“ArtPrize is unlike any art festival or competition in the world. For nearly three weeks, three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. becomes an open playing field, and any space within the ArtPrize boundary can volunteer to be a venue--public or private, indoors or out, large or small--every inch of downtown can get in the game.
This accessibility creates an open marketplace of ideas, where artists can freely exchange with viewers and each other.
Art from around the world pops up on street corners, restaurants, public parks, museums and inside office buildings. The only rule is that every space is free and open to the public” from artprize.org.
ArtPrize is an open art competition where any one may enter art and any one may vote on who gets the prizes with almost a half a million dollars in prize money up for grabs.
This story gives more back ground. You can understand why there will be several posts and hundreds of pictures to be posted from this event. I am a west Michigan transplant from the east side and I just love it over here. Come have a stroll through downtown and enjoy the art.
This is a link with more information on ArtPrize
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2011/10/artprize-festival/250/
On the down town campus of GVSU
A great view of the Grand River and all the folks on the bridge.
One of Caelun’s favorites- a sculpture made of 2x4’s down by the river. You could walk in to it and climb on it.
We have a nice skyline for a small city.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Did I mention I like our skyline?
Art on the river
There were lots of street performers – Caelun loved the bagpipes
A one man band
Carved bears in the fountain
A tribute to veterans
Monkeys on the bridge
We stopped for refreshments- can’t have to much art with out some food.
Rock sculpture in the river- yes even the river itself is a venue.
Living ‘bronze’ statues- glad that wasn’t my job.
A friend asked me to get some pictures of this it was a finalist- a carving or a sea life scape as a unified ecosystem. It was shown on a rotating platform.
A piece of art that was a pub you could sit down in and order food an drinks.
Peace and love back to our car- hooray for our first walk through ArtPrize 2011.