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.