What can you say about an event that takes over the city, inspires lots of walking (as well as traffic), and has folks talking to one another as they stare in their phone?
No, I am not talking about Pokemon Go but the return of ArtPrize 8 — a radically open international art event where the public and curatorial gatekeepers of art get to weigh in, and sometimes even agree on, who should be awarded the top prize monies totaling more than $500,000. (See ArtPrize’s history for the year when both the public and jury agreed. It is surely an answer within the ultimate GR trivia game.)
Before arriving at ArtPrize it is advisable to
download the app on your smart phone, and then activate it once you get downtown. After that, all you have to do is look at art and start voting.
Since this event attracts more than 400,000 people each year, frustration is understandable if crowds are not your thing. But, rather than just beat up on the local festival that seems to some to never end, please venture out into Grand Rapids neighborhoods and not the social media boards. Many of Grand Rapids’ neighborhoods are a great place to grab a fabulous meal without the crowds and enjoy the local art that often is on these walls.
Just remember that while there is a lot of really bad art in this world, you don’t have to like it. In fact, don’t vote for it. Instead, with a little advance homework you might actually discover something truly remarkable across an ever-expanding array of art styles touching on fine art, sculpture, theatre, dance, and music. This is the power of art. Sometimes, the most amazing experiences or discoveries are the ones right at your city's doorstep.
So, love it or hate it, here comes ArtPrize. And no, before you ask, I am not tweeting your entry out of respect for the thousands who have arrived in our city seeking an equal chance to be discovered this year.
Happy ArtPrizing. You have an impressive 170 venues to explore this year. The city will return to normal on Oct. 10.
Admission: Free