ArtPrize is an international art competition, being held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. [1] The exhibition was from September 23 to October 10, 2009. ArtPrize is unusual both for the size of the top prize ($250,000, combined with other prizes cummulatively amounting to half a million dollars), as well as for the method of judging entries. [2] There is no juror. The artists negotiate a venue with local exhibitors, and the works will be voted on by the public using modern networking technology. [3]
[edit] Concept
The method of choosing the prize winner has been compared to American Idol[4] , but it raises serious issues about high culture and low culture, and about how cultural value is determined in the postmodern age of the internet. [5]
[edit] 2009 Exhibit
The 2009 exhibition will occur in a 3 square mile area of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1262 artists or groups of artists will display works in 159 venues. [6][7]
[edit] Prizes
The 2009 prizes, totaling to $449,000, were:
- 1st place: $250,000
- 2nd: $100,000
- 3rd: $50,000
- 4th through 10th: $7,000 each
[edit] Top 10
On October 1, the top 10 entries were announced, and their ranking was announced October 8:
- Open Water no.24 by Ran Ortner (displayed at The Old Federal Building)[8]
- Imagine That! by Tracy Van Duinen (displayed at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum)
- Portraits by Eric Daigh (displayed at The Old Federal Building)
- The Grand Dance by David Lubbers (displayed on the Grand River near the Blue Bridge)
- Moose by Bill Secunda (displayed at The B.O.B.)
- Nessie on the Grand by the Nessie Project (displayed on the Grand River near the Blue Bridge)
- Field of Reeds by John Douglas Powers (displayed at The Old Federal Building)
- The Furniture City Sets the Table for the World of Art by Sarah Grant (displayed on the Blue Bridge)
- Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress by Jason Hackenwerth (displayed at the UICA)
- winddancer 2 by Michael Westra (displayed on the Blue Bridge)
[edit] Surprise Awards
Two previously unannounced awards were handed out:
Plans are in progress to repeat the event in 2010. [9]
[edit] Voting Directions
Voters must register in person. Once registered, they may use the ArtPrize website, text messaging, or even an iPhone application[10][11]to vote. For text message voting, each artist has been assigned two 5-digit codes, one for a "thumbs up" vote and one for a "thumbs down" vote. Both of these codes are posted near every entry, and many artists have incorporated them into their entries and promotional materials.
[edit] References
- ^ Tobin, Nancy. "West of Chelsea: A Local ArtPrize?". New York Times. http://maplewood.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/west-of-chelsea-a-local-artprize/. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- ^ "Details about the Grand Rapids art contest". Chicago Tribune. April 23, 2009. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/apr/23/news/chi-ap-mi-artprize-glance. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ "ArtPrize Website". http://www.artprize.org. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ McElroy, Steven (April 26, 2009). "Call It Art Idol?". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/arts/design/27arts-CALLITARTIDO_BRF.html?scp=1&sq=ArtPrize%20%22Grand%20Rapids%22&st=cse. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ Szántó, András (29 April 2009). "The prize of desperation". Artworld Salon. http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=84820651261&h=3fIzH&u=PYfAg&ref=mf. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
- ^ Hodges, Michael H. (17 September 17 2009). "ArtPrize Draws Major Buzz". Detroit News (Gannett). http://www.detnews.com/article/20090917/ENT01/909170326/1033/ent01/ArtPrize-draws-major-buzz. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ Maynard, Micheline (7 October 2009). "Eyes on the ArtPrize". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/arts/design/08artprize.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
- ^ "Oil painting wins $250,000 prize". BBC. 9 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8298464.stm. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- ^ "ArtPrize sets dates for 2010 competition in Grand Rapids". Grand Rapids Press (Booth newspapers). 2 September 2009. http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/09/artprize_sets_dates_for_2010_c.html. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
- ^ http://blog.artprize.org/2009/09/02/voting-instructions-and-the-iphone-app/
- ^ http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/09/artprize_iphone_application_li.html
