Strictly speaking probably the coolest art project in the country this year was the $500,000 Art Prize project in Grand
Rapids. It was backed by the Amway fortune and many other corporate entities joined in. It will be wrapping up and awarding its prize next week. Read more about it here:
www.artfairinsiders.com/blogs/the-really-big-deal-grand I love watching our Rust Belt cities taking on the challenge of their environment to bring cultural activities and cultural life to their cities. In Detroit the
Russell Industrial Center is in a downtown building complex erected in 1915. It was originally home to the Murray Mfg. Company, an auto body supplier. It is now home to many businesses, artists, craftspeople and printers. They hold art open art events there throughout the year.
Take a look and visit next time you are in Detroit. On September 25 and 26 Cleveland hosted
The Bridge Project, an offshoot of the Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology, transforming one of the most fascinating under-used urban spaces in the City into a center of art and performance. Literally "Under the Bridge", a party and art show, held under the Detroit-Superior bridge in downtown Cleveland. Originally an underpass for the "Rapid" (I rode on this a couple of times with my great aunt when I was a kid and downtown Cleveland was enticing) the streetcar level spans approximately one mile and includes, at the west end, a series of archways and rooms that were animated by art installations, exhibits and performances.
More about this. Were you there? Do you know of any other projects like these? I'd love to hear about them--comment below!
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