In a recent discussion on this site as we were talking about jurying and reinvitations one of the members posited that he thought artists should be reinvited back to shows on the basis of their sales, saying that obviously those artists who sold well were accepted by the community where the event was being held and they were an asset to the show.
In Grand Rapids right now (9/21-10/9) the ArtPrize competition is taking place with nearly $500,000 in prize money going to the winners. And, yes, the winners are exactly that, a "People's Choice," as anyone who travels to Grand Rapids and registers gets to vote on who the winners will be. I have posted about this elsewhere. However, the Top Ten have now been chosen by "the people."
Can you take some time and visit this link and look at the Top Ten chosen from nearly 1600 entries and let me know if you agree with the People's Choice? There is some fine work but also sculpture made with a chainsaw and also a "living sculpture."
Here's the link:
Check them out here: http://blog.artprize.org/2011/09/29/artprize-2011-top-ten-announced/
If you look at the art in the competition you may be surprised that these ten were chosen, but then maybe not. What do you think?
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I think maybe we should get a huge AFI delegation to head up to Grand Rapids next year. Maybe we can swing the vote in a better direction. I don't know why I didn't go this year. I would have enjoyed seeing the display. The top 10 is an odd collection of stuff. If I had to narrow it down to three in this 10 top group that may appeal to me, I guess I would choose the Crucifixion Mosaics, the giant praying mantis, and the bust of Gerald Ford. While some of you may not think the bust is in the art category, it was done very well. It is very lifelike. Personally, that Praying Mantis would look cool in a sculpture garden, like the one in Minneapolis. The Mime poeple and the wood craving really shouldn't be in this ArtPrize.
Mark Chatterly's piece should have been in the top 10. Once you read the description that cinched it for me.
Jacki B
Glad you agree about Mark's sculpture. Very, very nice.
The woman who made the Crucifixion Mosaic was a finalist last year and I think she won third place, $50,000.
Maybe next year we can go together. Sandy went with me this year and last year too.
First of all: Bravo for Michigan-they obviously know how valuable art is to communities, humanity!
Second: these entries seem to be of the Public Art "genre" -not quite applicable to what we may have available at an Art Fair? Then again, it is interesting to hold dialogue about "What is Art" (and what earns a hefty prize via te "art experts")..... interesting...but nothing that I see that I may want for my own home....ok, except for that giant Praying Mantis! :D
What? You don't want your very own construction workers? How cool that would be... actually this really wasn't art for the home. But did love this piece from member Sara Youngman:
Title: Doodler; or How a Basically Antisocial Printmaker Survived Her First Summer as an Art Fair Artist
See it here: http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/1698
The best thing about ArtPrize is that it shows the power of Art as a vehicle for generating money for any group, in this case the city of Grand Rapids. And, it is great that money is being given to artists based on any criteria. However, allowing the public to pick what wins is like letting a high school dropout do my taxes. There is no way the public is qualified to pick artwork worthy of a cash prize. A bust of Gerald Ford is not Art, let alone one of the ten best pieces in the event. I know people who are worthy, who have done the show all three years, and they don't get hardly any votes.
Yes, Geri, size does matter, here. And it helps if you live in Grand Rapids and politic for votes. The best way to see the good stuff, is to go Grand Rapids and see all the works up close. Hidden among the entries are truly excellent pieces. They just aren't among the pieces selected by an ignorant public.
That is a possibility since we head home around this time of year, we can detour!! I still want to make it to Art Krasl too. I am impressed with how active the arts are in Michigan. I grew up thinking Michigan was all factories. I love being proven wrong this way!!
Meeting you, Connie would be a wonderful bonus!!
Absolutely size does matter (seems I've heard that somewhere before).
You can see all the entries at this link: http://www.artprize.org/artists/list
Here is one of my favorites who didn't make the Top Ten, Ryan Spencer Reed.
I loved Mark Chatterley's sculpture: http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/3290, be sure to read the description.
and Betsy Youngquist's: http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/92497
The most desired location for the artists is the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the artists vie for placement at the various venues. If you visit this link and then go to the right hand side you can see the work for everyone who was accepted at the GRAM: http://www.artprize.org/venues/public-profile/30
This study of the Mona Lisa was very interesting: http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/93865
I sure would like to see more of the art before I comment on how disappointed I was but what I saw. I did read the comments following the list and it seems a lot of the disappointed people were voicing their displeasure.
I just wasn't impressed with what I saw. These aren't media that I follow or care that much about so maybe that is why I had the reaction I did. I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Is there some place I can see the rest of the art? Right now it seems that size does matter.
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