I’m tired, yet still compelled to keep going. Artprize is fairly intense so I suspect lots of folks are starting to feel the same. Looking at all this art takes a fair bit of energy, not to mention determination. Yesterday, after seeing 100,000 paper airplanes launched off the top of six buildings on Monroe Avenue, I headed for the countryside. As much as I’m enjoying it, and like eating crackers between sips at a wine tasting, I needed to cleanse my palette of all the activity downtown. It helped, a bit. I’m back at it today. Such an effort by so many is hard to deny.

I’ve seen over 60 venues now, likely more than most people, and still can’t believe there are about 100 more. A few of those are billboards, so a drive-by will make seeing them easier. I’ve made a point of hitting the outskirts. Friday friend Linda and I found our way to the tucked-away Newberry Place intentional community. Tim Lowly’s work always makes her cry, and sure enough did again. His “Culture of Adoration” was perhaps the most loving image I’ve encountered here. It’s of a severely disabled girl (whom Linda says is the artist’s daughter) as the study for a figure drawing class. I trekked over to Tanglefoot on Saturday and especially enjoyed Maureen Nolette’s curb series – who knew street curbs could be executed in such an interesting and refined way. Jeanne and I rode our bikes to the West Side and saw a number of works including the large scrap metal robin whose red breast was made from the hood of an old VW bug. We went up to the 28th floor of Bridgewater Place as well, GRs newest and tallest building. Seeing Denise Milito’s Living Breast series was worth the discomfort I felt at being so high up in the sky.

With feet firmly on the ground yesterday my spirit soared at the sight of the cheering crowd that overflowed the intersection of Pearl and Monroe. They came to see the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple airplanes that were to fill the sky like a rainbow. Bands of musicians showed up to play the brief musical score they knew would be printed on the planes. A man on a ladder was poised to conduct all. Well, the rainbow affect didn’t quite hit its mark. With the tips removed for safety, the planes were aero-dynamically challenged. The crowd loved it just the same. And once the music began organized pandemonium set in. Estimated between 15,000 and 20,000, the crowd cheered the launch and it’s organizer who’s known for making unusual things happen around town. But mostly, we cheered fun. Was it art? Who makes that determination? In that moment I’m not sure it mattered.

Artprize organizer Rick DeVos is quoted as saying Artprize is a “social experiment.” A “remarkable movement” according to the minister of a downtown church. And in its fledgling year, there are plenty of grumblings about what’s not working – there always are with experimentation. I’m tired, it’s fun, and there’s much more to see and experience.