ArtPrize is in full swing, and Grand Rapids’ streets are decked in colorful, thought-provoking, and all around fantastic art. If you haven’t been downtown to see it yet–no worries! There is still plenty of time to enjoy the art “conversation” going on in our very own backyard!
It is the tenth year of ArtPrize, a public art event in which artists all over the globe come to display their works in hopes of winning the grand prize of $250,000–a prize larger than all other art competitions in the world combined. From anywhere between public art museums to pizza joints (all considered venues in the event) onlookers can experience every sort of media, genre, shape, and size of art. The whole atmosphere of downtown is a brilliant mix of public and professional, where both get a say in the winner. Anyone 16 and older who comes downtown for the occasion can participate in the vote in person or online. Here, I hope to give you a little insight of what venues and pieces the jurors (high art connoisseurs) and the public are talking about; but most importantly, I want you to go out and discover venues that speak to you and your tastes! May the best pieces win!
Gerald R. Ford Museum:
If you want to see lots of diverse art and mediums in a small amount of space, the Gerald R. Ford Museum is the place to go. From large scale drawings of Jesus to paintings that engage all five senses, everyone will be sure to find a piece that they won’t forget. Its a central location close to the Grand River, which also happens to have interesting entries worth seeing.
GRAM:
The first floor of the Grand Rapids Art Museum consists of all ArtPrize entries–large-scale toy guns, a fabric representation of the Pacific ocean, and yarn-tied pots and pans just to name a few. The GRAM is also currently featuring winner of ArtPrize 2014 Anila Quayyum Agha’s Intersections on the second floor along with complimenting exhibits of geometrics and mirrors. The GRAM delivers yet another magical experience for any level of art expertise.
Devos Place Convention Hall:
The building is just as epic as the art inside. With entries including, 108 Death Masks, The String Project, and portraiture from the acclaimed artist Paul Collins. If you enjoy Collins’s paintings in the Devos Place Convention Hall, go ahead and look for his many pieces in hospitals and hotels around Grand Rapids.
Park Street Church:
This church has small but powerful entries, and while easily overlooked by many people it defends its spot as an ArtPrize venue. With many interactive pieces that you can actually touch, this is your venue. It has entries with levers, horns, sensors, smoke, and buttons to tinker with while you appreciate the church’s outreach program.
SiTE:LAB:
While SiTE:LAB this year is a distance away from the other art “hubs” downtown, it’s worth the extra minute’s drive. Positioned in an abandon high school, half the excitement is about the school’s rich history of being a previous Calvin College campus, the first Grand Rapids Christian High School, and race riots that ended with Detroit police barriers. There was a lot of thought-provoking art, slam poetry to digest (along with lemonade!), and places where you can speak about your own story, the community you grew up in, and your hopes for the current culture and future. It is located at 415 Franklin St. Grand Rapids MI.
Children’s Museum:
Make sure to bring something to trade! Anything, really! A paperclip, a button, twelve cans of pimentos–because just outside of the museum there is a Barter Boat, a clever time-based art entry that takes and gives back to the community in a fun, interactive way. On the other side of the corner, there is an artist who takes children’s drawing of monsters and creepy creatures and creates one just like it to hangs it up on the window next to the child’s! It’s a must-see, whimsical venue site!
Around Rosa Parks Circle:
This is a fun stop simply because there is so much to see and hear. This is also where the ArtPrize Hub is–a place to take your questions, ask for a map, learn more about venues and voting, or refuel with some water through the ArtPrize WaterShare project. Usually, they have a DJ or impromptu music going on to experience.
The BOB:
If you want to see a ton of art, come down to the B.O.B, where over 71 entries compete for space in the building’s many floors. Stop by and eat fantastic pizza, or walk through and see an array of optical illusions, string art, wooden sculptures, and abstract and naturalistic paintings. Just beware: the B.O.B gets busy during lunch or dinner!
Grand Rapids Police Department:
This building always has a lot of quality and unconventional art like origami boxes decorated by kids, colorful coffee filters, a rendition of the Mackinac bridge, and intricate pictures of embroidery. Its located in the heart of downtown, making it a great stop for a day trip.
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel:
Every Grand Rapids citizen puts a night in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel on their bucket list, but during ArtPrize you see not only the magnificent architecture of the luxurious hotel, but also the fun art inside! Be sure to find the strange yet interesting entries to interact with, like a large, luminous eyeball…?
The Harris Building:
The Harris Building, by far, has been one of my favorite sites. It has lots of art that are unconventional with powerful motives and meanings. From sculptures made with the driving idea for people to sit and talk in them, to a vault filled with hundreds of bronze bird skulls, your eyes could wander for hours. The Harris Building is home to many floors full of entries, and it’s only a short walk away from an impressive record shop. It’s a must-see!
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has always been a favorite elementary school field trip–now, during ArtPrize, it takes on another layer of brilliance. Through an art program called DisArt, every entry in the building was created by artists with various disabilities. Videos played on two walls, while spiky monsters looked through glass cases in one area of the exhibit. In the other section stood sculptures wrapped in string, and held the most intricate representations of large American cities I’ve ever seen. As an easily missed venue because of its separation to downtown, I encourage you to go out of your way to support these budding artists in our community as they fight to give the public their messages of acceptance.
There are many, many other cool venues around town–though they will take some searching out. When you find them and fall in love, go ahead and look on http://www.artprize.org/ to get the latest news on the piece, and sign up to vote! The Juror’s Shortlist, Public Vote leaders, and information on the coming changes to the event are all there as well. Hurry, though! The event ends on October 7 and won’t be officially back until 2020!
Here’s a map of all ArtPrize 10 venues. Happy hunting!
