Last night there was a Chinese lantern launch in Grand Rapids. It was an ArtPrize entry and one of the most magical, joyful, lighthearted and beautiful experiences I’ve had in some time. Thousands of lanterns lit the night as participants launched their lanterns.
I couldn’t help but feel how much Grand Rapids has changed since I moved here. I really love this place.
I was coming home from the downtown ArtPrize celebrations tonight and got sidetracked when my friend Lisa told me that the lights above the Frederik Meijer Gardens were amazing. So of course I went there instead of going home.
“The lights” are an ArtPrize entry called “Balloon Chain” by Robert Bose. His entry is particularly striking at night and this is a don’t miss entry. While I was talking to Robert, I could hear onlookers gasping in awe and saying “Get out! Wow! Can you believe that!” Yes, it’s that cool.
Post and HDR photo by Ann Teliczan.
This is day one of ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI. One of the most frequent questions I’m asked when people hear I’m an artist in ArtPrize is “How do I vote in ArtPrize?” Here’s some info that I think will help.
Q: How do I register online?
A: Visit www.ArtPrize.org, create a user name and password (you’ll need an email address.) Then login to your new account and set up your profile. If you registered last year, you can continue to use that account.
Q: I registered online, can I vote now?
A: Nope, not quite yet. After you register online, you need to activate your registration by going to one of the registration
sites in person and presenting your driver’s license or another government issued ID,
Here’s the locations where you can activate your registration:
Diocese of Grand Rapids/Cathedral Square
360 Division Ave S
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl St NW
Grand Valley State University Outdoor Art & Sculpture
Pew Campus, between Pearl St and Fulton St
The Urban Institute for Contemporary Art (UICA)
41 Sheldon Boulevard SE
Women’s City Club
254 East Fulton St
The Hub
155 N Division Ave
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Downtown Chamber of Commerce
111 Pearl Street NW
Q: Now that I’m registered, how do I vote?
A: Hopefully, you’ll go visit as many locations as possible and vote on your favorite artists. You can vote by going online to vote at www.ArtPrize.org and logging in, or by getting the free ArtPrize application for your smartphone. I tried out the ArtPrize application and LOVE IT. If you have a smart phone, please give this a try, you’ll be glad you did.
Q: How many times can I vote?
A: You can vote as many times as you want to but you can only vote twice for the same artist. Once during the first round of voting and then a second time if they are lucky enough to be a finalist.
Q: What’s this vote up, vote down thingy?
A: Basically a vote up means you like it, and a vote down means, yuck.
You can also find out more about voting at the ArtPrize website voting page here.
So there you have it. I hope you have a fun time, this is a truly unique, world class event.
Post by Ann Teliczan
ArtPrize, in Grand Rapids, Michigan officially starts on Wednesday so I decided to go downtown today and see the status of things to come. After roaming around Grand Rapids, I wrapped up the day by visiting “The Hub.” This is a place you will want to know about if you are visiting ArtPrize.
The Hub is decked out with lounges for visitors to interact with each other
and the artists. It also has an artist lounge, which Rick DeVos, the founder of ArtPrize told me is going to be quite nice. In other words, if you’re an artist, you’re missing out if you don’t spend some time there.
If you want to know what everyone’s talking about, go spend some time at The Hub. It’s located at 155 N. Division in the Center of Grand Rapids (it’s also known as the old Federal Building.) Here’s more about The Hub from the official ArtPrize blog.
Check back often to learn more about my ArtPrize discoveries, I plan to do a lot of blogging about it.
Post & HDR photo by Ann Teliczan
I’ve been caught up in ArtPrize mania as both a participating artist, as well as a spectator. I sure have enjoyed this, and learned a lot. Today, I’d like to share this photo I took of a piece by Young Kim. It’s located downtown but because the venue (47 Commerce) is on a street that’s under construction, it’s a tich off the beaten path.
Young Kim’s work features a body of images (about 50) such as the one to the left of individuals he photographed in Grand Rapids. The images were then developed on site, on the warehouse floor, where they now rest. As you can see by the footprints, they are fragile.
I heard so many positive comments from fellow artists who were disappointed that he didn’t make the Top 10 for ArtPrize, that I had to check this out before it was gone. I hope you will too.
Here’s a link to his ArtPrize page, it will give you a better idea of what the installation looks like.
… and an article by the Grand Rapids Press.
Yesterday, I decided to take a trip to downtown Grand Rapids and volunteer at ArtPrize headquarters. I have to tell you that after seeing what I saw, you need to know, this is a big, big deal. If you are from anywhere near Grand Rapids, you will be sorry you missed out, if you don’t make it in to see this. Wherever you come from, if you love art, again, you will wish you made it to this event.
As an artist, I volunteered to help support ArtPrize because it helps us all, and to check out the competition. I was curious because I just didn’t know what to expect. I live about 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids and as I drove into town, I could literally feel the excitement. Artists were everywhere relaxing, working and checking out the sites. The work to be exhibited is inspiring and incredibly diverse. I love this because it exposes so many creative solutions and ways of thinking that it is opening my mind in a way I had never imagined.
I hope you will make it to ArtPrize, it’s a unique event that’s a little confusing until you actually come to town and see it happen.
Here’s downloadable maps from The Grand Rapids Press to the venues where art will be shown.
Map A Download Map B with Downtown Venues For those interested in seeing my entry, I will be at Venue #124 (shown on Map A), at Spectrum Health, Butterworth campus in the lobby off Michigan Street. You will need to download and print both of these maps, they need to be viewed together, viewed alone, they won’t make sense.
From September 23 – October 7, the city of Grand Rapids will serve as a “venue” for over 1,200 artists from around the world. They will be competing for the world’s largest art prize ever, with $250,000 being awarded to the first place winner. The winners will be chosen by the public. To vote, you must register at one of the ArtPrize registration sites, voting is done online or by texting. I’ve had a lot of people ask me where they can register to vote for ArtPrize. Ask and you shall receive!
You must be 16 years or age or older and you must register at the event to vote. You can pre-register on artprize.org and save time activating your voter status at the event.
Voter registration stations will be available throughout the city from September 23-October 7. All locations have agreed to be open the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 23–Opening Night.
ArtPrize Registration Sites
ART PRIZE REGISTRATION SITE MAP LINK
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Ave
M-Su: 9a-6p, except 9/24 Th: 12-10p
ArtPrize Headquarters @ Old Federal
155 N. Division
M-Th: 5p-8p, F-Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-6p
Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline NE
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
111 Pearl NW
M-F: 8:30a-5p, Sa-Su: closed
Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center
M: closed, Tu-Th: 10a-5p, F: 10a-9p, Sa: 10a-5p, Su: noon-5p
Grand Rapids Ballet Company
341 Ellsworth SW
M-Th: 9a-7p, F: 9a-5p, Sa: 9a-1p, Su: closed
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
11 Sheldon NE
M: closed, Tu-W: 9:30a-5p, Th: 9:30a-8p, F-Sa: 9:30a-5p, Su: noon-5p
Grand Rapids Community College
Student Community Center off Lyon St
M-Th: 8a-5p, F: 8a-6p, Sa-Su: closed
Grand Rapids Symphony
300 Ottawa NW, Suite 100
M-F: 9a-5p, Sa-Su: closed
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl NW
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p
GVSU University Bookstore
401 W. Fulton
M-Th: 8a-6p, F: 8a-5p, Sa: 8a-2p, Su: closed
JW Marriott
235 Louis NW
M-Su: 9a-6p
Main Public Library
111 Library NE
M-Th: 9a-9p, F-Sa: 9a-6p, Su: 1p-5p
UICA
41 Sheldon SE
M: 9-8p, Tu-F: 9-10p, Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-7p
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