#ArtPrize10
Because a decade of ArtPrize is something worth celebrating.
“Is that part of ArtPrize or just pretty?”
“Do we head to SiTE:LAB now or later today?”
“I’m moved by that.”
“These artists are so very talented.”
All quotes that I have heard in Grand Rapids over the last couple weeks. The streets have been alive with class trips, dates, and family fun nights. All in this community, all taking in art. There’s something powerful about living in the city that’s home to the world’s largest art competition and this year has been no different.
Mr. Handsome and I took a day to wander, take in some art, find Doug’s annual favorite piece, and rock some ArtPrize merch. Their design is always on point so their merchandise easily follows suit.
Last year, I had the opportunity to chat with Jaenell Woods who is the Communications Manager for ArtPrize about the organization and its unique place in this community. If you’re interested, you can find that interview here.
There are so many striking pieces this year. Beautiful, raw, moving, powerful, and many that spoke to the narrative of our current social and political culture. Here are some of our favorites:
ASHLEY
LEMON•aid by Kyd Kane (was moved to tears)-SiTE:LAB
THE STRING PROJECT by THE STRING PROJECT-DeVos
Seen & Scene by Ellen Rutt-Along the River Walk
Madison at Franklin by Mandy Cano Villalobos-SiTE:LAB
DOUG
Dare To Dream Big by Chris Navarro-Gerald R. Ford Museum
Quantum Meditation by Julian Voss-Andreae-Grand Rapids Public Museum
Project Story 415 by Project Story Collective-SiTE:LAB
Belt by Davidhi + Mann + Tagliati-SiTE:LAB
What’s better than a beautiful day with this guy and some art? No a lot friends, not.a.lot. He fell in love with the Grnd Rpds t-shirt which he paired with some dark denim, a good sweater (he’s a sweater guy), and his trusty Clarks. I loved the mint ArtPrize logo shirt (not surprising given the color) and wore it with a coral colored skirt and easy white mules.
We scratched the surface in terms of merchandise. They had everything from t-shirts to pint glasses to help celebrate #artprize10.
So where can you find this gear? The ArtPrize site has an online store that you can visit or this year, ArtPrize is doing an official pop-up shop at 111 Lyon Street NE. To make it easy on you while you are doing your wandering, they added a few other locations where you can purchase merch:
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Courtyard Marriott Hotel
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Gerald R Ford International Airport
Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Hilton Garden Inn Grand Rapids East
JW Marriott Grand Rapids
Sweet House