ART OUTTA TOWN: ARTPRIZE
Two weekends ago, Art Outta Town ventured to Grand Rapids for the nation-wide festival, ArtPrize. I missed the boat on the Michigan affiliated trip, but I did make it on my own just in time for the closing weekend. From museums to galleries to restaurants to public parking lots to rooftops to bridges to store fronts and even in the river, the city was sprinkled with creativity and craft. The genres ranged broadly from installation pieces to sculpture, paintings, fibers, wood, glass, laser etching, metal, and photography.
Similarly, the mediums were also alternative and exploratory. In the photos below, the last is comprised entirely of jelly beans and just above that is a mosaic of water bottle caps. The second photo, one of my favorite pieces of the whole show, is made of twisted branches that resemble a stead of mustangs traversing the river. The piece is called ‘Stick-with-it-ness,’ a perfect title for the steadfast, life-like creatures. The photo just below the horses is an installation piece that reach from the bank of the river to a near-by rooftop. In fact, this piece is what brought me to ArtPrize: my friend is a Kalamazoo Art School grad and the man behind the metal. He is competitive for a prize in the show. The winners are yet to be announced, but fingers crossed!
Ever so conveniently placed beside each piece was a telephone number the viewer could dial to hear a recording of each artist explain his or her piece. There was also a code the viewer enter to vote for their favorite. The competition is juried but there is also a huge prize for the fan favorite. The entire ArtPrize experience was both inspiring and entertaining. It’s a great way to celebrate art in the community and art in the city. If only Ann Arbor held a similar exhibition! I guess we’ll have to wait til Art Fair next summer.
Similarly, the mediums were also alternative and exploratory. In the photos above, the last is comprised entirely of jelly beans and just above that is a mosaic of water bottle caps. The second photo, one of my favorite pieces of the whole show, is made of twisted branches that resemble a stead of mustangs traversing the river. The piece is called ‘Stick-with-it-ness,’ a perfect title for the steadfast, life-like creatures. The photo just below the horses is an installation piece that reach from the bank of the river to a near-by rooftop. In fact, this piece is what brought me to ArtPrize: my friend is a Kalamazoo Art School grad and the man behind the metal. He is competitive for a prize in the show. The winners are yet to be announced, but fingers crossed!
Ever so conveniently placed beside each piece was a telephone number the viewer could dial to hear a recording of each artist explain his or her piece. There was also a code the viewer enter to vote for their favorite. The competition is juried but there is also a huge prize for the fan favorite. The entire ArtPrize experience was both inspiring and entertaining. It’s a great way to celebrate art in the community and art in the city. If only Ann Arbor held a similar exhibition! I guess we’ll have to wait til Art Fair next summer.
What a great vision! It brought so much life to a city! People were having a good time everywhere. Kudos to the sponsors who made it possible and the artists who brought it to life.
Great article and photos. I have attended in years past but missed it this year. Makes me wish I had taken the trip. Happy Birthday Nina!