2021: Art Prize is coming back after a bit of a time out.  Grand Rapidians and visitors to Western Michigan will enjoy a new and revised, re-energized Art Prize starting September 16, 2021. I can’t wait to see what this year’s Art Prize will bring.

 I am reposting one of several blog posts on DesignDestinations.org about Art Prize events to refresh our memories of the creative times when art takes over our city.

This is reposted from 2012.

 Yes, Art Prize, the art extravaganza 2012 that overwhelms Grand Rapids for about three weeks in the fall is over for another year.  The winners announced.  Congratulations extended.  Muttering…muttering….muttering.  Hip Hip Hooray.

I like it all.  The conversation is healthy and positive and promotes an exciting vibrant community.  Nothing dull about Us-in-the-Middle of America.  Take that Art Snobs.

I’m also very happy with the change in the Art Prize system so that art is juried and the prizes for juried winners are bigger than before.  A total of $560,000 is given out.  This year there were 1,517 entries in 161 venues.    It was interesting to see that a couple of pieces made both top ten lists.

I’m personally thrilled long time friend Frits Hoendervanger took third place with his incredibly detailed and skillful painting.  Yes, a painting.  For all those who say, “painting is dead” in their snotty, art know-it-all-way,  look at this .  He did a wonderful job and we’re thrilled he is recognized.   (And darn, I wish I had bought one of his pieces, when I knew him in the 1980s when we worked at the Press together.)

There are lots of odd things about ArtPrize though.  Strange animals.  Weird materials.  Happenings that one can’t quite figure out.  For example, one could see art made from piles of old jeans. I’ve always wondered what to do with them. Really. It is amazing what people  create and call art.

The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel hosted a strange sculpture made from wine bottles and corks.  Hate to be snarky,  but I do think someone dreamed that one up after drinking a lot of wine.  Oh well. I’ll bet it was fun to make.

What really puzzled me were the number of entries that related to motorcycles. What’s the deal?  I think there’s enough to start a motorcycle art museum.   I even spotted a family made of motor cycle parts.

Don’t forget the cars!   Tired of painting on canvas?  Well, paint your car.  Hemingway called his last work about Paris, “A Moveable Feast.”  We have “Moveable Art” here in Grand Rapids.

My four and a half year old grand daughter liked the hearts.  We traipsed about looking for them and at them.  I imagine our kitchen table craft sessions are going to involve hearts for a while  and that’s just dandy with me.

A couple of my favorites include “Song of Lift” at UICA and the “Stick-to-it-ive-ness” horses  in the water in front of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.  Actually I hope that Meijer Gardens buys them and adds to the horse theme they’ve got going out in the Sculpture Park.  I think there’s a couple of ponds where they’d look right at home.  And the Penguin Project kept my grand daughter’s attention for the longest of our morning’s tour.  Happy little critters.  Made me happy too.

I hope you enjoyed a look at ArtPrize almost ten years ago.  For more about this year’s event, check out this link.  And stay tuned to DesignDestinations.  We will explore and share with you what we see.

ART Prize is Back. 

For more Art Prize on DesignDestinations, enter word ArtPrize in the search box at the top of the right hand column.