By Sam Longstreth
ArtPrize has made its long-awaited return to Grand Rapids this month after the 12th ArtPrize was postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. ArtPrize runs from September 16 to October 3, 2021 and features 877 entries, 955 artists, and 145 venues around metro Grand Rapids. The event originally began in 2009 and has grown in popularity since; especially appealing to fans is that anyone from anywhere can enter. Since 2009, millions of people have visited West Michigan to see art and artists from all over the state, country, and world.
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- “Homes” by Tim Gifford of Muskegon is located outside Monroe Center in Grand Rapids. The piece, named after the Great Lakes — Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior — includes photos from the shores of the lakes.
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- “Mountain Villages” by Thomas Ruthven of Kalamazoo hangs in Flanagan’s Irish Pub in Grand Rapids. This drawing, made with colored pencil and watercolor, depicts the mountains and villages of China and the farmers and monks that live there.
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- Artist Kenn Vidro of Grandville, Mich. poses with his art piece “Pop Goes Grand Rapids” outside Mojo’s Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant in Grand Rapids. Vidro, a retired art teacher, is thrilled to see the crowds return to ArtPrize because, he says, “Art is for everyone.”
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- “inDanger: a Taxigami Decaptych” an origami art piece by Aerick Burton of Kalamazoo, hangs inside a shop called Oh, Hello Papers and Gifts in Grand Rapids. The piece contains several parts all made with paper in an origami style. It depicts endangered and near threatened animals.
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- Patrons explore Devos Place in Grand Rapids during ArtPrize on Sept. 27, 2021. Located in the heart of downtown, Devos Place has served as a host venue for every ArtPrize since its inception.
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- “Faces: part II” by Maya Jones of Kalamazoo is in Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids. The work is painted on the side of an old shipping container and depicts famous African American figures including Michele Obama, Beyoncé, and Kamala Harris.
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- Artist Jeff Best of Clare, Mich. poses with his art piece “Prance” inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. Best, who is a full-time artist, is ecstatic to be back at ArtPrize, talking to people about his art because “seeing people who enjoy your work makes you want to do it more.”
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- Artist Maggie Bandstra of Grand Haven, Mich. poses with her art piece “The Poppy Project” inside Devos Place in Bandstra loves seeing people view her art and “witnessing how humans experience art is a really neat gift.”
