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Artist Michelle Sider brings light to the darkness in time for ArtPrize 2024

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Michigan artist Michelle Sider is utilizing her art to tell stories of resilience and survival at ArtPrize 2024 (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Michigan mixed media artist Michelle Sider has created art her whole life, finding solace in the world of imagination. Now she is utilizing her art to tell stories of resilience and survival at ArtPrize 2024.

“I made a decision with my artwork that I’m going to be more autobiographical, doing a deeper dive into my heritage, particularly stories of resilience and pride from my family,” said Sider. “There are stories of survival I feel compelled to start telling.”

Sider was a finalist in the 2023 ArtPrize competition. This will be the artist’s third year participating in ArtPrize (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

The annual, international ArtPrize competition featuring over 950 artists from 42 U.S. states and 53 countries will be held Sept. 13-28. Free and open to the public, art will be displayed in over 165 public venues throughout Grand Rapids.

Based in Huntington Woods and a 2023 ArtPrize finalist, this will be Sider’s third year participating in the art competition.

“This year’s pairing is called From Darkness to Light,” said Sider. “There are two pieces: Anna, sparked from conversations last year at ArtPrize; and Balancing Act, my own experience this past year.”

From Darkness to Light consists of glass mosaics representing a journey from fear and turmoil (darkness) to faith and hope (light).

“It’s a really important pairing,” said Sider. “Everybody has times when they go through darkness looking for the light, confused and trying to make their way through very difficult, dark times.

“I feel like there are a lot of people who can resonate with my piece, my own personal story of my fears, of my darkness.”

The initial spark

Inspiration for Anna came to Sider last year when several visitors asked about her ArtPrize entry featuring 10 portraits of Yemenite Jews.

“I’m very sensitized to stories of immigrants because my grandparents and relatives had to flee for their lives from the pogroms in Europe,” said Sider. “As a kid, I had nightmares because my great-aunt told the story of having to hide under a pile of dead bodies. Everyone that was left there died.”

Sider began sketching images of what she imagined her relatives experienced.

A difficult childhood

Anna portrays Sider’s maternal great-grandmother, who fled Odessa (now Ukraine) in 1910.

“Anna” is a glass mosaic by Michelle Sider based on her great-grandmother’s journey from Russia to the United States (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

Anna ran away from home at age 12 to live with her brother in Odessa. Before she arrived, pogroms erupted, wiping out much of the Jewish population. Anna’s brother wrote poetry and pamphlets against the murderous Cossacks, landing him in jail – where he continued writing on toilet paper in his cell.

“My great-grandmother, at the age of 12, would sneak out his writings in her bloomers when she went to visit him,” said Sider.

Anna married a resistance fighter against the Cossacks at age 17. Their wedding present was a midnight passage on a rowboat across the Black Sea to avoid arrest. Sider’s grandparents eventually made their way to the Detroit area.

Sider’s glass mosaic is inspired by a photograph taken when Anna was 16 years old. Though nothing was left of Anna’s brother’s writings, Sider placed writings from her brother’s friend and Russian revolutionary, Leon Trotsky, beneath the clouds and translucent blue of her grandmother’s skirt.

The book Anna holds also carries significance.

“It was very difficult for females to get an education at that time, particularly if you were Jewish females,” said Sider. “The fact that she’s holding a book, representing how important her education was to her, is important to include.”

Gold threads through the mosaic, representing the rips and tears of the original photograph through the years. Sider borrowed the idea from the Japanese craft Kintsugi, where broken and cracked clay vessels are repaired with gold, ultimately strengthening the piece.

A personal balancing act

“Balancing Act” is Sider’s most autobiographical mosaic (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

Sider’s second entry, Balancing Act, is her most autobiographical piece, portraying Sider’s reaction to recent anti-Semitism. With one child facing danger in Israel, and another facing anti-Semitism at college in the U.S., Sider felt broken by fear.

“I felt completely cracked open,” said Sider. “I was terrified, shaking; I was a mess.”

Balancing Act depicts a shadowy figure against a stormy sky with turbulent water beneath as it traverses a gold tightrope representing a lifeline.

Sider said the piece is purposely ambiguous.

“The idea [was] to capture those feelings of being terrified and trying to navigate my way through the storms to the other side.”

For Sider, diving into her great-grandmother’s story of resilience helped her through her own personal struggles – and she hopes it will help others.

A beam of sunlight…

Art brought Sider comfort even as an infant (Courtesy, Michelle Sider)

Sider has always found solace in art.

“My mom tells the story of how, when I was an infant, there was a sunbeam shining through the window, and I started playing with it,” said Sider. “Literally my whole life I’ve been drawn to creating, making and getting my hands dirty.

“It’s my happy place. My world of imagination was always a great source of solace, comfort, energy and interest for me.”

At first, Sider’s art consisted mainly of painting and drawing. The first time she saw a mosaic, however, she fell in love.

Fascinated with glass and light, Sider incorporates both into her mosaics.

“To me, light represents spirituality and hope, and I play with that metaphor in my work a lot,” said Sider. “What I love about glass is that it’s metaphorically and physically representing light.

(Courtesy, ArtPrize)

“My pieces change color throughout the day. I put them at certain angles and use different types of glass. They all catch light, absorb light or reflect light in different ways.”

That change in color can be seen in the atrium of Uccello’s in downtown Grand Rapids where From Darkness to Light is displayed under the glass ceiling.

ArtPrize visitors can vote for pieces by scanning the QR code associated with each entry, or manually entering the five-digit code on the ArtPrize mobile web app.

Information about ArtPrize artists, venues, events and more can be found here.

Frederik Meijer Gardens unveils landmark exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture

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David Smith’s Helmholtzian Landscape, 1946 (Courtesy, FMG)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is proud to announce the groundbreaking exhibition David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture, showcasing the prolific and inventive work of David Smith (1906–1965). This landmark exhibition, the first to explore Smith’s deep engagement with nature, will open on Sept. 23, 2024, and will be on view through March 2, 2025.

The art of David Smith is profuse and inventive. Working in multiple media, formats, and scales, he blurred boundaries between painting and sculpture and between traditional genres such as landscape and figuration.

Smith’s bountiful oeuvre has secured him a firm place within art history, and his adventurous approach to three-dimensional form has permanently expanded the vocabulary and range of sculptural practice.

Forging new ground

Smith is widely hailed as the first American artist to make welded metal sculpture and to absorb industrial methods and materials into his creative repertoire. His inventiveness and contributions to sculptural practice extend far beyond machine vernacular and technique, however. Many have traced the origins of modern sculpture parks to Smith’s unprecedented outdoor installations on his Bolton Landing property in upstate New York.

David Smith’s Raven IV, 1957 (Courtesy, FMG)

For Smith, nature was not only a source of inspiration but also served as studio, accomplice and staging ground for his complex sculptural works.

“While David Smith is recognized as the most important sculptor of the 20th century, there is still much to be learned about his expansive art, especially as it relates to the natural world,” says Suzanne Ramljak, Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs at Meijer Gardens.

“We are excited to reveal this crucial and lesser-known aspect of Smith’s career at Meijer Gardens, where sculpture and nature are so intimately bound.”

What to expect:

David Smith’s Cubi XII, 1963 (Courtesy, FMG)

David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will feature a selection of some 40 sculptures, alongside related paintings, reliefs, and works on paper, providing an in-depth exploration of Smith’s sustaining connection with nature.

Uniting key loans from major lenders—including The Whitney Museum of American Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and Storm King Art Center—the exhibition will be arranged in loose chronological order, beginning with Smith’s earliest sculptures from 1932 to the year before his accidental death in 1965.

Viewers will encounter nature-based work from every decade of Smith’s career, including:

  • 1930s constructions with stones, shells, coral, and wood, along with biomorphic cast metal sculptures.
  • 1940s and 1950s pictorial sculpture landscapes, a genre of Smith’s own invention, which he enlisted to address an array of themes—from autobiography, House in a Landscape and his epic Hudson River Landscape; to color theory, Helmholtzian Landscape; to social norms, Cloistral Landscape.
  • Mid-1950s bronze reliefs depicting botanic motifs such as Rose Garden, Wild Plums, and Skull and Tree.
  • Late 1950s and early 1960s avian sculptures, including a series focused on ravens.
  • A selection of outdoor works that find their completion in the company of sky, wind and earth, as Smith intended.

This exhibition will have a particularly strong resonance at Meijer Gardens, where Smith’s work will be in direct dialogue with the natural environment, including larger pieces situated out of doors. Witness David Smith’s thrilling sculptural translations of the natural world he knew and loved in this exclusive Grand Rapids exhibition.

For more information, click here.

Exhibition Catalogue:

David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue co-published by Meijer Gardens and Hirmer/University of Chicago Press.

The publication will feature contributions by the artist’s daughters, reflecting on Smith’s lived domestic experience of nature; an essay by curator Suzanne Ramljak, surveying Smith’s engagement with nature as material source, subject matter, and preferred site for his sculpture; appreciations by contemporary artists Beatriz Cortez and Mark di Suvero, addressing Smith’s contributions and connections to current art practice; and an illustrated artist’s chronology highlighting key nature-based events in David Smith’s life and art.

David Smith’s Steel Drawing, 1945 (Courtesy, FMG)

Exhibition Programming:

Unless otherwise noted, programs are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required.

Moving Out: David Smith & Outdoor Sculpture

Join Suzanne Ramljak, exhibition curator and Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs, and Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education, on a walk to explore David Smith’s lasting legacy. Discover his influence on sculpture parks as we know them and the many successful artists who followed in Smith’s creative footsteps.

This event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 2-3 p.m.

A full list of exhibition-related activities can be found here.

Extending gratitude

David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture is made possible by the Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation, Meijer Foundation, Bill Padnos and Margy Kaye, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation and Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Michigan artist Mario Moore collapses the past and present in current GRAM exhibit

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Self-portrait of artist Mario Moore (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Vanitas: The Fight includes symbolic objects meaningful to Moore (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The works in Detroit-based artist Mario Moore’s Revolutionary Times exhibit celebrate Black power and resistance – and can be found at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) through August 18.

“It has been an honor to work with Mario Moore on this exhibition,” said GRAM Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Jennifer Wcisel. “His highly realistic paintings radiate with warmth and life. They also prompt viewers to consider our country’s past and what legacies we’ve inherited from it.”

Revolutionary Times brings together three recent bodies of Moore’s work entitled A New Republic, Midnight and Canaan and A New Frontier. These works deftly collapse the past and present, illuminating stories buried or ignored in Americans’ understanding of history.

“A lot of times when we think about history, a lot of Americans don’t consider our past. [And] we end up repeating those same things,” said Moore.

A New Republic

A New Republic began as Moore recognized similarities between conversations surrounding the 2020 election and the political conversations that ultimately sparked the Civil War.

The Drum Rolls On: A Black drummer boy prepares to announce the beginning of battle – or of chaos (Courtesy, Nancy and Sean Cotton)

“That body of work was essentially started by a lot of the anger and frustrations of people on both sides of the aisle that were eerily and scarily similar to 1856-1858 leading up to the Civil War,” Moore said.

“We miss history because it’s not in front of us, yet it’s occurring all the time as we move through the world. It’s important for me to make those connections between the similarities because they are almost the exact same thing that might have been happening 200 years ago.”

Due to those parallels, it is important to Moore that he uses contemporary people and clothes viewers can recognize in his works.

“It puts the history right in front of you,” said Moore. “It makes it present, it makes it relevant because this is a kind of style, clothing, people that you can recognize. Then maybe because of that you start to ask: What is this all about?”

From that Civil War seed, Moore went farther back into history, questioning how Black people came to be in Detroit – and why.

That led him to the Underground Railroad.

Midnight and Canaan

“Even before the Great Migration north, there was a big black community in Detroit,” said Wcisel.

Silverpoint portrait of William Lambert on prepared paper, with gold thread embroidery by Sabrina Nelson (Courtesy, FIA)

Only two works in Midnight and Canaan depict historical figures as opposed to more contemporary figures. Those two works are silverpoint drawings, a technique used by artists prior to graphite being accessible.

Instead of pencil, the drawings are created from actual pieces of silver. The values are subtle, the artist unable to render images as distinct as charcoal or graphite would allow. This generates an almost ghostly, historic quality to the works.

The gold thread seen on Moore’s silverpoint drawings was incorporated by his mother, Sabrina Nelson, and marks routes along the Underground Railroad.

“It’s meaningful to Mario,” said Wcisel. “He’s done quite a bit of silverpoint and thinks of it as imbuing these people with value. ‘I’m literally creating you out of silver to honor you.’”

Another section of Midnight and Canaan features a collaborative piece between Mario and his wife Danielle, a filmmaker.

Approximately five minutes long, the video is tied directly to Moore’s painting depicting the journey of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn. In the painting, Moore casts friends as the historic couple, but in contemporary clothing and a contemporary setting.

Contemporary couple portrays Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, both on canvas and in film (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“But it’s still telling that story of the past in a way that makes it very clear that the present is so connected to the past. It’s this direct line between what was happening in the 1830s and these people today,” said Wcisel, adding that the two figures in the painting are the actors within the short film.

Escaping enslavement in Kentucky, the Blackburns lived in Detroit for a few years before being identified and imprisoned by a slave catcher.

The community of Detroit banded together to save the Blackburns, their efforts allowing the couple escape to Canada.

A New Frontier

Moore’s research into the Underground Railroad led him to the relationship between Detroit and Windsor, and Detroit and Canada – a pivotal point on the Underground Railroad to freedom.

Moore realized the city of Detroit had been founded to establish the fur trade in the United States to support fashion and culture in Europe.

“[He began] looking at the fur trade, discovering that it wasn’t just the French and indigenous people in partnership. They also brought enslaved Africans to be involved in the fur trade,” said Wcisel.

Moore began looking to Dutch paintings of European masters wearing furs for inspiration. And Pillars of the Frontier was born.

Pillars of the Frontier depicts powerful women in Moore’s own family, with wife Danielle at center, as wealthy men were seen at the beginning of the fur trade in Detroit (Courtesy, Mario Moore)

“Now [Moore] is putting these important women in his life in the role of those important men of the past who were making all the political and economic decisions at the time,” said Wcisel of Moore’s painting, Pillars of the Frontier.

Books portrayed in Moore’s oil on linen titled Birth of Cool (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“It’s the powerful women in his life. They are pillars of Detroit society, the Detroit community in many ways. And in a snowy Michigan landscape. It’s a wonderful painting.

Moore also included several books throughout the Revolutionary Times series.

“It’s a way that he is acknowledging the labor of these people who have informed his work,” said Wcisel. “You can very clearly see the titles and the authors, and it adds more depth to the history.”

Though Moore’s art carries complex themes, Wcisel says the artist’s message is easily communicated.

“He has such a way of explaining it in an approachable way so that his message can be very easily communicated to people reading about it, listening to interviews with him, and looking at his paintings,” said Wcisel.

Love immortalized

Moore also recently completed his first bronze sculpture – a bust of his wife Danielle titled Love.

“I’ve actually been working with sculpture and three-dimensional objects since I was a student in undergrad, but I’ve never done a bronze sculpture before,” said Moore.

Moore went on to say that he continually has ideas that make more sense in three-dimensional form.

“It was really just wanting to create an object and something that had a presence to it very different from a painting,” Moore said. “It ignites another part of the brain.

“And I wanted to try bronze. I’ve always been excited by bronze sculpture. I’ve always been in love with the idea of how it can hold the form of clay, but has the hardness and permanence of something more concrete. It was just the time to make it.”

Danielle, always willing to support her husband’s art, sat for Moore as he worked on the sculpture.

“She is his constant muse,” said Wcisel. “He’s always looking at her with an artist’s eye.”

Working with a Michigan foundry, Moore used lost wax casting technique. Initially carved out of wax, the wax bust was then cast in plaster to create a mold. The mold was filled with bronze, filling in gaps as the wax melted from the mold.

“We were so lucky to be able to purchase Love for GRAM; it’s part of our permanent collection,” said Wcisel.

Art = Life

Standing in the Roaring 20’s (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

For artist Mario Moore, art is a way of life.

“My mother is an artist, so it was always something that was present,” said Moore. “[I have] been involved with it my entire existence, so I don’t know anything else.

“It’s just a way of living. It’s how I see the world, how I take in information, how I think about ideas, how I do everything.”

Moore attended undergrad at College for Creative Studies for a degree in illustration, then received his Masters of Fine Arts at Yale.

Inspiration for Moore’s art comes from many venues.

“There is a lot of research and reading involved in my practice,” said Moore. “A lot of times, it’s just life. You’re watching something, and you’re seeing something occur.”

Everything is concept-driven, Moore added.

“It’s always an idea first, then from there I sketch out small compositions and thumbnails that make sense to me, but look like scribble-scrabble to anybody else,” said Moore with a laugh. “From that stage, it’s time to see who I can get to pose for the painting. Then it’s just about making the work.”

Moore went on to say that, despite having guidelines for a piece, things always change as the work progresses.

“The painting tells you what it wants to be,” said Moore. “Sometimes paintings die when you force them into being something. It’s important that the painting guides the way from the concept stage to actually making the painting.”

Moore hopes that each piece or series he creates possesses a new voice and direction, and he is always excited to experiment and work in his studio.

“He allows himself to be really fluid and flexible,” said Wcisel. “He is incredibly talented. I am in awe of his ability to capture people and faces…they look so alive.”

  • Honor Series: Portrayals of Harriet Tubman (left) and Sergeant William (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • During and After the Battle: Depiction of the Battle of Antietam (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Free State: Audio project recording lives of Black Civil War soldiers (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Moore’s paintings contain realistic detail, such as this portion of a painting where the subject wears an embroidered robe (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Recognizing local talent

“I love that we have this Michigan artist series project,” said Wcisel. “I love that we’re able to regularly give solo exhibitions to really amazing people working throughout our state.

“I think Mario is an artist who will be nationally and internationally known very soon. He’s doing amazing work; he’s really on the rise.”

Moore’s hope is that viewers of the Revolutionary Times series will take away something new and be inspired.

“I want the public to explore more on what they see in the show,” said Moore. “To question history, to question ideas. That’s always my hope.”

For more information about the GRAM Revolutionary Times exhibit, click here.

Certain paintings have an audio guide with Moore himself talking about those works. Look for QR Codes beside the paintings or on the GRAM website.

Find out more about artist Mario Moore by clicking here.

A Flying Jewel: Two artists share love of art and science through seven-foot “Pixels of Life” mosaic

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“Pixels of Life” can be found at the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Using 10,000 hand-painted LEGO bricks, artist Aaron Liepman created the seven-foot hummingbird mosaic, Pixels of Life, that now hangs at the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library (KDL).

The ruby-throated hummingbird is set to a 10-foot backdrop of a giant pink coneflower painted in a pixel style by Ann Arbor Visual Artist Katie Hammond.

Aaron Liepman (left) and Katie Hammond with their creation, Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)

Liepman entered the piece in ArtPrize 2023 and is happy the piece is now on display for the public.

“Pixels of Life was created to be shared and to be seen,” said Liepman. “I hope that library patrons, young and old, enjoy interacting with it as much as Katie and I enjoyed creating it.”

Art and science…together?

Liepman and Hammond share more than artistic talent – both artists also love science. 

A biology professor at Eastern Michigan University, Liepman says he was aware of an artistic side of his personality when he was young.

“I really enjoyed art class, but also went pretty hardcore into science.”

Hammond admitted to always having an interest in science. “I almost majored in biology instead of doing art in undergrad. The combining of science with art is something that I really enjoy.”

When Liepman reached out to Hammond about needing a backdrop for his hummingbird mosaic, Hammond couldn’t resist the opportunity to combine art and science.

The creation of a flying jewel

Pixels of Life is Liepman’s third ArtPrize entry.

“I love hummingbirds,” said Liepman. “They’re the most incredible creatures. So much color. The highlight of summer for me is watching hummingbirds at the feeders and appreciating how beautiful and agile and brilliant they are.”

Aaron Liepman with “Ruby” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)

Feathers on the neck of the male ruby-throated hummingbird can look either black or ruby red depending on the angle.

“If they turn, they can go from black to the greatest, most brilliant ruby that you’ve ever seen – and it’s immediate,” said Liepman. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Creating a Hummingbird mosaic, however, was not easy.

“It was so incredibly difficult because trying to reduce the color palette of this bird, of this flying jewel, down to a manageable number that I could create in my studio was just an exercise in futility.

“I did my best. This one has more colors than anything I’ve ever made before; it had 70 colors.”

However, Liepman knew his hummingbird was not complete – it needed a backdrop. But he did not have time to build an 8-foot flower out of LEGOs.

“When I was thinking of another way we could get a flower for this bird, I thought of Katie,” said Liepman. “I asked her what she thought of making a giant 10-foot painting. I thought it would be fun to have mixed media.”

A giant painting? No problem!

Liepman gave Hammond free reign over creation of the backdrop.

“Aaron giving me free reign, that’s always exciting, but it’s also intimidating,” said Hammond. “When you have the whole world of possibilities open, you have to think what’s going to look best in the end.”

She brainstormed for weeks before deciding to paint one of the hummingbirds’ favorite foods, the coneflower, in the style of Aaron’s LEGOs.

Hammond also wanted the backdrop to be modular.

“I wanted it to be made up of a lot of different little tiles, or pieces, so that it would mimic and mirror the feel of the Lego piece.”

However, painting a 10×10-foot canvas with squares the size of LEGOs was not feasible in the time allotted. Instead, Hammond chose to magnify the scale and paint much bigger squares.

“I painted all the squares different colors to match a photograph of a pixelated coneflower,” said Hammond. “I thought it was a fun way to relate to LEGOs. I wanted to do something that would connect them stylistically and thematically.”

Click on the slideshow arrows (located on right and left sides of each picture) below to view the complete process of creating the Pixels of Life backdrop (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
  • Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)

Every story has a beginning…

Liepman’s fascination with LEGO art began after seeing a LEGO wall mosaic in Chicago.

“I hadn’t seen anything like that before and was fascinated. I had never considered LEGOs as a 2-dimensional art form. I knew I wanted to try to create some art in that medium.”

Liepman decided to start with a small project, but quickly realized his “small” project needed to be quite a bit larger than expected.

“Watchful” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)

“This is a thing that many people don’t understand about this art form,” said Liepman. “A screen resolution, that’s 72 dots per inch. When you’re thinking about a LEGO brick, a LEGO pixel, you get approximately 3.4. Your smallest details – if you need a single pixel for something – that smallest detail relative to the overall size of your composition means that things are going to get bigger than you think.”

Liepman’s “small project” became 20 inches square – and consisted of 1,024 LEGO pieces.

He also realized that he needed more colors than the LEGO palette offered.

Liepman began to paint LEGOs, experimenting with spray paint, then airbrushing with craft paints. Finally, he settled on artist-grade acrylic paints.

“There were a lot of things I learned by doing that first piece,” said Liepman. “When I stepped away from it though, I was like, wow, look what I made. There were no instructions, and I figured this out myself. I bet I could do more. I bet I could do better.”

Each mosaic taught him a little bit more. “I was making them bigger and more complex, and they were looking better and better. I didn’t get here in a day; it took me a long time.”

Much of Liepman’s time is spent formulating colors.

His first grayscale mosaic, Watchful, is 45 inches square and has 12 levels of gray, black and white. With the increased levels of grayscale, Liepman realized he could make the mosaics appear lifelike.

“When you can step away from the actual piece by about 20 feet, it looks like the feathers are soft, which completely blows my mind because every single piece is a geometric angular thing.”

“TB10” – Tom Brady (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)

Two of Liepman’s pieces have been auctioned at charity events – one being an autographed mosaic of Tom Brady.

“It’s been fun to be able to also give back to the community and to support good causes through my creativity.”

Commissions allow Liepman to afford the materials to continue creating and donate a piece from time to time to a good cause.

“These pieces really need to be seen and appreciated,” said Liepman. “It’s fun for me to have the opportunity to share these artworks with people because they don’t know what to think of them.”

20 years of funky…

Aaron Liepman (left) and Katie Hammond with Pixels of Life at Brush Studio in Grand Rapids (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)

Hammond says she has been an artist her entire life.

A dancer and visual artist as a child, Hammond then received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan art school, followed by a master’s degree in fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago.

She is now the owner and manager of a communal studio called Ann Arbor Artist Studios.

Hammond describes her painting style as “funky.”

“What I mainly do is acrylic painting on canvas and velvet,” said Hammond. “I like to experiment with a mixed media or non-traditional painting approach, using things like glitter, markers, or more experimental fabrics.

“My painting style is representational but it’s not realistic. It’s stylized and fun and poppy and bright colors and simplified.”

Hammond has completed several commissioned works featuring families and animals, two of her favorite subjects. She also paints murals, completing a large exterior mural in downtown Ann Arbor.

Hammond appreciates the ability to express herself through art – but also the connection it brings.

“From little kids through elderly people…I really enjoy being able to connect with all types of people through my art,” said Hammond. “The most rewarding thing about [art] is being able to see people have a positive experience with your work.”

Hammond says she purposely creates art people can recognize and connect with on some level.

“Powerful” is a depiction of Wonder Woman and can be found at the Grandville Branch of KDL. It was a community project led by Liepman in 2022 (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)

“Anybody can do this; I’m not a genius”

Liepman hopes his artistic journey encourages other people who love art.

“Anybody can do this; I’m not a genius,” said Liepman. “I started with no experience. “I figured out that I could do something, and I kept leveraging the lessons I learned, thinking my way through problems and trying to come up with solutions. Bit by bit I have come up with a process.

“But it didn’t happen right away. It took a lot of practice. I figured out a process, and I’ve refined it over and over. After a while, you get good at stuff if you keep doing it.”

“Revolutionary” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
“Revolutionary” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
“Revolutionary” depicts Martin Luther King Jr. and contains 24 levels of grayscale

How to find Pixels of Life

Pixels of Life can be viewed in the teen area of KDL’s Wyoming Branch.

Liepman encourages people to view Pixels of Life from up close and far away so they can appreciate various details.

Share in the wonder of art and science

Aaron Liepman shares his artwork via Brickmaniac.com and Instagram. Liepman is also accepting commissions.

More information and examples of Katie Hammond’s work can be found on her website, Instagram and Facebook. Hammond is available for murals and other commissions.

Go big or go home: Wyoming High School art students decorate the halls in tape

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Daira (left) and Deborah with their 3D tape art creation (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


3D images created with only tape can be found in the halls of WHS (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Students have painted Wyoming High School’s halls – with tape.

WHS Art 3 students recently studied a contemporary artist who uses tape to create large-scale optical illusions. Inspired by this work, students collaborated to create six unique designs that would give a 2D space a 3D appearance.

Students worked in pairs and used two kinds of tape as a creative medium to explore the idea of space.

“It’s good to have them collaborate, it’s good to have them work in a different space and on a different scale,” WHS art teacher Liz Duffield told WKTV. “We use different things, different materials, so they recognize art is not just drawing and painting, that we have a lot more in the art world.”

Painting…with tape?

Tape art emerged in the 1960s as an alternate urban art form that uses only adhesive tape as a medium. The work of tape artists has garnered a great deal of media interest over the last decade.

That interest is partly due to the advantages of “painting” with tape versus aerosol cans.

The tape art installations cover the walls from the floor to the ceiling (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

No longer needing protective measures, such as masks, to guard against dangerous vapors is a convenience as well as a health benefit to tape artists.

Adhesive tapes can be applied quickly and easily to materials such as stone, wood, glass, aluminum and more. The tape can also be removed without leaving residue.

Strange, interesting, unique…all of the above?

“It was an interesting concept,” said Jordan, WHS junior. “I never would have thought of this for an art project, putting tape on walls. That sounds strange; it was abstract.”

Jovanny, WHS senior and Jordan’s collaborative partner on the project, agreed. “It was really fun. We’re always doing painting or drawing, and I think this was a unique experience, using tape and creating art with it.”

Jovanny (left) and Jordan with their tape art installation (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Though both students agreed the 3D project was not the easiest, both enjoyed the challenge of designing and executing the art.

“We just went with the flow, and this is how it turned out,” said Jovanny, gesturing to an image of their art installation on his computer.

Jovanny also enjoyed the collaborative aspect of the project.

“I liked how we collaborated together because usually we don’t collaborate often in this class,” Jovanny said, adding that creating an art piece with another student – and having it turn out well – produced a sense of accomplishment.

Jordan, who typically creates 2D drawings on a much smaller scale, admitted that while she enjoyed the 3D project, she has no plans to repeat it.

“One time is enough,” Jordan said with a laugh.

An opportunity to share and inspire

Collaborative partners Daira and Deborah, both WHS seniors, enjoyed the opportunity to share their art with the entire school.

Daira (left) and Deborah with their 3D tape art creation (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“I liked it because a lot of students can see [it],” said Deborah. “I had three or four students ask me, What class is this? What are you doing this for? I think it catches students’ attention, and that is good if they want to take art.”

Daira said that, though she typically enjoys painting, she had fun working on the tape art.

“I don’t think it was that difficult because you have just straight lines,” said Daira. “The difficult part was making them look even.

“I would want to do something like this again and experience more than just painting. Art is more than just painting and drawing.”

Deborah would also like to try tape art again, but the WHS senior is thinking…bigger. A bigger canvas and a larger audience.

“Somewhere downtown, somewhere where everybody can see it,” said Deborah.

Art as an outlet

That creative expression is what draws both Daira and Deborah to art in general.

Art teacher Liz Duffield periodically walks by and checks to make sure the tape remains secure (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“I like that you can express your creativity,” said Deborah. “Instead of like every other class where you just write and read, in this class you can actually express it more in colors and lines and shapes.”

“Expressing your feelings too,” Daira added. “Art has a lot of feelings and emotions that you can show. If you are not good in English and writing, you can express it in art.”

Allowing students the opportunity for that expression is important to Duffield – though she admits that she never expected to become a teacher.

“I always knew that I loved art and being creative, design and things like that,” said Duffield. “I never actually thought I wanted to be a teacher, and then I started volunteering in a classroom–and I loved it.”

Value in variety

While the medium of watercolors is Duffield’s personal favorite to work in, she believes in the value of all art forms.

“I think it’s really important to expose my students to many different kinds of art,” Duffield said.

World of Winter: Largest winter festival in U. S. right in our own backyard

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Going Local, Kent County, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , ,
World of Winter boasts several activities for all ages to enjoy! (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


World of Winter (WoW), the largest winter festival in the United States, is in our own backyard of Grand Rapids until March 10!

Open daily from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m., the WoW festival takes place throughout downtown Grand Rapids.

Various art installations tantalizing the mind and imagination using sound, lights, towering sculptures and inflatables.

Some installations are light-based and night-based: Plan your visit accordingly.

A scavenger hunt, walking tours, music, games, painting and craft workshops, and a Mardi Gras Glow Sidewalk Parade are a few WoW offerings.


Large and colorful frog inflatables with informational plaques are located in front of the Ford Museum (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

WoW hotspots include:

  • Ah-Nab-Awen Park
  • 555 Monroe
  • Canal Park
  • Sixth Street Park

For a complete calendar of events, click here.

Transportation

The Rapid transit system provides a seamless bus network connecting visitors to and from downtown Grand Rapids.

DASH offers free rides around downtown every 15 minutes. Download the ‘Transit‘ app for the nearest stop and real-time info.

Area 9 Parking is also available for just $3 a day, and offer use of a free shuttle.


Many installations have lights that give a different look and feel to the exhibit during night hours (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Accessibility

It is advised to refer to each individual event for accessibility information.

Crowd sizes fluctuate and may impede visibility of certain installations for individuals with mobility issues. Most locations provide sidewalk accessibility. However, some installations are in park areas without pavement pathways. Please use caution during your visit.

WoW continues to work to make the festival experience as accessible as possible for all visitors, and are looking at accessibility improvements for the 2025 WoW festival.


Plan your visit ahead of time so you don’t miss out on any fun activities or art installations (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Snow gear tips

Elevate your WoW experience by being prepared with winter essentials! See the recommended list of gear from the WoW team.

This list is recommended but not required to attend or enjoy the festival.

Snow gear checklist:

  • Base Layers like leggings or long sleeved shirts (Wool/Silk/Polypropylene over Cotton)
  • Snow Pants (or a pair of pants over your bottom base layers)
  • Water Resistant Coat
  • Water Resistant Boots
  • Hat, Gloves, Scarves

ArtPrize exhibits continue to amaze visitors in final week, artists reveal stories behind their creations

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By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

The final week of the ArtPrize exhibition and competition has begun, but there is still time to view all creative works at various public venues in downtown Grand Rapids.

“Balsagrom” by Aron Balorda, as displayed at The B.O.B restaurant and entertainment venue (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

From Sept. 14 – Oct. 1, artwork from 950 artists are displayed at 150 public venues across the city.

Visitors were able to vote for their favorite works, with the top 25 finalists announced Sept. 22. The competition side of ArtPrize will wrap up on Sept. 29 at Rosa Parks Circle with a reveal of the $125,000 Public Vote Grand Prize winner.

But ArtPrize is more than just public votes and cash prizes.

“Everyone needs times of connection and belonging,” the ArtPrize website states. “The thrill of being part of something bigger than ourselves. The jubilant intersection of creativity, fellowship, and wonder.”

Founded in 2009, ArtPrize was immediately established as a cultural phenomenon by grabbing the attention of artists and art critics worldwide. Not only did this annual event provide artists an opportunity to display their creations, ArtPrize also inspired conversations and engaged imaginations.

Driftwood, rocks and agates – oh my!

Pasha Ruggles poses with “Adam” portrayed as the movie character Groot (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Pasha Ruggles, resident of Oceana County and creator of “MI-Eden,” felt that spark of imagination while on a Michigan beach with her children in 2015.

“I was on the beach with my kids and they asked me to carry some driftwood,” said Ruggles. “When I threw it in the back of my vehicle…it landed just-so and I thought, ‘That looks like a fish. I’ll make a fish out of that.’”

Ruggles shrugged and smiled. “That’s how it started. And here I am,” she said, gesturing toward the multiple creations surrounding her.

A portrayal of the tree and snake in the biblical creation story (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“MI-Eden,” which can be found outside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, is composed of wood, stones and agates from Michigan streams and lakes.

Eden’s “Adam” is portrayed by Groot, and if visitors look closely they will see an apple dangling from one of Groot’s hands.

Accompanying “Adam” are a variety of animals. “MI-Eden” also incorporates a tree and snake from the biblical account of creation.

Finding solace in nature’s artwork

A “MI-Eden” eagle appears ready to take flight (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Ruggles said that many visitors and passersby think she carved the lifelike pieces in “MI-Eden,” but the artist said she does not shape the wood she finds.

“Nature shapes it and I just put it together,” said Ruggles.

Though Ruggles admits that she fell into art “by accident,” she has also found solace in her work.

“I absolutely love it,” said Ruggles. “It’s more therapeutic than anything to me. Walking on the beach, finding the stuff. If I’m not looking for driftwood, I’m looking for rocks.”

Natural elements and mixed media

Artist Tom Gifford with his 3D mixed media creation titled “MI Light” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Muskegon resident Tom Gifford also finds beauty and peace in Michigan’s natural elements.

Gifford’s 3D creation can be found at Biggby Coffee in Grand Rapids. Titled “MI Light,” the exhibit strives to display the beauty of Michigan through various forms of art.

Two photographs Gifford took himself create the Michigan outline, while the base takes the shape of a lighthouse with a light that comes on after dark.

“I like how much of a challenge it is to fit what you think of Michigan into one piece,” said Gifford.

Gifford wanted more to portray more than just a sunset for “MI Light,” and worked to incorporate all of the state’s natural elements: cliffs, sandstone, rocky beaches and clear water.

The lighthouse base was formed from pallet wood Gifford salvaged from dumpsters and then burned with a torch to give it an antique facade.

A change in plans and sleepless nights

Gifford admitted that the photograph forming Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was only taken a few weeks prior to the beginning of ArtPrize. Not quite happy with the picture he had already picked out for the mural, Gifford took one more trip up to Pictured Rocks.

As night falls, a light will illuminate the top of the lighthouse (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

He found his perfect photo, but Gifford said that, “when I order the print, it takes weeks to get the print. So it was the Tuesday before ArtPrize and I was cutting it out and getting ready. It was a lot of last minute work.”

Gifford said that last minute work on his creations is not unusual.

“I’m not just going to get it done and over with, I’m going to put every ounce of energy I’ve got into it,” said Gifford. “It definitely takes a toll on you after a while. [There are]a lot of sleepless nights.”

Michigan memories

Gifford also created a small room in the lighthouse base just big enough for two people to stand inside. Sticky notes and pens are available so visitors can post a note of what brings light to their lives.

The entrance to the room where visitors can post their favorite Michigan memories (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“People can write their own favorite Michigan memory on the wall,” said Gifford, adding that he plans to make a collage out of all the notes once ArtPrize is finished.

Gifford says he likes hearing people inside the small room.

“They are reading stuff and laughing and having fun,” said Gifford. “It makes it nice and interactive.”

To find information on artists, exhibit locations, and to keep up-to-date on events, visit artprize.org.

ArtPrize finalist exhibit celebrates women leaders and warriors

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Ryan McCallister’s sculpture, “Count on Me,” is one of 25 finalists in ArtPrize this year (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Ryan McCallister always knew art would be his destiny (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The annual international art competition, ArtPrize, is an 18-day event in Grand Rapids that exhibits art in galleries, storefronts, parks, museums, and public venues of all kinds. This year, ArtPrize features 950 artists and 150 exhibition venues.

One such artist is sculptor Ryan McCallister.

“Count On Me” is an eight-foot tall and eight-foot wide 3D warrior goddess sculpture made of stainless steel, river rock, and stained glass. Inspired by Valkyries and angels, McCallister created “Count On Me” to celebrate women leaders and warriors who exuded courage and power.

Based out of Cave Creek, Arizona, McCallister always knew art would be his destiny.

“I need to pour my soul into something, and my sculptures are a distillation of those desires,” McCallister said in his ArtPrize bio. “Each work of art is an attempt at showcasing human stories and potential, while highlighting the magic that comes from searching for deeper meaning in life.”

McCallister hopes his sculptures transport the viewer to another reality, and that they feel the passion and magic of his works.

ArtPrize is free, open to the public, and celebrates ideas, conversations, experimentation, and inclusiveness.

“Count On Me” can be found outside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids.

Ford International Airport invites West Michigan artists to submit proposals for wall art installations

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The mural, “Chickens Don’t Fly Too Much,” was designed and installed by local artist Reb Roberts in 2020 in the Ford International Airport. The 80-foot mural is part of the Airport’s Public Art Program (created in partnership with the Frey Foundation) and is located on the ramp leading up to Concourse A. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)



By WKTV Staff

greer@wktv.org



The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is requesting proposals for murals and 2D wall art applications to be displayed in the newly expanded $110 million Concourse A.



Designed by architect Jorge Barrero of HKS, Concourse A will mimic the experience of arriving in West Michigan. Artists should aim to complement West Michigan’s identity from the blues of Lake Michigan and the natural tans of the dunes to the grays and purples of the urban core to the greens of the forests and farmland in between.

“This new modernized concourse was designed to reflect the unique characteristics of our region,” said Tory Richardson, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority president and CEO. “Our design team was very intentional about creating opportunities within this new space to showcase the diverse talents of our local art community.”

The Concourse A project – part of the Elevate capital expansion program to enhance the Airport’s facilities and infrastructure – is designed to reflect the culture of the region. This $110 million extension will more than double the length and width of the existing concourse to meet the growing passenger demand for air travel.


90,000 square feet of new space

New dining options, amenities, such as an executive lounge, and retail options will be located throughout the 90,000 square feet of new space.

Thanks to support from the Frey Foundation, the Ford International Airport will continue to invest in the local art community through its public art program. Concourse A will feature three art mediums, including custom terrazzo flooring, a suspended art installation and wall art.

Artists interested in submitting proposals for mural and 2D wall art can find more information at flyford.org/elevate/opportunities. Submissions are due March 26, 2023.

New 49507 Project piece reflects hope for its community

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By Renee Karadsheh
WKTV Contributor

Alynn Guerra’s mural for the 49507 Project adorns the side of Cisneros Tire Service located along Division Avenue. (WKTV)

On a pleasant day in September, the smell of warm tortillas and the music playing at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Division Avenue probably left some drivers and pedestrians wondering what is being celebrated at the parking lot of Cisneros Tire Service. Then again, one look at the shop’s wall along Division Avenue and it did not taking much to figure out the reason for the celebration.

Sept. 3 was the unveiling of one of the newest pieces in The 49507 Project, which is a public art project coordinated by the non-profit The Diatribe. The 49507 Project is designed to bring together Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ artists to paint murals and emulate how underserved residents in the 49507 area are.

Redlining, the practice of denying a person a loan because the area they live in is deemed poor, is one of the issues reflected in Alynn Guerra’s piece, “Flight,” which is featured at Cisneros Tire Service, 800 Division Ave. S.

According to Guerra, the mural has a literal and metaphoric meaning. The red on the far left represents redlining, a practiced started in 1933 when the Home Owner’s Loan Corporation began redlining in major American cities. On the far right is a shade of green to represent green lining, an advocacy that seeks to advance and empower communities with people of color. In the center of the background is a sunny yellow tone with a grinning skeleton swinging forward on a swing as white birds fly the opposite direction over the red paint in the background. The birds represent white supremacy reversed as Guerra describes it. The skeleton is  a traditional Mexican symbol of rebirth.

“We don’t need to  glorify our struggles,” said as she presented her mural to the public. “We can look into the mural and be hopeful.”

Taking on this dynamic form of activism through art, Guerra is a believer her art can create change. Whether you are on the stuck in traffic on the busy street of Division or a customer who needs a tire changed at Cisneros Tire Service, you cannot escape curiosity when studying her mural. This vivid, humorous, and truthful work of art shows immense hope for Grand Rapids to think outside our redlines and educate ourselves on social injustice. What Guerra believes about public art is it communicates a message in a constant way in the present day and future generations to come.

The 49507 Project was launched in 2021 with seven artists completing pieces. For 2022, the project had eight artists complete murals in and throughout the area. Those locations are:

  • Samaria J’s Salon Suite, 701 Grandville Ave SW 
  • Load A Spud, 1721 Madison Ave SE 
  • Farmers Insurance, 2435 Eastern Ave SE 
  • Mr. B’s Party Store, 1216 Kalamazoo Ave SE 
  • Aleman Auto Repair, 1801 Division Ave S. 
  • Cisneros Tires, 800 Division Ave S. 
  • 1956 Eastern Ave. 
  • 1935 Eastern Ave.

The project has been well received. In fact, as part of it, Peterson Research Consultants conducted a survey of the community attitudes both before and after starting to assess whether perceptions of the neighborhood might change. After the first year, that survey showed residents felt the art represented how “we see things – colorful, vibrant, and a beautiful side of our culture.”

Funded by a coalition of nearly a dozen businesses, foundations, neighborhood groups and city organizations, The 49507 Project is scheduled to go through 2023.

WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma contributed to this article.

It’s a wrap for ArtPrize, a new initiative is planned

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

“Elephant Chunko” by Kristina Libby from ArtPrize 2022 (WKTV/D.A. Reed)

ArtPrize will make a catalytic gift of its creative, technological and communications platforms to a new partnership for a new experiment that will build upon the legacy of the international art competition, effectively “ArtPrize 2.0.” Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI), the City of Grand Rapids and KCAD will collectively lead this new initiative.

In a statement today, the ArtPrize board of directors expressed deep appreciation to the entire community for 13 years of partnership and support as it winds down its operations.


 
“What started as an experiment in 2009 quickly became something more, and we have an entire community to thank for embracing the ArtPrize idea and taking it to amazing heights,” said ArtPrize Founder and Chairman Rick DeVos said in a press release. “Together, we were able to stimulate thought and creativity by celebrating art, supporting artists, exploring familiar and not-so-familiar venues, and starting entirely new conversations.


 
“While there are certainly mixed emotions, we know the time is right to conclude the original ArtPrize experiment and open up space for new energy and creativity. We are thrilled that the partnership of DGRI, KCAD, and the City of Grand Rapids is stepping forward to continue to produce an incredible fall event.”


 
Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss echoed those sentiments.

From ArtPrize 2014. (WKTV)

“Every destination community has a destination event that captures the spirit and aspirations of that community. For us, ArtPrize has been a manifestation of the independent creative spirit that defines Grand Rapids, and has captured the imagination of people from around the world,” she said. “Rick DeVos and the ArtPrize Board have laid out a roadmap and a foundation that we’re grateful for and excited to build upon.”


 
ArtPrize has held 13 events since 2009 and awarded more than $6 million through a combination of public votes, juried awards and grants. Millions of people across the globe have participated in ArtPrize in some fashion – displaying their work, performing, opening their spaces, volunteering, or visiting and enjoying Grand Rapids each fall.

 
For 18 days each year, art was exhibited throughout the city in public parks and museums, in galleries and storefronts, in bars and on bridges. ArtPrize annually awarded $450,000 directly to artists.


 
Ran Ortner, with his “Open Water no.24,” was the original ArtPrize grand prize winner in 2009, as determined by public vote. He netted $250,000 for the honor, the largest monetary art prize at the time. In 2010, four juried awards were added to the competition and ArtPrize continued to evolve over the years to keep the experience fresh and surprising. A list of all ArtPrize winners can be found here.

For more information, visit ArtPrize.org/future.

Blandford to host art show, sale to benefit The Highlands

Citizen Journalism, , , ,

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

“The Highlands” by Kathy Mohl (Courtesy, Blandford Nature Center)

Blandford Nature Center and LaFontsee Galleries are partnering to present Art is Second Nature– an art show and sale to benefit the ongoing efforts to restore The Highlands to a natural landscape. Art is Second Nature will be hosted on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Blandford Nature Center located at 1715 Hillburn Avenue NW.

This show and sale will consist of pieces by more than 40 artists, all of who have been inspired by the beauty of The Highlands. Piece sizes will vary and prices will range from $200 up to $4,500. All exhibited work will be for sale and proceeds will go towards returning the 121-acre former golf course into a natural space the public can explore and enjoy.

Once a golf course, now a nature preserve

“Walking through the sea of native wildflowers that now covers The Highlands in the summer, it can be hard to believe that it was a golf course just four years ago,” said Blandford’s President and CEO Jack Woller. “This property has become a center of species diversity and a staple in our community for people to enjoy nature, but there is more work to be done.”

Blandford Nature Center and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan teamed up in 2017 to purchase the former golf course. Today, The Highlands features native grassland covering 75 of the 121 acres, eight wetlands, and three miles of trails, including segments of accessible paved and crushed gravel trail. The proceeds from Art is Second Nature will go towards continuing the restorative work at The Highlands, but also maintaining the land for years to come.

“A lot has been accomplished on the property in the last few years. From here, we’re hoping to improve public access through infrastructure at The Highlands while ensuring the area continues to support biodiversity,” Woller continued. “We’re so grateful for LaFontsee Galleries and the participating artists for contributing to an event that will help us achieve our goal.”

Artists will be present for the duration of the show alongside their work, expressing their vision of and depicting scenes of The Highlands.

“When I visited The Highlands for the first time scouting out what I was going to paint, I was struck by the light. It blew me away,” said artist Stephen Duren. “There is ‘California light’ where I grew up, there is ‘Michigan light’, and now there is ‘The Highlands light’. I used colors that I have never used before in my work. I couldn’t do just one piece, I had to return to do more.”

Sharing their vision

This art show and sale will include names such as Stephen Duren, Kathy Mohl, Justin Kellner, Jason Quigno, Rachael Van Dyke, and more. A full list of participating artists can be found on Blandford Nature Center’s website.

Admission to this event is free and no registration is required to attend, but guests will have the option of making donations in support of the conservation efforts at The Highlands. Light refreshments will be provided and all ages are welcome.

Anyone unable to attend on Oct. 22nd will be able to view and purchase remaining pieces through Blandford Nature Center’s online gift shop until sold out. In-person viewings at Blandford Nature Center can be scheduled during normal business hours (Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) by calling the front desk at 616-735-6240. For more event details or to visit the online gift shop, attendees can visit www.blandfordnaturecenter.org.

An idea sparks two to open newest vintage store on Division Avenue

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By Maddy Visscher
ArtRat Gallery

Tom Short, co-owner Decaydence Vintage, works on a display. (WKTV)

Just a couple of months ago, Tom Short and Jim Long weren’t planning to become the owners of Heartside’s newest vintage store. Then a thrift boom on South Division Avenue and a beautiful storefront put the couple on the fast track to launch Decaydence Vintage in a scant three weeks.

“I told him that he should really just open a whole store,” Jim said from behind the counter of the spacious vintage store stocked wall-to-wall with second-hand treasures. Jim gestured to Tom.

Laughing, Tom agreed: “It just sparked something in me … And now we’re here! It’s like a dream come true.”

After Tom and Jim moved to Grand Rapids from Lansing in 2020, Tom began selling vintage posters, toys and clothing from a 100-square-foot booth. But a retail space at the corner of South Division and Oakes Street got them thinking bigger.

Earrings created by Tom Short, co-owner of Decaydence Vintage (WKTV)

“We had looked at other spots, but after seeing this space, we knew we would fit in here. We just loved the vibe; it’s right next to the beautiful Harris Building at 111 S. Division, and the record store Vertigo Music at 129 S. Division. We signed the lease, and within days we had keys. We couldn’t believe it.”

There wasn’t much time to bask in their success, though, as they only had three weeks to open before ArtPrize 2022 kicked off on Oct. 15. Tom told ArtRat that he just did what he does best: initiating a search for the perfect pieces and picking out the design elements they needed to dress the shop.

A brick-and-mortar store presented a whole new set of challenges, from repairing the AC and hand-painting the bathroom to finding the right furnishings to complement the spacious show floor. “I found the golden clothing racks and glass cases online,” Tom said.

Picking the team

Owners Tom Short and Jim Long hand selected the vendors that are part of Decaydence Vintage. (WKTV)

Now that Decaydence was looking more like a real store, Jim and Tom sought out vendors to fill the space Tom’s original collection couldn’t. Ultimately, they handpicked five local vendors who met their criteria for both passion and quality.

“We don’t even know how they find some of this stuff.” Tom walked me over to the first rack in the store, telling me excitedly, “… Like, did you see this? A vintage Christian Louboutin nightgown — it’s got to be from the ‘60s or something!”

“We worked hard to curate our vibe, and keep our energy up,” Jim said. “We only selected vendors that we know take great pride in finding the best pieces, and who want to succeed.”

“We really feel so validated,” Tom added. “Since the moment we opened, we’ve been elated by the amount of love we’ve gotten. It has been nonstop.” Between the excitement of ArtPrize and a Sept. 24 shop crawl along the avenue, “we haven’t even found time to have our grand opening!”

(WKTV)

“This is the place I wished I had when I was a teenager,” Tom said proudly. “If there’s anything we want people to know, it’s that we are constantly changing! We move things every day. You can buy almost anything, even things straight out of your childhood memories.”

Head over to Decaydence Vintage for an amazing selection of vintage clothing, toys and home goods from local vendors as well as Tom himself. And stay tuned: Tom and Jim promise they will find time for that grand opening.

Decaydence Vintage (71 S. Division) is open 12-8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. While you’re in the neighborhood, also check out vintage offerings at Second Vibess (13 S. Division), Zabház (222 S. Division) and OTONO (317 S. Division).

This article provided by ArtGallery, located at 46 Division Ave. S. For more about ArtRat, visit the gallery’s website at www.artrat.us. To join ArtRat Gallery’s mailing list of events and exhibits, email matthew@artrat.us.

A virtual step into van Gogh’s life and paintings

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A life-sized reproduction of Vincent van Gogh’s painting, “The Bedroom,” featured at “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” which runs through October 15 at 555 Center Dr. NW, Walker. (Courtesy)






By Thomas Hegewald, WKTV Contributing Writer

There is a room in the new “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” exhibit that contains a life-sized replica of his bedroom in the yellow house in Arles, France. It is life-sized so that you can step into the “scene,” or the painting itself.

This is just one of the immersive elements of the new exhibit of Vincent van Gogh. It’s a new way to enjoy his works and immerse yourself in the artist’s masterpieces in this high-tech, digital show that opened in Grand Rapids on July 22 and runs through October 15 at 555 Center Dr. NW. 

 

Dutch history

Grand Rapids was selected for this immersive exhibit because of its Dutch heritage. John Zaller, executive producer at Exhibition Hub, hopes that attendees to the exhibit leave with a deeper appreciation of van Gogh, who was born in the Netherlands in 1853.

“The way we use tech is different than a museum’s approach,” Zaller explained. “Van Gogh’s work is approachable – filled with color and motion – it lends itself to a new interpretation.”

The exhibit is featured in 14 cities across the United States as well as in Europe. It has been touring since 2017, bringing in more than 5 million visitors, according to the website vangoghexpo.com

The 360-degree main gallery of the “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” features his painting, “The Starry Night.” The show opened in Grand Rapids on July 22 and runs through October 15 at 555 Center Dr. NW. (Courtesy)

Visitors (and participants) of the exhibit move at their own pace through a number of rooms, structured more like a gallery, with the pieces more accessible than in a museum.

“We feature pieces key to his story,” explained Zaller, when talking about which of van Gogh’s nearly 900 paintings to incorporate in the show.

And that story flows throughout the exhibit.

 

Color blindness effect

A documentary interprets van Gogh’s work and how he used color; explaining further that he had a color blindness, where he saw fewer colors and used brighter colors because of it. On the nearby walls hang canvas replicas of some of his paintings – in their actual size – so you can see the scale in which he worked.

Throughout the exhibit are panels containing background information about his family, themes in his work and color studies.

Complex emotions

Van Gogh’s struggle with mental illness, culminating in taking his own life, adds to the complex emotional undercurrent felt when looking at his work. His story, his style, his artwork are relatable and approachable.

In addition to stepping into life-size paintings, visitors are fully immersed in the largest gallery which features “360-degree floor-to-ceiling digital projection.” There are chairs and benches to sit on and experience a display that progresses before your eyes. Paintings come alive with moving elements and coordinating sound effects.

In one scene, white line drawings appear on a black background. And then colors flow into the drawing, filling in the objects until the darkness is overcome by color.

The VR Room

Just past this gallery is the VR (Virtual Reality) room where goggles are available to experience a 10-minute tour of van Gogh’s home studio, surrounding countryside and nearby town – as though walking through it. Specific scenes are presented with a frame and within the VR reality, that scene evolves into the painting that van Gogh created. 

After all of this inspiration, you’re invited to select an outline of one of his pieces, color it in, scan it in and see it projected on a screen.

Extreme technology

While the main feature of this exhibit is works by Vincent van Gogh, the tech side of it relied on 30-40 digital artists who combined their talents to present his work in a variety of ways. The components of the exhibit filled six trailers and took three weeks to install, covering 30,000 square feet.

Vincent Van Gogh painted numerous versions of sunflowers throughout their lifecycle. This is one of the rooms featured at “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” which opened in Grand Rapids on July 22 and runs through October 15 at 555 Center Dr. NW. (Courtesy)

Standard admission (weekdays before 4:30 pm)

Adults (ages 18 and older) – $37.20

Children (ages 4-12) – $24.10

Seniors (ages 65 and older), Students (ages 13-26) or Military – $25.70

Family Pass (2 Adults + 2 kids) – $107.00.


Standard admission (weekdays after 4:30 pm and on weekends)

  • Adults (ages 18 and older) – $40.40
  • Children (ages 4-12)  – $29.50
  • Seniors (ages 65 and older), Students (ages 13-26) or Military – $31.70
  • Family Pass (2 Adults + 2 kids) – $121.80

See vangoghexpo.com to purchase tickets. Open six days a week, closed on Tuesdays.

Submissions are now being accepted for KDL coaster art contest

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Recreation, ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Kent District Library is accepting submissions for the KDL Coaster Art Contest with the theme “Library Love.” Entries are accepted at kdl.org/coaster-art through August 8. Artists 18 and older are encouraged to submit their original artwork online; one entry per person.


Five winners will be selected by a panel of judges within KDL’s Marketing & Communications Department. Each of the winning designs will be featured on 2,500 coasters that will be distributed to the KDaLe brewery partners. Coasters will be available at the breweries in September during Library Card Sign-Up Month.


“West Michigan has an almost embarrassing amount of artistic talent,” said Josh Mosey, KDL’s digital marketing strategist and creator of the coaster art contest. “Many of our libraries have art walls dedicated to display local artists. We wanted to tap into that spirit and showcase some artists who love the library like we do.”

A fun partnership

Justin Buiter, co-founder of Railtown Brewing Co., added, “We’ve enjoyed a great working history with KDL. Their group continues to come up with fun and innovative ways to highlight the amazing services the library has to offer. The Coaster Art Contest is going to be a wonderful complement to the already successful KDaLe program. We’re excited to see what we expect to be some awesome entries!”


KDaLe is a library series that encourages adults to interact with local brewers and learn about the industry while tasting some delicious beverages. KDaLe also includes a homebrew competition.

Just a few rules

Submissions must be original and can not copy someone’s else idea.

Entries should not contain copyrighted material.

Submissions must not contain material that is threatening, harassing or discriminatory and must not promote illegal activities.

All work must be submitted digitally.

KDL is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen work.

Judging will be based on several criteria such as creativity and originality of the theme, quality of artist composition and overall design based on the theme, overall impression of the art, color and image quality, and quality and completeness of written submission materials.

Winners will be noticed via email or phone within five days after selection.

For complete rules or to enter the contest, visit kdl.org/coaster-art. 

Another way to offer love: Art Legacy helps hospice patients create lasting memories

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Senior Living, , , ,

By Emmanuel Hospice

Licensed Massage Therapist Joan Blessings works with an Emmanuel Hospice patient. (supplied)

While gathering a curated kit of art supplies, Joan Blessings marvels at how the act of creativity can bring such physical and emotional comfort to the patients she serves through Emmanuel Hospice.

A longtime fan of arts and crafts herself, Blessings never anticipated a day she’d be incorporating her hobby into her work. As a licensed massage therapist and member of the complementary therapy team, she works to manage patient symptoms through the power of touch, essential oils and other services.

But now with Art Legacy, Emmanuel Hospice’s newest complementary service offering, she’s also able to share her passion with patients, giving them the opportunity to create and leave behind legacy artwork for their loved ones.

“Art has a way of working different parts of the brain and bringing up different memories, as well has having positive effects physically,” Blessings says. “As patients create, their breathing can get easier, their shoulders relax, they laugh and smile more – it’s amazing to see the impact it can have.”

Art Legacy is designed to encourage self-expression while assisting with symptom management, supporting memories and providing connection. The program utilizes a variety of materials and relies on the creativity of Art Legacy facilitators, like Blessings, to give patients the opportunity to create.

The Art Legacy Hand Mold provides an opportunity for a person to make a hand mold with or for their loved ones. (supplied)

As a complementary service, Art Legacy is used alongside pharmaceutical and other medical approaches to help with mood regulation and coping, as well as anxiety, restlessness or boredom.

In addition to this new art program, Emmanuel Hospice offers other complementary services such as music therapy, pet visitors, virtual reality and acupuncture, to name a few. Blessings says what sets Art Legacy apart from the other offerings is how it engages patients.

“It’s important to us to provide our patients with a variety of options that engage the senses and create unique, joyful memories,” Blessings says. “Art Legacy is one more way we are able to do that. It differs from our other complementary offerings in that most of those services are something that the patient or loved ones are receiving rather than creating.

“Art Legacy really involves our patients in hands-on, enriching activities that improve their quality of life through self-expression, symptom management and more.”

The program also provides an opportunity to make a hand mold with or for their loved ones as a meaningful and tangible artifact. The hand mold can be of the patient’s hand alone or with a loved one to commemorate a relationship.

Art Legacy is designed to encourage self-expression while assisting with symptom management, supporting memories and providing connection. (supplied)

For patients who are more isolated, Art Legacy not only provides a way to engage with something but also someone. Patients enjoy the comfort of companionship that is included with a session through an Art Legacy facilitator.

Whether it be a staff member or trained volunteer, Art Legacy facilitators offer a compassionate presence while patients create. While an interest in art is helpful, no experience is needed to serve as a facilitator.

“Art Legacy facilitators don’t have to be super artsy; they can just be there to facilitate the activity,” Blessings explains. “We’re really there to spend quality time with someone, to bring some joy to their life and to offer them some love in a different way.”

Individuals who are interested in volunteering or learning more about Emmanuel Hospice can visit EmmanuelHospice.org for more information.

Godwin students’ work is featured in one-night only exhibit at The Stray

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The Stray and Godwin Heights Public Schols are partnering to present the exhibit “Identity” tonight at The Stray, 4253 S. Division Ave.

The event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. and will feature work from Godwin Heights students on the theme “Identity.”

Through a Facebook post for the event, it states that “Godwin acknowledges its individual uniqueness and celebrates each other’s differences. They explore their own identity through personal reflection and art-making and learn more about each other was they view and appreciate the effort, skill, and growth of others.”

Part of the mission of The Stray is to build community collaboratives. Hunter VanKlompenberg, the music and arts manager for The Stray, said The Stray team reached out to Godwin Heights art teacher Deanne Basse about finding ways to collaborate.

“Part of our aim is to be an accessible venue to all ages and provide space for teens to display their creative gifts,” VanKlompenberg said. “With Godwin right down the road and sharing the same neighborhood, it seemed like there was a bridge to be built between us. This is our first collaborative event together and we hope to have more down the road.

“We’re excited to showcase work culminating from the semester’s projects from a mixture of graduating seniors and younger students as well.”

The event is free and open to the public.

Building on last year’s success, The 49507 Project embarks on second summer

3-bottom, Going Local, Local Business, Local Faces, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , ,

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

Art will be in bloom again this summer on Grand Rapids’ south side.

The 49507 Project, launched in 2021, has lined up another summer of public art, education and listening sessions to change the narrative about the neighborhood in southeast and southwest Grand Rapids and help current residents claim it as their own.

Last summer saw the creation of seven new murals throughout the 49507 ZIP code, mostly at businesses with Black and Brown owners.

“Seven incredibly beautiful murals were brought to life by seven different Black and Brown artists,” said Marcel “Fable” Price, executive director of The Diatribe, the nonprofit that is spearheading the project. “We did mural unveilings for those, and the community really came out and showed up.”

Last year’s murals were painted at La Casa De La Cobija, Public Thread, Boost Mobile, 40 Acres Headquarters, The South East Market, Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses and The Old Goat.

“I think we all had our eyes opened to our neighborhood in a way  that we didn’t see before,” Price said. “More importantly, we showed people that projects like this are possible, and that we can make our neighborhoods look like we live here.”

The 49507 Project is being funded by a coalition of nearly a dozen businesses, foundations, neighborhood groups and city organizations. It is slated to run through 2023.

As part of the project, Petersen Research Consultants conducted a survey of community attitudes both before and after The 49507 Project began to assess whether perceptions of the neighborhood might change. According to a news release, a survey after the first year showed that residents felt the art represented how “we see things – colorful, vibrant, and a beautiful side of our culture.”

Business owners reported an improvement in perceptions of the neighborhood and saw increased foot traffic, the survey showed. Media results revealed an increase in positive news stories about the 49507 ZIP code within a year.

This summer, eight more murals are in the works and should be completed by August, Price said. They will be painted at the following locations:

  • Samaria J’s Salon Suite, 701 Grandville Ave SW 
  • Load A Spud, 1721 Madison Ave SE 
  • Farmers Insurance, 2435 Eastern Ave SE 
  • Mr. B’s Party Store, 1216 Kalamazoo Ave SE 
  • Aleman Auto Repair, 1801 Division Ave S. 
  • Cisneros Tires, 800 Division Ave S. 
  • 1956 Eastern Ave. 
  • 1935 Eastern Ave.

Art is just one aspect of the 49507 project. Listening sessions for both adults and young people were held last year, and several more of those events have already taken place this spring.

Educational sessions at Ottawa Hills High School, the Southwest Community Campus and Grand Rapids Public Museum School taught young people about the history of their neighborhoods, including the history of redlining, and about their fair housing rights.

Organizers hope that the 49507 Project will have a positive reach and if all goes well may extend into the Wyoming and Kentwood communities. (Supplied)

“We encourage them to get involved civically in their neighborhoods and teach them about ways that they can create change, get involved in the community and really share their voice and opinions,” Price said.

He said one of the things they have learned from listening sessions is that young people are looking for more activities in their neighborhoods. They’d love to see an amphitheater for concerts, and just more things to do in general.

In the community listening sessions, Price said he hears elders talk about all the programming and activities available for young people in days gone by.

“Now, when it comes summertime and there’s violence, we’re so up in arms, like ‘Why is this happening?’” he said. “We’re not continuing to offer programs, solutions, outlets, and invest in the community in the way we have in different points in time.”

Anyone who would like to get involved in The 49507 Project can learn more about volunteer opportunities and events on the website at thediatribe.org/the49507project/.

Price also encourages people to spread the word about the project on social media, and visit the area often.

“Come and enjoy the art but also support the businesses,” he said. “There’s some incredible food and incredible culture in our neighborhood, so please, immerse yourself.”

Midwest RADFest designed to heal and unit through dance

Entertainment, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Helanius J. Wilkins in a 2017 Kennedy Center performance. (Kennedy Center video)

Award-winning choreographer and 2021 RADicle Residency Artist Helanius J. Wilkins makes his debut in southwest Michigan as part of Kalamazoo’s signature Midwest RAD Fest with the performance of The Conversation Series: Stitching the Geopolitical Quilt to Re-Body Belonging — a multi-dimensional evening length dance production that confronts and celebrates heritage, residence, justice, and hope.

Taking place Friday, March 4, at 8 p.m. in the Wellspring Theatre at the Epic Center, this work features a male duet not only navigating but, through real time interactivity, converting a modular set design, through video projects, into multiple geographical and architectural landscapes and memory walls that create a vibrant video landscape that “stitches” the past, present and future.

Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers are presenting the 13th annual Midwest RADFest in a hybrid face-to-face and virtual format on March 4-6. The event will feature the works of more than 25 different choreographers and 20 screen dance makers from Russia, Barbados, France, New York City, Chicago, and many other U.S. locations including several cities in four different concerts, two different screen dance presentations, a movement installation, and a special show. Additional, RADFest will offer master classes, workshops, informational perofmrnaues, artist talks and a Movement Installation in the form of an immersive dance film. All in person events will take place at the Epic Center and the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Midwest RADFest Tickets start at $25 for youth and go up to $80 for an all access pass. For more information about the Midwest RADFest, visit midwestradfest.org.

Two works by renowned artist Jaume Plensa come to Grand Rapids

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, design, Recreation, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

“The Four Elements” by Jaume Plensa is now on the corner of Monroe Avenue and Lyon Street in downtown Grand Rapids. (Supplied)

Letters, characters, and elements seem to randomly come together creating a human form on Monroe Avenue and Lyon Street in Grand Rapids.

The piece, Jaume Plensa ‘s “The Four Elements” is just the last addition to the downtown landscape which features such works as Mark di Suvero’s “Motu Viget” (The Swing), Maya Lin’s “The Ecliptic,” Clement Meadmore’s “The Split Ring” and the first public funded art piece by the National Endowment for the Arts, Alexander Calder’s “La Grande Vitesse.”

“Grand Rapids’ reputation as an art destination has been growing for decades,” said Experience Grand Rapids President and CEO, Doug Small. “As community leaders help to bring the work of acclaimed international artists to our doorstep, it not only enhances the ‘quality of place’ for area residents – it enhances the draw for visitors from across the country and around the world.”

Plensa, who is from Barcelona, Spain, is world-renowned having public works in several cities including Chicago where he is the artist of the Crown Fountain featuring faces on large scale screens with water shooting out of their mouths.

The Grand Rapids piece, which was commissioned by the DeVos family, is a 16-foot-tall, 5,400-pound stainless steel sculpture that uses letter characters and element symbols representing air, water, fire and earth to create a human form, signifying the many different characteristics that bring people together to form a single human race. Pamella DeVos said the piece is meant to portray a welcoming message of unity and diversity. 

The piece is one of three that the DeVos family has commissioned for the downtown area.

 

Gardens brings in third Plensa piece

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park already is home to the Plensa piece, “I, you, she or he,” which are three steel sculptures similar to the downtown piece.

“Utopia” By Jaume Plensa (Photo by Laura Medina, courtesy Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)

This week the Gardens unveiled a third piece by Plensa, “Utopia.” Housed in the Gardens’ new Welcome Center, which was designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, “‘Utopia” consists of four 90-foot carved marble portraits depicting the faces of Marianna, Julia, Laura, and Wilsis. Each of the floor-to-ceiling portraits utilizes the human form to symbolize the capacity for a shared humanity.

According to GRAY Gallery, which represents Plensa, the installation is crafted from white marble, a material chosen by the artist both to harmonize with the architecture and for its nuanced reactions to light and shadow. 

 

“With ‘Utopia,’ I wanted to set out to transform an expansive space into a single piece,” Plensa said. “I wanted to do something unforgettable for the Gardens. I wanted to create something that seemed invisible, but with 400 tons of marble, which I know seems like a contradiction. I spend my life trying to work through that duality, that poetry.”

The Gardens dedicated and opened its 69,000-square-foot, LEED-certified Welcome Center this week. The Welcome Center is part of the $115 million “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love” expansion project that includes an expanded and upgraded amphitheater, Frey Foundation Entry Plaza, a new Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavilion, the new Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden and expanded and accessible parking and urban gardens. Still to be completed are the indoor sculpture galleries, a Volunteer Tribute Garden and the expanded Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden. The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2022. 

Only a gas tank away, two West Michigan institutions explore relationships

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, Veterans, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Two separate exhibits one in Saugatuck and the other in Muskegon, explore relationships in two different forms, human connection and materialistic.

Saugatuck [Has Heart]

“No Man Left Behind” is one of the logos created through the [Has Heart] program.

The Grand Rapids-based [Has Heart] was born over a cup of coffee between U.S. Veteran Michael Yacinthe and artist and designer Tyler Way in 2010. The two realized the disconnect between their two worlds and in the process created [Has Heart], a non-profit organization that brings veterans and civilian designers together for coffee and to create art. Through the process the duo design a logo that helps shares the veteran’s story. 

[Has Heart] has since traveled around the United States with the goal of visit every state in the country and working with veterans to create a badge which visually showcases his or her story. Twelve of these personal and inspiring stories will be on display at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts until Dec. 22. There also will be a free all ages exhibition celebration on Friday, Nov. 12,  in honor or Veterans Day (which is the day before). That event starts at 6 p.m. and features Michigan bluegrass performance Mark Lavengood.

Also at the SCA is the mixed media works of Mariah Meawasige in “How 2 cCean Fish.”Measwasige is an Anishinaabe/settler creative, dedicated to sharing the traditions that have built, morphed, and supported her community.

The SCA is located at 400 Culver St., Saugtuck. For more information visit sc4a.org.

Muskegon gets adorned

The work of Detroit artist Tiff Massey will be featured at the Muskegon Museum of Art.

This Thursday the Muskegon Museum of Art opens the 1980s hip-hop fashion-inspired exhibiting “Jewelry Box,” which will run through Feb. 20. The exhibit features the work of Detroit artist Tiff Massey, who will use large-scale jewelry pieces, gold, and mirrors to transform the MMA’s Olthoff Gallery into a flashy display of dynamic exploration, self-identity, and fashion. Massey uses the concept of adornment as an examination of African diaspora and issues of race, class, and popular culture.

 

Massey was the first black woman to earn a master’s degree in metalsmithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art and maintains her studio space practice in Detroit. 

The opening reception will be Thursday form 5 – 6 p.m. followed by an Artist Talk at 7 p.m.

The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon For more information, visit muskegonartmuseum.org. 

Mackinac State Historic Parks accepting applications for artist-in-resident program

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , ,
A sneak peek inside the artist-in-residence place.

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Mackinac Island has long been an inspiration for artists. Mackinac State Historic Parks is providing an opportunity to let it inspire you.

The Mackinac State Historic Parks Artist-In-Residence Program is designed to promote and encourage the creation of artistic works inspired by the history, natural wonders, and beauty of Mackinac Island. The residencies are available to artists of all mediums, including, but not limited to, writers, composers, sculptors, and visual artists including photographers.

The two- and three-week residencies are available beginning in early June and continuing through early October.

“We were so pleased to have completed the third year of the program in 2021 and look forward to 2022,” said Mackinac State Historic Parks Director Steve Brisson. “It was inspiring to witness how Mackinac sparked the creativity of the various artists these last three years.”

The resident artist is housed in the remodeled second floor of the Mackinac Island Visitor’s Center, formerly the 1915 Mackinac Island Coast Guard Station. The residence, which overlooks the Straits of Mackinac, includes a studio apartment with one full size bed with bedding and towels provided, private bath and shower, kitchen with stove, sink, and full-size refrigerator, washer and dryer, WIFI, and basic kitchen and cleaning supplies. It is an historic building and the second floor is only accessible by stairway. The residence is provided rent-free to the selected artist.

The Station 256 Conference Room is a large adjoining work/gathering space that is available by appointment for the artist when not in use by park. The artist also has access, with previous arrangement, to the workspace in the lower level of The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum for project work and/or workshops.

The artist is asked to provide a public presentation (workshop, lecture, reading, demonstration, etc.) on the second Wednesday of their residency and contribute one piece of their work to Mackinac State Historic Parks within 12 months. The artist is responsible for transportation to, from, and while on Mackinac Island and is responsible for all personal equipment, supplies, and food.

A jury of representatives from Mackinac State Historic Parks, the Mackinac Island Arts Council, and the Mackinac Island Community Foundation will select from the pool of applicants. Selections will be made solely on the basis of merit and how their work can advance the program’s goal of encouraging the creation of artistic works inspired by the history, natural wonders, and beauty of Mackinac Island.

Further information, such as the application and schedule, is available by clicking this link. Deadlines for applications is Jan. 14, 2022.

Snapshots: Things to do this weekend

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Local History, Non-Profits, Recreation, Restaurants, , , , ,

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” 

Albert Einstein

Pulaski Days is the celebration of Polish/Lithuanian culture held every fall in Grand Rapids since 1973 . (Supplied)

Two words: Pulaski Days

After a year off due to COVID, Pulaski Days returns this weekend with three days packed full of fun. There are eating contests, a Saturday parade, a Sunday mass and of course plenty of food and drink. A total of 14 halls will be open offering an array of activities, food, and souvenirs. For more, check out John D. Gonzalez’s latest story.

Who could resist? (KC Animal Shelter)

Expand the Family

The Bissell Pet Foundation’s fall national “Empty the Shelters” adoption event, running Oct. 4-10, is a quarterly effort that has helped more than 61,787 pets in shelters find their “forever homes” by sponsoring reduced adoption fees for $25 or less. This fall’s event will be hosted in more than 180 shelters in 38 states, including about 11 in West Michigan such as the Kent County Animal Shelter and Crash’s Landing. So this weekend is a perfect time to start looking for that new family addition.

One Last Look

ArtPrize officially closes on Sunday, which means you have a few more days to check out the pieces, including the winners, which will be announced on Friday. There are items both inside and outside. A popular spot has been the Grand Rapids Public Museum, which features a number of outdoor pieces including the one pictured above, or just travel along Monroe Avenue and Monroe Center for some great “eye candy.”

Fun Fact: The Polish/American Hero

Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski or Casimir Pulaski, was a Posh nobleman, solider and military commander. After being driven into exile for helping with an uprising in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Pulaski came to America at the recommendation of Benjamin Franklin. He would help in the American Revolutionary War, first by saving the life of George Washington and second helping to create the American cavalry. Pulaski died in the Battle of Savannah in 1779. He is buried in Monterey Square, Savannah, Georgia. Today, many events and places have been named after this war hero, including Grand Rapids’ Pulaski Days. 

Grand Rapids Ballet turns tragedy into dance to raise awareness about homelessness

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

When tragedy happens or circumstances become extreme, we’re all just one or two steps away from homelessness.

For more information about the performance, visit https://grballet.com/ or https://degageministries.org/ For more about ArtPrize, visit https://www.artprize.org/.

That’s part of the message of “Created by Circumstance,” a collaboration between the Grand Rapids Ballet Company and Dégagé Ministries as part of ArtPrize 2021, which continues through Oct. 3 in downtown Grand Rapids.

Three performances of the six-minute show — created by GRB professional dancer Gretchen Steimle — are planned beginning at 5:30 tonight (Sept. 22), with additional shows Sept. 24 and 26.

The goal of the show, and collaboration, is to share a message of hope, help and awareness, said Thelma Ensink, executive director at Dégagé Ministries.

She said more than 800 people a night experience homelessness in Grand Rapids.

“It’s such a variety of circumstances that places someone in that position,” Ensink said. “I am constantly amazed at the stories I hear from the people we serve; some have Masters Degrees and above, and then experience a traumatic event in their life or struggle with mental health or whatever it may be… All of us are vulnerable to being in this position.”

“Created by Circumstance” offers a glimpse into the lives of those experiencing homelessness in the Heartside neighborhood.

Steimle, a member of the Grand Rapids Ballet, began the project last winter, where she communicated with staff, as well as musicians Thomas and Isaac, who knew first-hand of the resources that Dégagé provides the community.

She was at first “overwhelmed with the idea” of creating an artistic piece of work from their struggles.

Gretchen Steimle, a member of the Grand Rapids Ballet, was the creative force behind “Created by Circumstance.” (Supplied)

“I can only create from my perspective,” Steimle said, “so I really tried to find the ways we were connecting, and the commonality we were finding together in what we shared.”

And what they shared was “hope, and dance, and music, and art, and all of those things that all humans experience,” she said.

The six-minute, music and movement piece includes four dancers from the Grand Rapids Ballet Company, as well as saxophone and vocals from patrons Isaac and Thomas, who have been served by Dégagé.

Words in the piece are actual testimonials and quotes from patrons, as well as songs and rhythms.

“It’s really this big, community movement piece,” she said.

It’s a testimony of an organization that strives to keep up with the demand, especially after being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to ongoing services, Dégagé added new services such as job creation for patrons, hotel stays, extended shelter hours and PPE, according to reps.

In 2020, Dégagé served more than 60,000 meals, provided more than 7,200 loads of laundry, nearly 6,000 showers, and helped 52 women move into housing.

To see their community work turned into art is an awesome experience, Ensink said.

“I love that ballet and homelessness came together,” she said.

“That isn’t something you often think about as coming together…. Dance is an ancient art form, and I love that dance is expressing homelessness, It’s raw, it’s human. And that’s what homelessness is, it’s raw and it’s human.

Grand Rapids Ballet dancers and musicians Thomas and Isaac will perform “Created by Circumstance,” an ArtPrize 2021 entry. (Supplied)

“I love that dance is expressing this in such a beautiful way. I think people will be truly moved by this performance.”

As for ArtPrize, “Created by Circumstance” is included among other artist entries as a recipient of one of ArtPrize’s curatorial grants.

Each of the three performance locations also will include a QR code for visitors to scan with a chance of finding cash prizes ranging from $250 to $1,500 each to award to any participating artist which would directly impact Dégagé by supporting its mission.

In addition, Ensink said Dégagé is expanding and is in the middle of a $7.3 million capital campaign. Each performance will have information about the campaign available via QR codes.

Ensink hopes ArtPrize attendees will see all the good things they do for the community through their ministry.

“We are all people created in God’s image, and we are all connected,” she said. “We all have the potential of being friends, of being neighbors and of being a community that supports one another.”

For more information about the performance, visit https://grballet.com/ or https://degageministries.org/ For more about ArtPrize, visit https://www.artprize.org/.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s an early adopter of Social Media and SEO expert. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

The six-minute performance will be done at three different locations in the city on Sept. 22, 24, and 26. (Supplied)

Fallasburg Arts Festival scheduled to return in September

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,
The Fallasburg Arts Festival returns Sept. 18 and 19. (Courtesy)

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Now in it’s 53rd year, the annual Fallasburg Arts Festival is presented by LowellArts and will be held on Sept. 18 and 19. The 2-day, outdoor festival includes 100 fine art and fine crafts booths, live music on a central stage, food booths supporting local non-profit organizations, a children’s craft area, and traditional craft demonstrations in the pavilion. Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm. Admission is free. Parking is $5 per car. Location: Fallasburg Park, 1124 Fallasburg Park Drive, Lowell, MI, 49331. For more information, visit lowellartsmi.org/fallasburg-arts-festival.

Artist booths are juried and a broad range of different mediums are represented including: jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, glass, fiber, mixed media, wood, painting, drawing, photography, floral, basketry, and more. Demonstrators of traditional crafts are located in the pavilion. Visitors of all ages are invited to watch the artisans at work. Demonstrations include: mosaic, fly tying, quilting, weaving, embroidery, needlefelting, and more.

Musical entertainment is held on an outdoor stage both days of the event, featuring a variety of music styles. Saturday music line-up: 10:15 Eli Roe Music, 11:30 Hawks and Owls, 1:00 The Weatherheads, 2:30 Paddy’s Cure, 4:00 Bruce Matthews Band. Sunday music line-up: 10:15 Easy idle String Band, 11:30 Blue Water Ramblers, 1:00 B-Side Growlers, 2:30 The Adams Family, 4:00 The Wild Honey Collective.

An enclosed Children’s Area provides children the opportunity to decorate and take home a pumpkin. Food booths offer an array of fall-inspired and festival foods, offered by local community organizations. Visitors are invited to purchase raffle tickets to win one of over 75 artist-made items donated by festival artists, or the grand prize quilt, created by Mary Kidwell Tobin for the event. Annual attendance estimates are 25,000. Event sponsors are Fifth Third Bank, Meijer, and All-Weather Seal.

Fallasburg Park is located off Lincoln Lake Road north of downtown Lowell at 1124 Fallasburg Park Drive, Lowell, MI. Lowell is located 14 miles east of Grand Rapids and 1-hour from Lake Michigan and Lansing. For more information, contact LowellArts at (616) 897-8545, e-mail info@lowellartsmi.org.

More information at: lowellartsmi.org/fallasburg-arts-festival

Tulip Time puts a call out for artists

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Tulip Time Festival is pleased to announce the 2022 First Bloem Festival Artwork Competition through which a work of art is selected for the official Tulip Time poster. Each year, the Festival invites a juror to select the Top 20 pieces for First Bloem. Mary Sundstrom, Visual artist and Exhibitions Director of the Holland Area Arts Council, will be the 2022 juror.

Through 2010, posters were commissioned work from selected artists. Beginning in 2011, the Festival Artwork Competition began. Nine local artists have been awarded this honor:

  • 2011 Beth Charles – “Drama Queens”
  • 2012 Brittany Strabbing – “Beautiful Dream”
  • 2013 Maggie Schultz – “Clothed in Splendor”
  • 2014 Karin Nelson – “Resilience”
  • 2015 Carolyn Stich – “Joy of Spring”
  • 2016 Alla Dickson – “Spectacle”
  • 2017 Michele Gort – “Playful Time”
  • 2018 Cindy Awrey – “Together”
  • 2019 Carolyn Stich – “Enduring Delft”
  • 2020 Aron Lowe – “Dutch Dance”

In 2020, due to the pandemic restrictions, a competition was not possible. The Festival commissioned a piece from Aron Lowe, the 2020 winning artist, and Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Spring is Here became the 2021 Festival Artwork. Now, for 2022, we are pleased to be able to reintroduce the competition to all local West Michigan artists.

Artists in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties are invited to submit artwork. Submissions for the 2022 Festival Artwork Competition will be accepted Sept. 27 – 30. The artwork theme should represent Tulip Time’s mission to celebrate Holland’s tulips, Dutch heritage and community. The winner of the 2022 competition will be announced at the First Bloem Reveal, a special unveiling reception held in February.

To view the Prospectus, full entry requirements, and download a submission form, visit www.tuliptime.com/first-bloem-2022.

For additional details, artists are encouraged to contact Lorma Freestone at TTartwork@tuliptime.com.

Mike Yore Memorial Car Show part of Love Local Weekend

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , ,

Amy Zapal
St. Joseph Today

St. Joe Today invites the community to celebrate all things Southwest Michigan during the Love Local Weekend July 16-18. The Mike Yore Memorial Car Show kicks off the weekend on Friday, July 16, from 4- 8 p.m. in downtown St. Joe. View classic cars from days gone by as they line up along Lake Boulevard. Attendees will “cruise” along the bluff and enjoy classic hits spun by local DJ Mark Durocher, as they take in more than 150 eye-catching vehicles in this charming lakeside town.

Cars can start parking in the event zone along Lake Boulevard at 1 p.m. on Friday. Cars need to be in place no later than 4 p.m., please enter at Lake Boulevard and Park Street. All participants must register day of between 4 – 6 p.m. at the Honor Credit Union tent located on the corner of Lake Boulevard and Broad Street. For more information or to sign up for participant reminders, visit stjoetoday.com/mikeyore. The Mike Yore Memorial Car Show is sponsored by Honor Credit Union, Edward J. Todd, JVIS USA, Wojtowicz Law PLC and SWMI Brew Tours.

“Love Local Weekends are jam packed with summer fun,” said Amy Zapal, executive director, St. Joe Today. “Area residents and visitors are sure to enjoy extended shopping hours, free gift wrapping, new products, featured menu items, specials and a wide variety of area events.” Visit stjoetoday.com/lovelocal for a complete list.

As part of the Love Local Weekend, the Friday Night Concert Series showcases area talent. This free, hour-long concert, which starts at 7 p.m., will be held at the John E.N. Howard Bandshell and will feature Lake Effect Jazz Big Band.

Then on Saturday, July 17, the Love Local Weekend continues with the Race for YMCA 5K/10K presented by TCF Bank held at the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum at 8:30 a.m. Money raised will benefit the Y’s Annual Campaign which provides financial assistance for memberships and programs to local children and families in need. That same morning, head over to Lake Bluff Park for two events – the St. Joe Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (extended hours) and the Lake Bluff Artisan Fair from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free tote bags will be handed out to the first 250 attendees at the St. Joe Farmers Market. For more information, visit stjoetoday.com/farmersmarketand stjoetoday.com/artisanfair.

Saturday evening, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra hosts Belting Out Broadway at Silver Beach Shadowland Pavilion at 6:30 p.m., gates open at 5:30 p.m. Ticket information and details can be found at smso.org. That same night, visitors and residents will enjoy the Summer Movie Series, hosted by the City of St. Joseph. Saturday’s movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), will begin at 7 p.m. at the St. Joseph High School (Drive-In). Visit stjoetoday.com/movies for a complete summer movie schedule.

On Sunday, July 18 the Love Local Weekend wraps up with a free Municipal Band – Jazz Band Concert held at the John E.N. Howard Bandshell at 7 p.m. Zapal said this weekend is a wonderful way to celebrate the summer season, “Whether you enjoy the beaches, our beautiful downtown shops and restaurants, Whirlpool Compass Fountain, area events, or local wineries and breweries there is something for everyone!”

The Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff returns in July

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, ,

By Matthew Bizoe
Krasl Art Center

Krasl Art Center (KAC) will host the 2021 Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in person on Saturday, July 10, and Sunday, July 11. Safety precautions will be in place to keep the vibrant community of artists, patrons, and event supporters safe in ever-changing times.

In 1962, a small handful of local artists held a clothesline art exhibition along scenic Lake Bluff Park in St. Joseph. Those artists then formed the St. Joseph Art Association which, in 1979, through the beneficence of George and Olga Krasl, built Krasl Art Center. Over the years, the fair became one of the top-ranked juried art fairs in the nation and grew to become one of the peak summer events in southwest Michigan. When the COVID-19 Pandemic took hold in 2020, the fair paused for the safety of the 50,000 visitors, 200 artists, 500+ community volunteers, and our local neighbors.

“We are grateful to the community for their many years of support for this beloved event,’ KAC Executive Director Julia Gourley Donohue. From considering plans for 2021 to approval, and now as we finalize how to implement plans, we remain fortunate to have the leadership of many volunteers who will help ensure a successful and safe event this year. The new, advance timed ticketing plan will enable us to keep crowd sizes down for safety and in accordance with Executive Orders. Admission fees support expenses associated with planning the Art Fair and Krasl Art Center’s year-round free to all gallery and outdoor sculpture exhibitions. We can’t wait to see our masked-up patrons once again shopping with living, working artists at the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff.”

What to expect for the 2021 Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff:

All guests are asked to secure a timed ticket in advance.

Tickets are $5 per person age 2 and older and free for those under 2. Tickets will be available online mid-May.

To manage attendance size, a limited number of timed tickets will be available for each time slot.

Gated event. Lake Bluff Park will be gated to the north and to the south of Broad Street.

Cloth or paper masks are required for all guests, volunteers, artists, and KAC staff age 2 and up.

Increased hand sanitizing stations.

Artist vendors only (In lieu of a food court, guests are encouraged to explore local restaurants in downtown Benton Harbor and St. Joseph during their visit).

Stay up-to-date on decisions for this year’s event and learn other ways you can volunteer by signing up for email updates at krasl.org/art-fair/event-information/

How an anti-racist art project in a neighboring community may have an impact on Wyoming, Kentwood

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

There is no part of the 49507 zip code that is in either the cities of Wyoming or Kentwood. On a map, it borders the two communities, but the 49507 neighborhood is located in the City of Grand Rapids.

But the borderlines can only be seen on a map with residents of the 49507 zip code as well as those from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood moving freely between their neighborhoods to live, work, play and even go to school.

“Every single morning, when I would drive in for our first classes at Godwin Heights High School, I would see students walking in from my neighborhood, from South Division and, even more south, to Godwin Heights High School,” said Marcel “Fable” Price, the executive director of The Diatribe, the organization that is working to change the narrative of the 49507 zip code through an anti-racist art project, which has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts along with a number of local organizations such as the Wege Foundation.

 

“When we were in the class and talking to students about where they live, there were students that lived by Kalamazoo and Eastern that were going to Godwin Heights High School,” Price said with The Diatribe teaching artist Foster “AutoPilot” chiming in “there were even students coming from as far as East Grand Rapids area to come to Godwin Heights.”

The result being is that there are many people who live in the 49507 zip code that are active in the Wyoming and Kentwood communities and who are directly impacted by what is taking place in the 49507 community.

Getting the conversation started for the 49507 Project was The Diatribe’s Writing to Right Wrongs program offered at various high schools including Godwin Heights. (Supplied)

“So although this project is called the 49507 Project and people might go ‘Oh no that is not necessarily me,’ I think once we start to zoom out and go oh but these are our kids, but this is our community,” Price said.

What is taking place is the launch of the 49507 Project, a combination of student responses and community input that will shape murals to be painted by Black, brown and LGBTQ+ artists on the sides of predominantly seven Black- and brown-owned businesses that are located in the 49507 neighborhood.

 

The 49507 program started with The Diatribe’s Writing to Right Wrongs program, a partnership with the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan that teaches students about gentrification and redlining in neighbors, something that has happened in the 49507 area, according to Price.

“A lot of people moved to Wyoming and Kentwood over time because the City of Grand Rapids started to increase rent so much that it became inaccessible,” Price said. “So people moved next-door so they could start anew, could raise their families and afford to do so and that is something Wyoming and Kentwood has done so well.”

The next step in the 49507 Project, which will be taking place over the summer, will be five listening sessions, one of which will be in Spanish, Price said, adding that the reason for this is they want as many different voices from the community to be a part of the process. Artists will be there to soak in what residents are saying and from the Writing to Right Wrongs and the listening sessions, produce works that reflect the neighborhood.

This is “100-percent centered on the voices of the people who have something to say but for far too long have been ignored, “ Price said.

 

The goal is to have seven to 20 pieces of art that are “truly a reflection of the vibrance of the community” and that “kids could drive by and say, ‘I helped make that. My thoughts went into that,” he said.

Organizers hope that the 49507 Project will have a positive reach and if all goes well, may extend into the Wyoming and Kentwood communities. (Supplied)

Foster added that through the process, a web is built so that everybody is connected, everybody can respond and everybody has a voice and stake in the project. To encourage involvement, The Diatribe is paying people to be part of the listening sessions because “intellectual property has value and people should be paid for that value,” Price said.

Billboards about the project are scheduled to go up in July with the first murals being completed toward the end of August.

 

Both Foster and Price emphasized that people can still get involved in the project, whether they have roots in the 49507 area or not. People will be needed to canvass the community about their ideas and opinions to those willing to help scrape paint off the buildings in preparation for the murals. Financial contributions are also welcomed. To support the 49507 project, visit thediatribe.org/support.

 

But the biggest thing people could do is “just come and see the art,” Price said.

‘Little Free Art Galleries” popping up in Frankfort

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, ,

By Adrienne Reasner-Brown
West Michigan Tourist Association

Seattle’s Little Free Art Gallery have become increasingly popular with Frankfort, Michigan, establishing a similar concept for the summer.

Oliver Art Center is excited to announce its newest community program, Little Free Galleries.

“The idea came from an article in the Seattle Times about an artist who established a gallery much like the well-known Little Free Libraries. We put out a call for a volunteer to make us one to put out in front of the art center and we received three offers! We then adjusted our thinking and decided it would be fun and could reach more of the community to have three located in Frankfort,” said Mercedes Michalowski, Executive Director of Oliver Art Center. Both Benzie Shores District Library and Century 21 Northland have agreed to host their own gallery in partnership with Oliver Art Center.

The Galleries have been made by Brad Sprouse, Lou Cenname, and Bob Crissman, all of Frankfort. The volunteers have vast carpentry experience and even experience in building Little Free Libraries and Pantries. The artwork will be provided by volunteers as well. Anyone is welcome to participate!

“The program will function much like the Little Free Libraries with the idea of: need art, take art; have art, leave art. We hope folks will enjoy the free exchange of art objects that will include paintings, fiber work, ceramic sculptures, and much more. While there is no requirement to leave art if you take it, we hope that people will just enjoy the art and idea itself. And if folks don’t have art to give, but want to give back, OAC is accepting donations in order to maintain the galleries,” said Michalowski.

Benzie Shores District Library is hoping to also expand their gallery’s offerings to books and art supplies. “We are so excited to share this project with the Art Center. Who knows, I may even create my own little piece of art for the gallery!” said Stacy Pasche, Library Director.“Art can stir memories or evoke strong feelings… just as selling or purchasing a home can do the same. The agents and brokers at CENTURY 21 Northland are humbled and honored to be able to give back to our communities by hosting a Little Free Art Gallery. Being located in one of the busiest two blocks on Main Street is key to showcasing Oliver Art Center’s presence and will bring smiles and good conversations to those walking by,” said Judi Tousley, Century 21 Northland.

Frankfort’s Little Free Art Galleries will be installed and ready for art and visitors May 1. Oliver Art Center is currently accepting art for the galleries. They are looking for smaller size works of art (less than 12 inches) and even have 4×4 blank canvases kits available to purchase for $10 – all proceeds go to maintenance and upkeep of the galleries. If you have any questions, please contact Mercedes or Brian at the Oliver Art Center, info@oliverart.org or 231-352-4151.

Art Hop returns to Downtown Kalamazoo outdoors in April

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo (ACGK) is excited to announce the return of in-person Art Hop in downtown Kalamazoo on Friday, April 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. This free outdoor event will feature local artists and downtown businesses showcased in booths along Bates Alley and the South Kalamazoo Mall.

After a year of virtual Art Hops, the Arts Council is looking forward to bringing the community together in a safe, socially-distanced outdoor space. Guests can grab drinks within the Downtown Social District to sip, stroll, and enjoy locally made art. DJ Todd Brown will be providing live music entertainment. The event will follow all COVID-19 guidelines in compliance with the state of Michigan.

The Arts Council’s Programs Director, Bianca Washington-Ciungan, announced, “I am so excited to safely return to an in-person Art Hop. I am grateful that we have been able to present a virtual option successfully, but there’s nothing like being able to support our artists and businesses in a face-to-face fashion.”

Participating businesses include Honor Credit Union, Fuze Kitchen and Bar, Green Top Tavern, Kalamazoo Candle Company, V & A Bootery, Cherri’s Chocol’art, Colors & Cocktails, and MRC ArtWorks. Local artists that will be showing their work in-person include Kevin Hamman, Alexa Karabin, Jonathan Wijnberg, and Amy Lou Gieschen as well as many more.

For those who are not able to attend in-person, the Arts Council’s website will have a virtual gallery featuring work by local artists, and a three-part artist spotlight interview series with Alexa Karabin, Linda Rzoska, and Pam Kirkham. Additionally, the Stulberg International String Competition will be livestreaming its virtual Bravo! concert at 7 p.m. The Arts Council is also celebrating the launch of its new Art Hop app, allowing the event to go paperless just in time for Earth Day. The app serves as a guide to all things Art Hop and can be downloaded as a shortcut icon through any smartphone web browser at www.kalamazooarthop.org. Art Hop would not be possible without the support of the ACGK’s generous program sponsors, LKF Marketing, Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, Dorothy U Dalton Foundation, Marvin and Rosalie Okun Foundation, KalBlue, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, D.L. Gallivan Office Solutions, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Muskegon Museum of Art celebrates student art, Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Citizen Journalism, ,
Kathleen Atkins Wilson (1993 Coretta Scott King Award Winner) The Origin of Life on Earth, Introduction page Print, 1992 L.C. and Margaret Walker Gallery A

By Marguerite Curran
Muskegon Museum of Art

Two new exhibitions at the Muskegon Museum of Art celebrate art in children’s literature and art by students. Our Voice: Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Book Awards is now on display and runs through May 23, 2021. Expressions Revisited: 39th Annual Muskegon County Student Exhibition opens March 25 and runs through May 9, 2021.

OUR VOICE: Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Book Awards

The Coretta Scott King Award is presented annually by the American Library Association (ALA) to African American authors and illustrators of books for children and teens that contribute to an understanding and appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.

Our Voice, organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature and ALA, features original artworks by past award winners Jerry Pinkney, Ashley Bryan, Bryan Collier, Leo and Diane Dillon, Kadir Nelson, and many others. Our Voice celebrates this important award and explores the ways in which artists can educate and elevate, offering new perspectives and opening our eyes to the world and the experiences of our neighbors, inviting greater understanding and unity. The MMA presentation of Our Voice is underwritten by the Folkert Family Foundation. Media support is provided by Blue Lake Public Radio.

John Steptoe (1988 Coretta Scott King Award winner) Wedding festivities, from Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale Watercolor on paper, 1987

EXPRESSIONS REVISITED: 39th Muskegon County Student Exhibition



Expressions, the annual Muskegon County student art exhibition, is an annual collaboration between the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) and the MMA that showcases the artistic talents of Muskegon County K-12 students. This year’s exhibition features student artworks in a variety of media that have been purchased by the MAISD in previous years. The works on display were selected from the MAISD collection by the Muskegon Museum of Art and MAISD staff. Expressions Revisited is underwritten by the MAISD and Comerica Bank.

Additional support is provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Humanities Council with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The museum is open 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and closed Mondays. Health and safety measures include limited occupancy in galleries and other public spaces, enhanced cleaning, and mask wearing is required for guests and staff.

Visit www.muskegonartmuseum.org for museum updates, visitor information, and exhibition information.

Local resident one of many who contributed to “Stay Safe” exhibit

Entertainment, Local Entertainment,
Carla Grant and her grandson show off the masks they made for the “Stay Safe” exhibit.

By Nathan Slauer
WKTV Intern

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families find themselves hunkering down inside their homes. When new community events pop up, people leap at the chance to participate.

One such person is Carla Grant, a retired certified public accountant, who created two of the masks included in the “Stay Safe” mask exhibit hosted by Mainstee’s Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts (RRCA).

When Grant received her masks, she brought her grandson to Hobby Lobby and scoured the aisle for feathers and paint. Upon returning home, the pair had a blast putting together their colorful creations.

“My grandson is so excited to see his art in an exhibit,” Grant said.

A close up of the mask created by Carla Grant. (Supplied)

Grant’s masks join more than 300 paper mache masks created by hundreds of participants from across Michigan. The masks express the experience of those who lived through the global health crisis and yearned for a period of normalcy.

 

Each paper mache masks is left blank, so it is left up to the artist to decide what their mask should look like. No two masks in the collection share an identical appearance, with decorations ranging from pasted multidimensional objects to colored crayon.

The “Stay Safe” mask exhibit originated with Patricia Innis, an artist and volunteer director for Michigan Legacy Art Park (MLAP), in August 2020. As interest in the project grew, Innis established a collaboration between MLAP and RRCA.

Word of the “Stay Safe” mask exhibit has spread nationwide, with contributions coming from as far away as Minnesota, Colorado, and California.

MLAP Managing Director Madeline Saucedo attributes the success of the “Stay Safe” mask exhibit to the dedication of Innis and RRCA Executive Director Xavier Verna and the creativity of the participants. She believes the masks gave people the opportunity to connect with one another even while remaining physically distanced.

“You’re not alone in your experience; other people had similar experiences,” Saucedo said. “Their project created a sense of togetherness.”

For those who want to create their own mask, MLAP provides instructions via a How-To blog. The blog allows those who seek an outlet to connect to a community of fellow artistic enthusiasts.

Mainstee’s Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts received more than 300 masks for the “Stay Safe” exhibit, some came from as far away as California. (Supplied)

“It is an emotional experience to reflect on the year,” Saucedo said. “People were not able to do as much, so people took up new hobbies such as learning Spanish, crocheting, or knitting. Working on these types of activities can be cathartic.”

The “Stay Safe” mask exhibit is open for public viewing at RRCA during Friday and Saturday until February 27. Those seeking to view the exhibit virtually can attend a free online tour with Innis and Verna on Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.

Exhibit details can be found online at ramsdelltheatre.org/facemask.

Public Museum displays large-scale work by three local artists

Entertainment, ,
“Black Lives Matter” by Jalexia Stoutmyre. (Supplied)

By Kate Kocienski
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is now featuring a new exhibit, Windows GR, three large-scale art pieces created by local artists of color.



Originally part of the Windows GR project, the three pieces of artwork are now a part of the GRPM’s permanent Collections and will be on display on the second floor of the Museum.

“I Can’t Breathe” by Guillermo Sotelo. (Supplied)

The Museum purchased the three pieces from Grand Rapids artists: Jalexia Stoutmyre, DeVante Barnes and Guillermo Sotelo, that were created specifically for the Windows GR project. On May 30, 2020, a peaceful protest in support of Black Lives Matter was held in downtown Grand Rapids, in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020. Following the protest, riots broke out causing damage to vehicles and buildings. As a result, Windows GR was created, in collaboration with Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts and a special group of creatives, to use the plywood-covered windows as blank canvases, allowing artists to paint pieces to speak out against systemic racism as well as provide a new platform for black and brown artists’ work to be seen and appreciated. Many artists worked collaboratively in this community activation project to paint the boarded up windows of businesses throughout downtown Grand Rapids over the summer of 2020.

“The protests and riots that took place in Grand Rapids this past summer are part of the history of the city. It is the privilege and place of the GRPM to preserve the stories of our community,” said GRPM President and CEO Dale Robertson. “To that end, these local artists’ statements speak to us on the ideals of justice, of systemic racism, and on racial reckoning. They represent and memorialize the community response to the destruction to our downtown which occurred at first light the following day. The Museum is pleased to be able to host these works, and connect with the community in this way.”

“Urban Funeral” by DeVante Barnes (Supplied)

“As a museum, we believe in the importance of building a collection to share stories that reflect the diversity of our community,” said Alex Forist, the GRPM’s Chief Curator. “Sharing the truth about history isn’t always going to be easy, but it’s important that we tell stories as accurately and completely as possible in order to preserve pieces from this moment in time for future generations. By purchasing these pieces, the Museum is honored to assist with amplifying the voices of black and brown artists in our community.”

The artifacts can also be explored on the Museum’s online Collections database, available at grpmcollections.org. This exhibit will be included with general admission. 

Wintery outdoor exhibit lights up downtown GR

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , , ,
The World of Winter is currently taking place in downtown Grand Rapids through Feb. 28. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

“It was nice to see all the people walking around,” wrote a Facebook friend as we discussed visiting downtown Grand Rapids to see the World of Winter Festival.

Hosted by Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. (DGRI) and the City of Grand Rapids, the annual event is designed to encourage area residents to get out and enjoy the winter weather. Wanting to make the event special, especially with everyone dealing with the pandemic, the city’s DDA added to its initial $150,000 contribution with an additional $155,000 to expand the festival. This allow organizers to increase the number of outdoor sculptures .

The festival runs through the end of February with different activities and sculpture pieces being installed.

“HYBYCOZO” is on display at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Currently on display is “HYBYCOZO,” a series of large-scale installations and artworks that investigate geometric exploration and patterns through light, shadow, and perception. The piece is located at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, which is in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.

Between the Blue Bridge and Pearl Street will be “Grand Illuminations” featuring light and color along the Grand River.

“Winter Tumbleweeds and Grasses,” on the Blue Bridge, is an interactive art installation made out of more than 5,000 pool noodles. The installation features five large tumbleweeds, three small tumbleweeds and for groves and two anemones.

Near the Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW, is the “Path of Encouragement,” which features positive saying and messages such as “It’s OK to no be OK.”

“Path of Encouragement” is located near the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Look to the sky to see the 20-foot inflatable dancing tube persons on top of 10 buildings throughout downtown Grand Rapids. Part of the “Color the Skyline,” the bright colorful characters can be seen from the downtown sidewalks as well as from US-131 and I-196.

Being added on Friday is “Impulse,” an interactive art installation that consists of 15 seesaws that light up and create sound when put into motion by people. “Impulse” is located on Monroe. At Canal Park is “The Singing Tree,” a lighting experience that transforms traditional displays into interactive experiences. Participants will be able to sing, clap, or yell to create an unforgettable and magical experience. 

Another installation, set to run Jan. 29 – Feb. 2 is the “Ice Luminaries.” Featuring 10 giant icicles with lights frozen in the center, the Ice Luminaries will light the way along the Gillett Bridge located near Ah-Nab-Awen Park.

“Winter Tumbleweeds and Grasses” on the Blue Bridge. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

On Feb. 1, the “Elevated Love Language” project, led by Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Ericka “Key Kane” Thompson, will be installed. In this exhibit, short poetic expressions from local artists will be placed on billboards or projected onto buildings throughout the city.

Also in February, every Saturday and Sunday night, will be “Projection Mapping” by Live Space, which will light up the front of the Civic Auditorium, located on Lyon Square across from the Amway Grand Plaza.

More than 80 ice sculptures will be part of the Valent-ICE, which will take place Feb. 12 – 14. Grand Rapids Running Tours will be offering Ice Sculpture Walking Tours and self-guided tours also will be available.

Many of the past group experiences will not be taking place at this year’s event, however DGRI is planning to live-streaming dance performances at two installations. Also during the six-week event, there will be walking tours such as The Chilly Challenge: the Heartside Walking Tours and Black History Walking Tours as well as pop-up performances, tribal storytelling, outdoor ice games, and a scavenger hunt.

For details on the World of Winter events, visit worldofwintergr.com.