Are you tired of the same touring Van Gogh and Picasso shows? When people talk about their favorite art pieces, do you wish there was an answer besides The Mona Lisa?
Here’s a chance to make your friends more culturally aware and find art that is relatable, inventive and visually astounding. Grand Rapids has turned its entire downtown area into a pedestrian-friendly gallery. Buildings, lawns and trashcans have become a canvas for various visual artist.
I love Frederick Prescott’s “Elephant Walk” on Sheldon Avenue, just north of Division Avenue. Its giant elephants made of iron that shake their heads, turning the sidewalk into an urban safari. The combination of structure and movement is very effective in this case.
I also like the piece by Paul Baliker, “Baliker and Structure.” This wooden masterpiece features and wise and ghostly face of a man (or God) in its center. The man’s hands are circling his head, holding the world, animal, nature and the such. It the circle of life and a reminder that the first being to go green was the creator. The piece is huge and daunting when you think of the time and artistry that went into it. You can find it by the river at the Gerald R. Ford Museum.
Theses are just a couple of the hundreds of pieces on display.
What’s cool about ArtPrize is the artist don’t just get exposure, they get money. Anyone who wants to, can vote for their favorite artist at www.artprize.org/voting. The winner will win $250,000. That’s a nice prize for a starving artist!
The ArtPrize winner will be announced Oct. 7 and the final day to see all of the work will be Oct. 10. Find a map, list of venues, list of artist and a schedule for the ArtPrize bus (which will take you from venue to venue) all on the website.
A word of advice, ArtPrize is extremely crowded on the weekends and may not be enjoyable if you don’t like crowds. I had a great time walking around to the various venues on a Tuesday afternoon. The lunch crowd made it just festive enough, but not overwhelming.
ArtPrize Cost: Free, but bring cash for food Travel time: 45-50 min (longer with weekend traffic)This post is brought to you by the fine folks at Paragon Apartments, offering apartments across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, and the Paragon Patio, where residents connect. We’d love to talk with you on Facebook and Twitter!
