By Angela Valente Romeo
ArtPrize 2015 opens in Grand Rapids Michigan September 23 and runs through October 9. Now entering its seventh year the event draws more than 1,550 entries matching them with 162 locations around the area. Artists will compete for $500,000 in prizes, including a $200,000 grand prize selected by public vote.
Why should we care about ArtPrize? The possibility of bringing this event to the Coachella Valley is mind-boggling. As a destination place, the Valley is perfect to unite the beauty of nature, the richness of our artistic community and the international recognition of ArtPrize. Cultural tourism benefits not just the local economy but local residents. ArtPrize has shown that art brings people together, year after year. The impact it has had the local economy reaches far beyond the 19 days of the Festival.
ArtPrize brings artists from around the world. The event brings out the local population as well as tourists. This interactive event allows the public to select the winners. The first round of voting will trim the field to a final 20, comprising five entries each in four categories. After a second round of voting, the winners of public and juried awards will be announced Oct. 9.
“A project such as ArtPrize is a great vehicle for cultural tourism to interact with the Coachella Valley. The CV Link would be tremendous opportunity to connect the arts,” noted David Clinton-Reid. “The Grand Rapids area reports that hotel bookings are sold out during ArtPrize. Many guests reserve immediately for the following year. The economic impact of this event cannot be dismissed. Independent studies have valued the economic impact to be $22M+ in Grand Rapids. There is no reason to think that bringing ArtPrize to this area will have less of an economic impact.”
This year ArtPrize drew well-known artist such as Judith Braun and Diana Schpungin. Since 2009, Braun has developed a process of charcoal drawing dubbed “Fingerings.” By applying individual fingerprints carefully, yet spontaneously, Braun is able to produce a range of gradations and patterns within the prescribed boundary. Braun’s submission for ArtPrize 2015 is As Above, a new 480 sq. ft. wall drawing displaying abstractions of flora and foliage, light and energy.
The Brooklyn-based, multidisciplinary artist Diana Shpungin works in drawing, sculpture, installation, hand-drawn animation, video and sound. Born in Riga Latvia, Shpungin immigrated as a small child to the United States where her family settled in New York City. On faculty at Parsons: The New School for Design in New York City, Shpungin has exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Her submission for ArtPrize, Drawing Of A House (Triptych), is a large scale, multi-faceted participatory work consisting of drawing, sculpture and hand drawn video animation. It is also a community project for SiTE:LAB, a volunteer arts organization in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Kent County and The City of Grand Rapids.
ArtPrize is also partnering with organizers of the inaugural DisArt Festival in Grand Rapids held earlier this year that featured works by artists with disabilities. The message of “Art is Every Body” will be highlighted at ArtPrize.
ArtPrize is an event that should not be missed. But it is also an event that would be the perfect complement to our artistic community and for art tourism in the Coachella Valley. Local resident Jeff Pluth spent a year researching and building relationships in hopes of bringing ArtPrize to the area. “I’m deeply drawn to the innovativeness of ArtPrize and the multiple touch-points it brings to a community; a proven model engaging both arts aficionados and art innocents alike.” Pluth notes that, “It’s a revolutionary way to connect art and technology as event attendees vote on the winning entries via smartphone apps.” The payoffs: art in public spaces, cultural tourism, local job creation, education, community engagement, creating conversations.
As an event, ArtPrize could be thought of as adding another showpiece in the showcase of what the CV offers.
Just think of the possibilities.
