Festival of the Arts co-chairs Melissa Bush and Jessi Nix Gould are excited to announce well-known artist Chris LaPorte as the 2018 Festival of the Arts poster artist. In its 49th year in 2018, Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the state of Michigan and will be held June 1, 2 and 3 in downtown Grand Rapids.
“This year’s theme for Festival is celebrating the community through art, and Chris has really captured this in his work,” said Melissa Bush, 2018 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair. “Chris has been involved in the Regional Arts Exhibition for years, participates in Art on the Spot drawing caricatures and hosted an art class in his studio to help fundraise for Festival of the Arts. He was an obvious choice for a poster artist.”
Chris LaPorte loves to draw and says drawing is always cool, no matter what your age or background. He has pursued drawing as a vocation his entire adult life, and has earned art degrees from Aquinas College, La Coste Ecole de Beaux Arts and the New York Academy of Art. He has taught drawing at GVSU, GRCC, Kendall College of Art and Design, and Aquinas College as well as educational institutions in New York and Michigan. He is also a past winner of ArtPrize, with his work “Calvary, American Officers, 1921” winning first-place in 2010.
Bush said she and her co-chair Jessi Nix Gould were looking for someone who represents the West Michigan community who had also been involved in Festival over the years.
“We are honored that Chris has created the artwork for this year’s poster,” said Jessi Nix Gould, 2018 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair. “His work perfectly embodies the event’s theme by representing the beautiful Grand Rapids city skyline, the movement of dancers in front of La Grande Vitesse and fun, playful colors indicating the spirit of festival.”
La Grande Vitesse was formally dedicated on June 14, 1969 and has since become the civic symbol that represents the City of Grand Rapids. The installation of the Calder inspired the first Festival of the Arts – a three-day community arts celebration to be held annually each year in June. It began in 1970 and was originally sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids.
Festival started with two stages, some artwork and a few food booths. Today, Festival of the Arts covers much of downtown Grand Rapids with three performance stages, dozens of food booths, and endless art and activities for all ages. In its 49th year, Festival of the Arts is one of the longest running festivals in the State of Michigan.
