ArtPrize 2013

For the past three weeks, art has filled the museums, hotels, restaurants, parks, bridges, parking lots, sidewalks and yes, there’s even some in the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Once a year, Art from around the world pops up in every place you can imagine for ArtPrize, an international art competition, where the $200,000 top prize is decided entirely by public vote.

Here in Grand Rapids, you’ll discover everything you’ve ever imagined and then some.

Art pops up in every inch of downtown.

Venues include: The Bob, Devos Place, Amway Grand Plaza, J.W. Marriot, Kendall School of Art, The Gerald R. Ford Museum, The Grand Rapid’s Public Museum, The Children’s Museum, The Grand Rapids Art Museum…  Admission to all public museums is free and open to the public during this 19 day event.

I look forward to this event every year and I wouldn’t think to show up without my camera.

Earth Giant

 This eco-friendly giant created from mostly natural material found in the forest, was one of my favorites this year and I apparently wasn’t the only one who fell in love with him.  Out of over 1,500 entries, Earth Giant came in 6th place!!  Congratulations Ben!!!

 

  ArtPrize is a photographer’s dream!

The pictures I capture each year become my own little piece of art since I’m not blessed with the ability to create or even come up with some of these awesome pieces. 

Uplifting

I have never taken an art class but I know what I like.  Color always draws me in, especially when it’s one of those pictures that has a million other things to look for.  This Alice in Wonderland painting reminds me of a giant doodle art.

 All Things Possible

“All Things Possible”, a 12′ wide oil and acrylic painting, is absolutely amazing!  The artist designed this for a public space such as a children’s hospital to evoke hope and optimism.

I love the vibrant colors, amazing detail and all the tiny peep holes where you can see other tiny pieces of art; definitely one of my favorites from Art Prize 2013.

I hope you all had a chance to see this in person!!

All Things Possible is at The Bob in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I’m not sure where it will go from here; a lot of the artwork is for sale.

For complete details on this piece, click: All Things Possible

Polar Expressed

Polar Expressed is a set of three breath-taking acrylic paintings that are absolutely out of this world!  I doubt you can grasp the magnitude of how large they are via a computer monitor.  Each piece is 48” by 72” so together, they sprawl 18’.

The depth, texture, detail and realness of these polar bear blew me away.

This piece took 2nd place and is a must see at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in downtown Grand Rapids

For all the official details on this piece, visit: Polar Expressed

I wish I had enough hours in a day to go through all my pictures and edit, re-size, copyright (since so many people like to steal my photos lately) but I’m out of time.  I have to leave in 20 minutes to go do an 18 hour sleep study so I’ll have to end with this.

Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore is a panoramic view of the northern Michigan Shoreline made out of layers of fabric, yarn, fibers and silk.  It’s huge!  The four panels stretch 20 feet!

There are so many more photos.  When I get time, I’ll add them to this post.  Gotta fly ~