Grand Rapids Art Prize

From   www.artprize.org  – “In April 2009, Rick DeVos announced a new ‘social experiment.’ He was going to give away the world’s largest art prize based solely on a public vote. DeVos said the event would take over downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan that fall…

    There was the open call to artists, venues, and voters. Any artist in the world could compete; anyone with property in downtown Grand Rapids could turn their space into an art gallery; and any visitor could vote for their favorite artworks…

   On opening day (September 23, 2009), 159 venue owners opened their spaces to display the entries of 1,262 artists from 41 states and 14 countries.”

The estimate was 200,000 attended over the event over the course of the 14 days.  Most venues are walking distance around the downtown area.  They have shuttle buses that go between the venues.

I had Friday off and talked Jack into going.  This year there are 164 venues and 1,582 artists.  I narrowed it down to three venues, my favorite place in Grand Rapids, the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.  I also picked Cathedral Square, and Gerald R. Ford Museum.

The displays at Meijer Gardens were a tad to contemporary for my tastes.  I pile of bent florescent lights?  Glass jars shaped like a bear filled with water, and leaves and twigs stuck in them?  See photos below.

Jack ran out of energy so we didn’t get inside the Ford Museum to view the paintings, but outside had some interesting sculptures. 

Next year, I’d like to get a hotel room and spend a couple of days there.  Jack could go back to the room when he’s reached his limit.