al Sapie
nza [“The Sopranos”], among many other high-profile celebrities, dignitaries and political candidates such as Republican Vice President Nominee JD Vance, who spoke at this event. Goode was introduced and received a standing ovation upon the unveiling of his tribute piece. He reflected on the reverence of that evening, surrounded by military members and distinguished figures, as months of hard work finally came to fruition.
“The mood was patriotic and upbeat… it was respectful,” Goode said. “Here we were in this giant symbol [the
Freedom Tower] that tells the world that we build it back and we make it bigger. Regarding the reception that my piece and I received at the unveiling… I did not expect that in a million years.”
When asked how he felt reflecting on all of the time and effort invested in the creation of this piece and all the logistics that went into bringing it to NYC and eventually to Washington, D.C., Goode paused and said, “I really don’t know how to put this into words yet. To be there with all those people as a former marine but in that capacity [as an artist], I just hope that the piece speaks for itself as well as for me. After the unveiling, I looked over my shoulder and out the window, and there she was… the Statue of Liberty, and that moment and the entire experience were just surreal.”
Goode added, “It is easily the most difficult piece I’ve ever worked on, and I have not been pushed like that since I was a 19 [to] 20-year-old in the Marine Corps just because of everything that went along with it, from building the piece, the frame and the logistics [to] getting the piece from Noblesville where my studio is, to NYC and on to the museum in D.C.”
Goode’s artwork is now on permanent display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
For more information on Gavin Goode, visit his website at semperflystudios.com. Be sure to follow Goode on Instagram @semperfly_studios.