ArtPrize Grand Rapids, MI

Sep 22

Yesterday we made a day trip to Grand Rapids, MI (about 140 miles south of Traverse City). The trip was for a business meeting, but the weather was beautiful and I was able to enjoy some time walking around the vibrant downtown area. We happened to be there just two days before the annual ArtPrize event. Even though we weren’t able to visit all the final works of art, it was pretty cool to get a sneak peak of works in progress as the diverse group of artists set up displays for the upcoming event.

Current Collections – Vote Code: 62449 Artist’s of Embodied Energy Studio’s statement – Current Collections is an elegant and monumental-scale sculpture sitting 10 feet off the ground with a 40 foot diameter at the pathways and projects 38 feet into the air forming the interior funnel chamber. The outer membrane is made of reclaimed and recycled plastic collected with community waterway clean-ups and recycling projects. Standing under the center of the artwork, viewers experience the optical illusion of a swirling water vortex of accumulated litter debris.

Jarrod Beck’s entry Uplift (#62277) is made from rubber once used as conveyer belts in mines. We spoke just a few minutes about his piece that has been on display in a park on the lower east side of New York. He shared how he likes the feel of repurposing the pieces of rubber once used to move the earth in the mines to now being a landscape piece. When asked how long it took to set up the display he shared that he would probably be up all night to finish before his 6 am flight the next morning. Art form: 3-D

Another artist I chatted with was Duane Weirich and his wife from Lewis, Iowa. They were enjoying the sunny day observing other artists setting up displays. His beautiful metal sculpture Bald Eagle (America Come Together) was already set and ready to go.

Artist statement – AMERICA: COME TOGETHER! (Vote Code 61415) The 8’ tall Bald Eagle hand crafted from recycled metal is clutching a 240 lb. 3-D United States of America within a 4’ Globe, on a 5’ bell shaped base, sitting upon a 6’ diameter concrete base with a metal star representing each state within the United States of America. All together this sculptor weighs approximately 5,565 lbs. There are over 2,000 pieces of hand cut, bent, & stamped metal feathers, designed to appear realistically blemished, representing the years of journey & hardship the eagle has persevered through to help keep America DETERMINED & FREE. As you look at this majestic eagle, please remember that you live in a country, where numerous BRAVE American’s fought for, & some gave their life for, our unparalleled FREEDOM. The Bald Eagle Symbolizes America as ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL.

According to the Art Prize website there are “more than 1500 works of art at 160+ venues across three square miles of Grand Rapids.” The seventh annual event runs from September 23 – October 11 with artwork in every space you can imagine throughout the downtown area. There are displays outdoors, inside venues, and on the windows. It’s a lot of fun to walk the streets meandering in and out of the buildings to take it all in. Anyone over the age of 18 can participate in the international art competition which gives a grand total of $720,000 in grants and awards. There are two grand prize awards of $200,000 each – one based on public votes, the other on juried awards.

Each artist is given a voting code. You can vote online, vote on the mobile ap, or vote by text message. Seeing the artwork in person is the best experience, and it’s a free event open to the public! If you get a chance to go, check out the helpful phone ap for finding your way around and casting your votes. However, if you can’t make it to Grand Rapids during the 19 day event, you can still get a look at the work on the ArtPrize website.

Eternal Flame (Vote Code: 62518) Artist Fritz Olsen’s statement – The eternal flame has been used throughout human history to commemorate important figures and events. My ETERNAL FLAME is to honor our service men and women and their families who sacrifice so much on our behalf. In our modern, busy and complicated world it seems their contribution has gone unrecognized in the broader culture today. These extraordinary people carry a burden that most of us in America today cannot imagine and or hardly seem to notice. This ETERNAL FLAME is for them. Art form: 3-D

Spirit Brothers Vote Code: 61411 Artist Alan Brown’s statement – Many of the Native Americans believed they had Spirit Brothers in the animal world. This piece shows the spirit of the wolf emerging from the old chief as his earthly life comes to an end.The piece is carved in Colorado Yule Marble with a high degree of detail. I enjoy carving both animals and people so this piece was especially fun and challenging. Art form: 3-D

You’ll occasionally come across works of art from past years that remain for years to come. This mural was an entry in the 2014 ArtPrize

“EMOJI-NATION Celebration” Vote Code: 61156 Artist Kenn Vidro’s Statement – My piece was created to celebrate the continued attempts and successes world-wide to have harmony, peace, joy and diversity throughout mankind. I believe that these things are and have, to some extent, been attained in our world. Our job is to keep it going ! Emojis are such a “universal” image….why not start and continue to spark that spirit with a visually happy experience exhibiting the positive !!! That’s why all of the emoji faces are joyful and the acrylic paintings are all done in bright vibrant colors !

Phenomena 117 (Vote Code 62162) Artist Janelle Dahlberg’s statement – I would like to do a painted tree covered in 117 painted shoes. It will also be interactive and I will invite people to add their shoes to the tree. You will be able to walk around the entire piece.

This kind of event is very intriguing. Not just the interesting artwork, but the message behind each piece. There is something unique about how a piece of artwork can speak so much. I’d love to participate in this event – maybe next year? My statement would be geared toward peace, love and happiness. Regardless of all the hardship, drama, and negativity in the news there is an amazing amount of good in this world that just doesn’t get brought to the forefront enough. I’m not trying to minimize the awful things that happen, but my goal as an artist would be to bring a little joy to people, even if for just a few minutes. I really feel moods can be contagious, just as someone in a bad mood can bring you down. Smiles, hugs and laughter, really are helpful, even on a tough day. How can you not at least smile in the presence of belly laughs? Any ideas for portraying peace, joy and happiness in an art piece? Suggestions for looking at the glass “half full”? Ways we can be loving, hopeful and optimistic about our world?

I’d love to have your feedback. Please post what makes you “feel good” in the comments section below.

While walking in Grand Rapids I came upon this tribute to Rosa Parks at the bus stop and love her message.