ArtPrize and Project 1 - Grand Rapids

[GRDadof3]

50 minutes ago, discgrab21 said:

When I saw the news pop up on my phone yesterday, my first thought was artist participation must be declining.  I just ran through the numbers on Wikipedia, and sure enough, the attendance (est) has continued to climb each year, but 2017 had the lowest artist participation rate since year 1.  I suspect this year will be even lower than last, which would prompt such a move. 

It's expensive and a lot of work for artists to participate, and while some artists sell some of their work during AP, many do not. Plus I think there's a lot of frustration with a lot of artists that if you're not in a high traffic venue, you have no way of winning or even being seen. And the high traffic venues highly curate the artists they'll allow at their venues. It's certainly not a lottery, which actually might make it more fun.

My favorite is always Site:Lab so hopefully they'll continue to do an annual show. 

[egrguy]

ArtPrize artist registration up from last year

It was up for this year (perhaps because it was a 10 year anniversary?).

I like the idea if it helps bring more artists and more high quality work.  In the off years, I think if you have clustered art like Site: Lab, that could be equally interesting. 

[EastownLeo]

Any event like this usually needs to change over time to keep the energy and life in it. 10 years of basically the same format was starting to get predictable.  Im glad they are mixing it up and essentially creating 2 events instead of one.  While at the same time recalling history in a way that could be interesting.

https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2016/09/sculpture_off_the_pedestal_remembered.html

[GR_Urbanist]

I wish this was the setup since the first year. The news is definitely going to sting a lot of people and businesses in the wallet. AP is like a Black Friday for a lot of establishments, and was what took over from Celebration on the Grand as the end of summer festival.

 

I think it will work out in the end. People honestly knew that it was starting to become a bit threadbare anyway. Last year was nothing like the first 4.

Sure, attendance was up, but the art was starting to drop off in terms of ambition. If they didnt act now then it would start to affect attendance numbers, and then they would be in real trouble.

 

I just hope they do something really spectacular on the off years. Not just some Site:Lab  deal, but something that will WOW people.

[wingbert]

For off years it should get away from something that could be perceived as the discount version of ArtPrize.  Do something else that could be alternated every two years.  BeerPrize?

[Allison Slater]

The in-between reminds me of, a couple years before ArtPrize, Downtown was filled with those one sculptures of the people with sphere heads... one of them is still on display at the Meijer Gardens. I rather miss that, although it should be something more interest-catching to draw more people in than that did.

[GRDadof3]

17 hours ago, tSlater said:

The in-between reminds me of, a couple years before ArtPrize, Downtown was filled with those one sculptures of the people with sphere heads... one of them is still on display at the Meijer Gardens. I rather miss that, although it should be something more interest-catching to draw more people in than that did.

Yes, that was Tom Otterness:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1ZKTG_enUS782US782&biw=1536&bih=710&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=YGQuW6jUHIbSsAWzjrL4Aw&q=otterness+sculptures+grand+rapids&oq=otterness+sculptures+grand+rapids&gs_l=img.3...6735.7892.0.8031.13.8.0.0.0.0.224.385.0j1j1.2.0....0...1c.1.64.img..11.0.0....0.TE40KuyfDvU

I agree, something similar to that or even larger scale from one artist would be great for a change. 

[GRLaker]

Did they ever eliminate the rule that if you have won in the past, you can't win again? I thought that was a good way to discourage any successful artist from wanting to participate. 

[kwl]

8 minutes ago, GRLaker said:

Did they ever eliminate the rule that if you have won in the past, you can't win again? I thought that was a good way to discourage any successful artist from wanting to participate. 

That rule was introduced in 2016, so after almost all of the ArtPrizes. I think what you may be referring to is the rule which states that the piece has to of been completed in the prior three years. That is what found "The Dragon" to be disqualified in 2012. 

Also, I don't think the rule for repeat winners would discourage any logical artist as there is really only a pool of 8 people who cannot participate (one artist has won twice). 

[GRDadof3]

I have to say I'm getting pretty excited to hear more details behind Project 1 in 2019. I've really felt a bit disenchanted with AP the last couple of years. 

Project 1 will be all outdoor work on a pretty large scale, 3 - 5 commissioned artists, and will go longer than ArtPrize normally runs.

There's no voting, no grand prize, and unlike ArtPrize, which features thousands of entries ranging from small paintings to large sculptures, Project 1 will consist of a series of bold, expansive outdoor exhibits requiring significant time and resources to create, Buist said.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2018/11/artprize_unveils_project_1_det.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=grandrapidspress_sf

https://www.experiencegr.com/articles/post/project-1-by-artprize-is-coming-to-grand-rapids-sept-7-oct-27-2019/

Wonder if any of the work will stick around permanently? 

[Pattmost20]

33 minutes ago, GRDadof3 said:

Wonder if any of the work will stick around permanently? 

I hope so. If the city is really committed to being an Art Destination, it could do wonders to have some interesting, large scale art installations.

[thebeerqueer]

Also, I really like the idea of some of the installations being a little outside of the downtown core. There are great spaces in the neighborhoods that could host some large scale pieces. 

[joeDowntown]

43 minutes ago, Pattmost20 said:

I hope so. If the city is really committed to being an Art Destination, it could do wonders to have some interesting, large scale art installations.

I liked when ArtPrize originally wanted to keep grand prize winner. I felt like it was building an art legacy. I hope they revisit this with Project 1, they keep several pieces each time. It would definitely help Grand Rapids in the public arts area.

Joe

[GRDadof3]

http://www.artnews.com/2019/03/14/artprize-project-1-artists/

Artprize, the organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that also runs an art competition, has revealed the artists participating in the inaugural edition of its Project biennial, which will take place in the Midwestern city from September 7 to October 27. The first edition of the biennial, Project 1, will feature newly commissioned large-scale public works by Amanda Browder, Heather Hart, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Olalekan Jeyifous, and the duo Paul Amenta and Ted Lott.

Time to start digging into these artists' portfolios (other than local Paul Amenta and Ted Lott). Exciting. 

Heather Hart:

https://www.google.com/search?q=heather+hart,+artist&rlz=1C1ZKTG_enUS782US782&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1ooPa3YLhAhVXyYMKHfCNAG4Q_AUIDigB&biw=1536&bih=754

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1ZKTG_enUS782US782&biw=1536&bih=754&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=hdyKXIzLLZPGjgSq3qqQDg&q=rafael+lozano-hemmer&oq=rafael+lozano&gs_l=img.1.0.0l7j0i30l3.52437.55897..57302...0.0..2.93.2060.30....2..1....1..gws-wiz-img.....0..35i39j0i131j0i67j0i131i67.N_MEFaxCl_Y

Olalekan Jeyifous

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1ZKTG_enUS782US782&biw=1536&bih=754&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=v9yKXMqnOaHSjwSbzJzgDg&q=olalekan+jeyifous&oq=olalek&gs_l=img.1.0.0l10.56034.58456..61320...1.0..0.71.477.7....2..1....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39j0i67j0i131j0i10.DnaffpjJhAg

Amanda Browder

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1ZKTG_enUS782US782&biw=1536&bih=754&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=_tyKXLSeDaLojwTO4aroCg&q=amanda+browder&oq=amanda+browder&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i24l3.42072.44801..44898...0.0..0.234.1184.12j1j1....2..1....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39j0i131.Zv5YE7gUOLQ

Dude..

[walker]

Interestingly, you can do this Google image search exercise on Ted Lott too,  and you end up with two different artsy Ted Lotts.  The  architect that posts here occasionally and another one in Wisconsin who is described on his website as “a Craftsperson, Designer and Artist whose work revolves around the history of wood in Material Culture and Architecture.”  I wonder if they are related?  What if they both show up?   

https://www.google.com/search?q=ted+lott&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS802US802&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjfnZ3Ri4PhAhUL04MKHXe_CTkQ_AUIDigB&biw=1440&bih=757

Edited March 15, 2019 by walker

[GRDadof3]

More details about one of the artist's plans. 

https://www.woodtv.com/news/artprize/project-1-artist-asks-for-local-fabric-helpers/1849825244

 

[egrguy]

I think the off-year stuff of Project 1 could be more interesting than the Art Prize stuff we generally see. I hope the community supports it like Art Prize as this could really be of more impact to the city as an art destination that Art Prize ever was (I know, possible overreaction, but seeing some of the artists work, this is exiting!)

[thebeerqueer]

1 hour ago, egrguy said:

I think the off-year stuff of Project 1 could be more interesting than the Art Prize stuff we generally see. I hope the community supports it like Art Prize as this could really be of more impact to the city as an art destination that Art Prize ever was (I know, possible overreaction, but seeing some of the artists work, this is exiting!)

I couldn't agree more, I feel like Project 1 with it's larger scale installations has the opportunity to really transform some spaces for the duration of the event and drive people into different parts of the city. ArtPrize will always be what it is but hopefully Project 1 will inject some much needed energy into it. 

[GRDadof3]

2 hours ago, egrguy said:

I think the off-year stuff of Project 1 could be more interesting than the Art Prize stuff we generally see. I hope the community supports it like Art Prize as this could really be of more impact to the city as an art destination that Art Prize ever was (I know, possible overreaction, but seeing some of the artists work, this is exiting!)

Agreed as well. I think if you're a fan of Site.Lab, then this will really be up your alley. With Paul Amenta and Ted Lott involved (Ted designed the giant wooden walkway that snaked through Site.Lab up off of Grandville), I can see they want this to be a Site.Lab "Expanded."

https://www.paulamenta.com/everything-is-transformed

I do however think the crowds will be greatly reduced. But it will be higher quality crowds in my mind. 

 

[GRDadof3]

ArtForum weighs in with the news:

https://www.artforum.com/news/artprize-announces-participating-artists-for-first-edition-of-public-art-biennial-78923

“In taking up the notion of ‘crossed lines,’ the exhibition seeks to explore borders and intersections of many types—aesthetic, political, social—that result in the harmonies, tensions, and unexpected outcomes that make a city what it is,” said Kevin Buist, the artistic director of ArtPrize and Project 1. “When people, places and points of view cross one another there is friction, a beginning point for both conflict and creative spark.”

 

[GRDadof3]

Looking forward to Project 1!!  It will be very Instagrammable!!  #truestory

https://www.wzzm13.com/video/entertainment/television/programs/my-west-michigan/project-1-to-take-over-grand-rapids-soon/69-e392ef24-a374-45ee-937c-dcf4808866e1

 

[grandrollerz]

I see there are ArtPrize posters for sale in https://grandrapidsstore.com/product/posters/  I enjoyed 2011, but does anyone know if there are re-prints available of and Festival of The Arts posters?

77, 80 and 87  would look great framed I think: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2016/06/festival_poster_flashbacks_see.html

2011 without the watermark would look nice too.   Someone has the original, nice: https://kemmestudios.com/2014/10/28/festival-2015/

[egrguy]

Has anyone been DT for any of Project X? I've heard generally positive buzz from those that have experienced it so far and wondered if anyone here have checked it out yet 

[ironyisadeadscene]

On 9/7/2019 at 9:49 PM, egrguy said:

Has anyone been DT for any of Project X? I've heard generally positive buzz from those that have experienced it so far and wondered if anyone here have checked it out yet 

I've heard a few negative things from a few people. Its underwhelming, but I'm also comparing it to past art prize

[sfloria]

The scale of the install at MLK park on Fuller is pretty impressive.   I was less impressed with the installs downtown because they just felt like one of the Artprize entries, so I expected more around the corner.