I picked up our local newspaper yesterday and there was a little article about the up and coming ArtPrize. I was kind of surprized as we are located in the middle of farm country. There will be 1,511 entries this year at 162 venues. Whew!
I wanted to add a link to our little newspaper but they didn't bother to put the article on line. :( However, here is a blurb from another online source:
A total of 1,511 artists from 45 states and 56 countries are taking part in the fourth-annual ArtPrize competition.
One of the artists, painter Pennie Johnson, is a local divorce attorney. "I'm happy to be part of the event and get my work shown," she says. "I was so excited when I got accepted."
"To get your work in front of 200,000 people in 19 days...I don't think there is any other gallery or art experience in the world that accomplishes what ArtPrize does for an artist," says Catherine Creamer, the competition's executive director.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/215913/48/ArtPrize-to-feature-1511-artists-at-162-venues
Since I have never been to ArtPrize, I have no idea what to expect. I am planning on going this year. So far I know of two AFI members that will be there: John Leben and Jan Waller. I am very excited to see first hand what this is all about. The dates are September 19 to October 7th.
Any other members here who are entered in ArtPrize? We would love to cheer you on.
Comments
David and John, I hope I can find both of your entries. I am really excited to see what you both do.
David keep plugging away. It will be worth it.
I had never heard of Art Prize before. My niece, who lives in Grand Rapids, was accepted for her painting. I was very proud of her, and even more impressed now that I understand the significance of ArtPrize.
Great, John!
Hope to see your entry in person but not sure of my timing/logistics yet. It looks great on the website.
Will drive my piece up to install it right after the St Louis Art Fair and head back to Austin before ArtPrize actually opens. Then may not get back up there until the end for the uninstallation. Will have to see how it all pans out.
I sometimes think I must be nuts to try do complete this piece in the middle of a busy summer/fall and everything else going on in my life at the moment, but it's a great event and good exposure.
Indeed, ArtPrize is a kind of extraordinary concentration of art in Grand Rapids, Michigan for three weeks and is pretty much acknowledged as the "richest art competition in America" with something like $535,000 to be distributed to the top winners.
In addition, while there are a few awards chosen by jurors, the bulk of the money is distributed to the top ten vote-getters as chosen by the public with the grand prize winner receiving $200,000. Kind of a great way to get the community involved in this amazing event.
I will have a one of my drawings (which is still in the process of being completed) hosted by the DeVos Place Convention Center. It's my largest ever pencil drawing--a triptych consisting of three 4' x 3' Claybord™ 2" cradled panels--that will be overall 4 feet high by about 9 1/2 feet wide (with the gaps between the panels).
Very much looking forward to the event!