What is ArtPrize? Put simply, it’s a competition. But it’s also an experiment that could change Grand Rapids long after that competition ends on October 10th. Amway heir Rick DeVos announced ArtPrize five months ago, saying he wanted to “reboot the conversation between artists and the public.” To that end, ArtPrize won't be decided by a panel of experts, but by popular vote. Some in the artist community aren’t very happy about that. But more than 1,200 artists have signed up, and over the next two and a half weeks they’ll show their work in over 150 locations all over downtown Grand Rapids. Art will be in galleries and museums, but also businesses, restaurants, parks, bridges, and even in the middle of the Grand River. On this site, you can hear from some of the artists competing, and how their work is reshaping the city, and making an impact on the local economy. Brooklyn Painter Wins ArtPrize Dustin Dwyer - 10/9/09 - read the story ArtPrize Voting Ends at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday Dustin Dwyer - 10/7/09 - read the story More Than 1,200 Artists Now Out of Running in ArtPrize Dustin Dwyer - 10/2/09 - read the story Artist Statement: Ordinary Collective The Now/here Installation Jennifer Guerra - 9/30/09 Artist Statement: Kelsey Carriere A Minor Fantasy Jennifer Guerra - 9/30/09 Artist Statement: Miriam Slager Weeding Downtown Jennifer Guerra - 9/30/09 20,000 People, 100,000 Paper Planes, 1 Melody Dustin Dwyer - 9/28/09 Artist Statement: Aaron Heideman The Man in a Van Project Jennifer Guerra - 9/26/09 Artist Statement: Charlie Brower Rise Up Grand Rapids Jennifer Guerra - 9/26/09 10,000 Register to Vote on ArtPrize's First Day Dustin Dwyer - 9/24/09 - read the story So You Want to Pick the Winner of ArtPrize? First, You Gotta Know the Voting System Dustin Dwyer - 9/23/09 - read the story What's That Red Blob Thing Outside City Hall? Dustin Dwyer - 9/23/09 - read the story Nessie Goes Into the River Dustin Dwyer - 9/22/09 - read the story The Art of Getting Votes Jennifer Guerra - 9/22/09 - read the story ArtPrize Kickoff Only a Few Days Away Dustin Dwyer - 9/21/09 - read the story Bus Line in Grand Rapids Offers Free Rides to ArtPrize Visitors Dustin Dwyer - 9/16/09 - read the story ArtPrize Already Transforming Grand Rapids Dustin Dwyer - 9/4/09 - read the story ArtPrize has an official iPhone app available for free in the iTunes store. You can find and vote for artists, access maps, and more. This is an intro video produced by the ArtPrize organizers. You can view more by visiting their YouTube page, or by scanning the related videos when this one ends. If you use the term "ArtPrize 2009" in your description or tags on Flickr photos, they will appear in the slideshow below. blog comments powered by Disqus