What good is appreciating creativity on such a grand scale if we’re not being creative about our own lives? As I strive to live more consciously and creatively in my own life I think this is what’s nagging at me about Artprize this year. So many people are coming for a few hours, a few days, and then what? Back to life as usual? I fear so and hope not. I hope something about Artprize inspires people to make a change, however small. It’s definitely working on me, and I’m glad for it. I’d hate to have such an event so close without it changing me or my perspective in some way. I’m not sure what that change is this year. I’ll be patient as it continues to churn.

The other day a friend pointed out the “huge amount of energy” around Artprize. He’s right. I feel it everyday I’m down here – so much energy being generated and expended. The philosopher in me thinks it’s a searching energy. We’re all searching for something…artists searching for a work they can be happy with…recognition…a creative community…the big prize…or any of the 1713 other reasons they’ve each come for. Voters searching for the next venue…a friend to meet...directions…the top 10…lunch. Others for something on the website…fault in the event…meaning in it all…a place to park, or any of the other reasons they’ve come for. I think many are searching for a more creative life, they just don’t know it yet.

We all have habits of being unconscious onlookers in some part of our lives…all of us. Can Artprize be a catalyst to help us make the leap to more conscious and creative participation? Yes, I’m sure it can, for some. Named and yet-unnamed ripples are radiating from Artprize, in all directions. People are being worked on by this event, from the one who wins the $250,000 prize, to those whose anger and frustration are triggered by it, to the thousands of children who see a community celebrating self expression, to me. Artprize has the ability to awaken something in all of us.

I’m becoming more of a participant in my life, in my relationships, in my health and well-being, in spirit, in my self-expression -- Artprize provided the canvas for this, my first blog.

As does everything, Artprize wants to evolve. Will we?

A big thanks to George Bradshaw for the big laugh this lunch hour. His “Public Museum” film showing at the JW Marriott is a hoot, just what I needed. Amy Hofacker’s “Lifemouse” animation at the Plaza Towers lifted me as well. Thanks Amy.

I’ve been in a funk these last couple days about Artprize. There’s something about it this year that feels like mockery to me. I think it’s the voting aspect of it. I can’t get on board with it this year and I’m not voting. Today I own that the mockery may in part be my own art baggage related to the “thumbs ups” and likely more of the “thumbs downs” I received in my past creative pursuits. My skin wasn’t very thick back when. So on this particular day Artprize is helping me grieve the loss of my creative past. (And I know from experience that if I’m feeling this others are too.) Once I/we are past the grieving we can start building our creative futures. That’s how it works…get rid of the old and make room for the new.

I’m also not voting in part because there’s too much work to consider with a critical eye. It makes my head spin. The simple primitive quality of David Borgerding’s Sasookasoon sculpture speaks to me and I love this piece, yes, love it. Still I won’t vote. Voting is the engine that wants to drive this event. For me voting rushes it all, overshadows the intrinsic value of art, and dismisses some really wonderful works. I’m staying in the driver’s seat and for me that means not voting this year.

I’m even having notions of entering a piece next year. No votes required.

Not 24 hours in and what a rich experience I’m having. Just now my co-worker Megan and I had the privilege to meet and speak with Galina Perova, a Russian painter showing at Huntington Bank. The third-great-granddaughter of a famous Russian painter (Vasily Perov) she is a master in her own right. I won’t recommend many pieces, but go see her entry. Trained at the Hermitage she has been hired by Christies in New York to paint ten portraits of famed American artist Jasper Johns. She was delightful. I feel like I just had a brush with history.

Megan and I attended the lecture on “Art as a Catalyst for Community Relationships” on the lunch hour. Artist Carol Cook Reid has designed pattern squares and created an interactive game-like experience that is bringing people together. It was interesting to sit and listen to her observations of what occurred with the seniors, government workers, bankers, school children, and neighbors she’s visited with this here in GR. She says aesthetics are often more a process than a product. I agree. It was the "pathways" between the participants and their processes of working together that rang louder than their finished pieces.

Last night four of us headed downtown as the event got underway…me, my friend Jeanne, and her two mannequins. Fiona Potter, a weaver from Scotland, found her way to me just yesterday afternoon in a determined search for mannequins to hang her woven wear on. Mildly frustrated at not finding any already Jeanne and I were able to help her out. She’s showing at the Free Spirit Worship Center. We were there as Artprize officially opened and the Reverend invited us into a prayer. She prayed to “that which is most holy” over the well-being of the artists there. The thoughtful prayer and Fiona both were a sincere and unexpected way to start Artprize.

I also met a guy last night, at Stella’s Lounge. There was a little bit of mutual checking out going on. So, of course, that made the night even more fun. His name is Scott, and Jeanne and I shared some art banter and laughs with him and his cousin Jenny. It would be nice to cross venues with him again.

And I ran into my artist-in-residence C.Jacqueline Wood last night. I was happy to see her. She’s been a very busy girl since she arrived last Sunday and I’ve seen her for less than an hour the entire time. Keep in mind I’d never met her before Sunday. We are ships literally passing in the night. I’m impressed by her efforts and commitment to her projection piece which is visible only at night. She’s had the Downtown Development Authority and Pioneer Construction helping her and is now working on finishing touches. She has a key to my house and while not seeing her much was really odd the first few days, now I’m just happy to be able to help her (and her crew) out with a place to stay. Her mom is here with her, she had a friend in from Washington DC for a couple of days, and her sister is flying in from Rhode Island this weekend. Her brother is coming from somewhere else. I’m impressed with the support she’s receiving from her family as well as how far supporters are willing to travel to see this event. This is just one artist and look at all the support she's getting. Kudos to us all.

Wander on.

The circus has come to town. Well, sure, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey are actually here in GR. But the more anticipated event, Artprize, is the bigger show. The opening is officially a week from today and banners are being hung, windows are being washed, flowers planted, and outdoor entries becoming more visible. I’ve seen a dozen or so sculptures including two impressively executed metal fish on the grounds of GVSU, a giant willow birdcage, the start of something big on the blue bridge, and three murals in the works. For an interesting peak of the mural on the back of Kendall’s building come west down Ottawa and take a look from the front of the county courthouse over to your left. The colorful bold images are welcome fun through the frame of concrete and brick. My first glimpse of event organizers Monday had them sorting piles of t-shirts and sitting at laptops in The Hub, just across the street. Aside from writing about it, I’m hosting an artist in my home this year. She arrives Sunday to install a film/video piece near Hopcat and I’m starting to prepare her room. We’re all getting ready.

I’ve started thinking about how to approach Artprize this year. Working in the heart of downtown as I do, it was tempting last year to try and see it all. It was almost overwhelming. This year there are more artists in a larger geographical area. So I’m going for a more qualitative experience this year. This year my growing curiosity is other people’s reaction to the inspired reality that art, artists, and art appreciators are taking over our city for 19 days, in a true celebration of something (that is from my perspective) uniquely creative and highly positive. What will our experiences of it be? What lasting effect will it have on our city? This is my thinking right now. I want to talk with, listen in, and overhear what people are saying. Because while some of the artwork will stay here, most will not. It’s the memories of the encounters with others, conversations about what to vote on (up or down), and our own responses to it all that will linger and affect change to our growing arts community. These are the ideas I want to capture.

I was laughing with a drawing grad student about the whole thing recently – laughing in disbelief that 1000s are actually coming downtown to see and talk about art. It’s pretty amazing. Kind of like the circus.

Wander on.

Last Day

Today is the last day of Artprize. It’s been a full eighteen days. Full of art, a bit of commotion, perusing the internet, voting, contemplating, conversation, images, friends, observations, keeping track of, asking, listening, walking, watching, and eating…and that was just on my part. It’s Saturday and the streets are still full. I’m working and through the windows I see the art lookers are still coming in droves.

I prize art so much because someone has taken the time to capture and record an idea or impression. (It’s the same for writing.) This act of recording gives value to these ideas and to the experience of being. I appreciate this greatly. These ideas then shape us, inform us, expose us, push, and enlighten us. In an often monotonous world they sometimes offer something new. I need to be exposed to new ideas. I want to keep growing. Art does this for me.

What is sticking with me about Artprize 2009? Tommy Allen’s Kissing Booth photo’s on Flickr. Visiting venues with Linda, Jeanne, Betsy, and Lynn, I love them all. The comedy of grown people managing awkward inflatable wearable art sculptures while walking down the sidewalk. Comparing notes about what to see next with my officemate Melanie. Feeling delight that someone chose to paint a bright pink room even if artistically it meant little to me. Listening to people’s complaints, assessments, ego’s, and stories about it all. Hearing the crowd cheer as the planes came down. Watching a Fountain Street Church venue organizer tell Eric Standley they were going to buy his piece. The constant curious crowds. The view from the 28th floor. Talking with strangers about what we each thought. The open-mindedness of Rick DeVos and Jeff Meeuwsen. My appreciation for the paintings, most especially from Baker, Bauer, Bereza, Brandess, Duke, Duren, Harp, Hyma, Jepsen, Lowly, Marie, Mehaffey, Ortner, Poortenga, Rouleau, Serrano, Seven, Sobel, Sweemer, and Swierenga. I've really enjoyed the paintings.

(Four days with a bad cold – too much Artprize?)

Last Thursday I cast my one and final vote for Tracy Van Duinen and “Imagine That!,” the mosaic on the side of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Weeks before Artprize officially began, this piece was complete. If everything is as well done and magical as this, Grand Rapids is in for a real treat I thought. Today I changed my vote. I’m voting instead for Ran Ortner’s “Open Water no. 24.”

Initially, I had dismissed Open Water. I thought it was a photograph, and although still a great image, I was not compelled to vote for it. A few days ago I learned it was a painting. Today I looked again, up close this time. It’s very good. It’s beautiful. I’m glad it’s in the top ten. The paint appears to have been applied with ease and the colors mixed by someone who knows water well. I overheard the artist telling someone today that he’s a surfer and when he is in the water he studies it. This adds to my appreciation of the work. He has an active, conscious, connection with water. He spends time in it and on it in a way few of us do. And even though the waves are large they are not threatening. They are full and open, as the title suggests…inviting, graceful, and wild. It’s wonderful.

I’m glad I took another look.

Yesterday I listened to a dialogue about art, the quality of what is represented in Artprize, and educating people as to what “good” art is. It was frank and rather courageous I thought, on several fronts. The conversation occurred during Kendall College of Art & Design’s lunchtime speaker series. Artprize creators Rick DeVos and Jeffrey Meeuwsen were the scheduled speakers.

Things got down to brass tacks quickly when a trained-in-the-arts member of the audience expressed concerns that Artprize not turn Grand Rapids in a “joke” in the art world. Speaking for her peers she objected to the “carnival-” and “circus-" like nature of Artprize. Pointing out that the quality of most of what made it into the top 25 vote getters wasn’t that good. She owned the “elitist” title that she believed some have placed on her. DeVos agreed that there is a lot of “bad art in Artprize.”

These led to thoughts about artists stepping up and helping to educate the public about art. Also, about the importance of inclusiveness and keeping the event accessible to new and upcoming artists, trained or not. And if trained artists might get paid for getting involved with the education process.

The dialogue fell into countering the comments of “the elites.”

An artist who's chosen not to seek formal training and read books to meet her needs said that others like her throughout history have started art movements. (Is that true?)

A student said when he hears that “someone wants to educate me,” he believes “they stop listening.”

“Don’t change a thing,” said another.

Applause met every perspective.

Rick and Jeff want to raise the bar on the quality of art in Artprize, and once the top ten are announced will begin talking about the pieces they felt were overlooked. They welcomed the honest dialogue and encouraged more of it. Friday night there is a critique of the top ten at the U.I.C.A. I probably won’t make it and am curious if the comments there will be just as honest.

I was impressed with the openness and unruffled nature of these guys. They heard it all and did a good job of bringing things back to center, clearly knowing tensions like these would arise. Rick expressed the importance of having educated, trained artists in general, and in Artprize. Jeffrey, the importance of keeping it inclusive. They are collecting feedback from all sources…for next year.

Criticisms aside, most in attendance applauded the event as a success.

I applaud the courage and the stomachs of these guys for affecting change in Grand Rapids.