The street vendors are shouting '$2 Hotdogs', the line at the GRAM is wrapped around the corner, and the jazz band is playing in the Rosa Parks, the warmth of the city is beaming during ArtPrize 2014. For 19 days within a three mile radius of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, artists from around the world share their voice in artworks ranging in all shapes, forms, and sizes. This international art competition has been a part of the heart of Grand Rapids since 2009 and continues to bring crowds of people from all over who share a common interest to discover what is art. This year was my third year attending ArtPrize and every year I am eager to get back next year, it's an event that everyone wishes occurred all year round.
Through the ArtPrize app and website the public has the capability to vote of their favorite pieces, ArtPrize 2014 had 1.536 art entires and received 398,714 public votes. Throughout the 19 days there are Kid Craft Days, Founder's Brewery in the park, art disclosure discussions, and free admission to all museums and art galleries. It's the most wonderful time of the year for anyone to spend a day in GR without truly spending a dime. (Although I do recommend checking out a few of the restaurants downtown, you won't regret it)
And the winner is... Intersections by artist Anila Quayyum Agha. A 3-D installation box made of laser cut wood panels that cast a geometric pattern on every inch of space within the room. As you step into the room inside the GRAM, you leave this mind set of being inside an art museum and enter a space of endless possibilities and the exploration of light. The inspiration behind this piece is based upon the experience of the artist growing up in Pakistan. The element of light is an expression of both wonder and exclusion that women would experience within a community. Agha quoted 'My intent with this installation was to give substance to mutualism, exploring the binaries of public and private, light and shadow, and static and dynamic.' Based upon the interaction and communication buzz this piece created through the city was an indication in itself why she was chosen as the ArtPrize winner.
My personal favorite installation was SiTE:LAB, a vacant 90 year old hotel once called The Morton that was transformed into a exhibition of site specific installations by Paul Amenta. The vacant hotel once had a grand entry lobby, abandoned restaurants, commercial space and 1,500 square foot bank vault that provided interesting and mind blogging installations. The large hotel space had multiple floors, a multitude of winding staircases and tiny tucked rooms around corners that made each room a whole new experience. Exploring each room and feeling eager to see what the next room displayed created a fun house for adults to wander and get lost in an abandoned hotel. With real thick bank vault doors, a mini skateboarding park in the basement, and bungee cords creating a optical illusion, the SiTE:LAB was an exhibit I was thrilled we stumbled across. The rooms were chilly, dismantled, and sometimes spooky but overall that's what kept the publics attention and the idea to keep searching for more. Check out their website for more history info and images from the installation.
Next years ArtPrize is already in full planning mode, expected to take place September 23 – October 11, 2015. So mark your calendars! This is an inspiring and beautiful event that Grand Rapids is pleased to promote and host year after year. It was yet another successful and enjoyful ArtPrize and I can't wait to see what next year has in store. If you attended ArtPrize this year, what was your favorite piece? #ArtPrize2014
Through the ArtPrize app and website the public has the capability to vote of their favorite pieces, ArtPrize 2014 had 1.536 art entires and received 398,714 public votes. Throughout the 19 days there are Kid Craft Days, Founder's Brewery in the park, art disclosure discussions, and free admission to all museums and art galleries. It's the most wonderful time of the year for anyone to spend a day in GR without truly spending a dime. (Although I do recommend checking out a few of the restaurants downtown, you won't regret it)
And the winner is... Intersections by artist Anila Quayyum Agha. A 3-D installation box made of laser cut wood panels that cast a geometric pattern on every inch of space within the room. As you step into the room inside the GRAM, you leave this mind set of being inside an art museum and enter a space of endless possibilities and the exploration of light. The inspiration behind this piece is based upon the experience of the artist growing up in Pakistan. The element of light is an expression of both wonder and exclusion that women would experience within a community. Agha quoted 'My intent with this installation was to give substance to mutualism, exploring the binaries of public and private, light and shadow, and static and dynamic.' Based upon the interaction and communication buzz this piece created through the city was an indication in itself why she was chosen as the ArtPrize winner.
My personal favorite installation was SiTE:LAB, a vacant 90 year old hotel once called The Morton that was transformed into a exhibition of site specific installations by Paul Amenta. The vacant hotel once had a grand entry lobby, abandoned restaurants, commercial space and 1,500 square foot bank vault that provided interesting and mind blogging installations. The large hotel space had multiple floors, a multitude of winding staircases and tiny tucked rooms around corners that made each room a whole new experience. Exploring each room and feeling eager to see what the next room displayed created a fun house for adults to wander and get lost in an abandoned hotel. With real thick bank vault doors, a mini skateboarding park in the basement, and bungee cords creating a optical illusion, the SiTE:LAB was an exhibit I was thrilled we stumbled across. The rooms were chilly, dismantled, and sometimes spooky but overall that's what kept the publics attention and the idea to keep searching for more. Check out their website for more history info and images from the installation.
Next years ArtPrize is already in full planning mode, expected to take place September 23 – October 11, 2015. So mark your calendars! This is an inspiring and beautiful event that Grand Rapids is pleased to promote and host year after year. It was yet another successful and enjoyful ArtPrize and I can't wait to see what next year has in store. If you attended ArtPrize this year, what was your favorite piece? #ArtPrize2014