Here ArtPrize piece, also titled “In Between the Trees,” is located at the Grand Rapids African American Museum, 87 Monroe Center NW. In her ArtPrize entry, Hammond has the trailer and three canvas pieces that let the the individuals who created the communities of Idelwild and Woodland Park tell their stories. For a look at Hammond’s entry, click here.
Hammond will be presenting a discussion about her work Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. at the museum.
Hammond said she is thrilled to be showing her work at the Grand Rapids African American Museum, which was one of five venues on the ArtPrize Juried Short list for best venue. The venue features eight artists including Hammond and Heather Johnson, whose piece “But Did You Die?” made the jurors’ short list for best 2-D work.
“Every good painter paints what he is,” Jackson Pollock said.
“Treat a work of art like a prince. Let it speak to you first,” said Arthur Schopenhauer.
And Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Art is the path of the creator to his work.”
Everybody has something to say about art. The good news is, you don’t have to be famous to have an opinion—and WKTV VOICES will have its mobile recording studio down at ArtPrize 10 all three weekends to invite and encourage artists and voters to share their own thoughts about art: Artists, what inspires you to create a work of art?
Voters, what compelled you to vote for a particular work of art?
Sofia Hernandez Ramirez
With hundreds of artists and hundreds of thousands of attendees expected at ArtPrize this year, we expect there will be a lot to say—and for us to collect and record.
Last year, VOICES debuted at ArtPrize Nine, introducing our 1958 Airstream trailer and collecting the stories of winning ArtPrize artists Daniel Oropreza and Sofia Hernandez Ramirez.
This year, VOICES will again collect stories from artists. Look for our Airstream on the corner of Lyon and Monroe NW. Look for the Voters Feedback Booth right next to the trailer where voters are encouraged to share what they voted on and why.
A free public service of WKTV, VOICES travels throughout the West Michigan region to encourage neighbors, friends and family to tell their stories—the narratives that make us human—of our lives, experiences, sorrows, triumphs and tragedies. We all benefit from knowing each other’s background; the shared bond that helps us build community.
VOICES’s comfortable, mobile video recording studio offers a relaxed atmosphere, and utilizes high-tech video and audio equipment to capture the narratives for posterity. Interviews usually take place between two people who know and care about each other. These can be friends, family, or mere acquaintances. Any topic may be explored, whether a specific event in a person’s life, a childhood memory, a family tragedy—no subject is off limits.
Oral history—the collection and study of individual histories, experiences of disasters, important events or everyday life—is a tradition as old as civilization itself. Using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews, oral history strives to obtain information from different perspectives, most of which cannot be found in written sources. Some academics consider oral history akin to journalism as both are committed to uncovering truths and compiling narratives about people, places, and events.
VOICES participants find the experience valuable and gratifying. Read and listen to people’s stories online on our Facebook page here and visit our website here for more information and important links.
All VOICES conversations are audio- and video-recorded to provide participants with a link to each conversation and for possible airing on Channel 25 in Wyoming, Kentwood and Gaines Township (U-Verse Channel 99).
The second Saturday of each month, VOICES parks its Airstream trailer at Marge’s Donut Den at 1751 28th St SW, Wyoming, MI for ‘Second Saturdays at Marge’s’. And, beginning Oct. 17, VOICES will be parked at Kentwood Public Library, 4950 Breton Rd. SE, the third Wednesday of each month.
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
~ Leonardo da Vinci
You can find 2018 ArtPrize artist Meochia Thompson giving hugs at church events, retirement homes, or around the community. Now you can find her downtown embracing strangers during ArtPrize for her entry HUG, a campaign that stands for “help uplift goodness”
Standing 10 feet tall, Thompson is building a hug stage, a safe place located at Grand Rapids City Hall where strangers can gather to embrace each other. An entry that is based on volunteer hugger groups of five or more can rent out the stage to give hugs.
Meochia Thompson with some friends in an earlier Hugs campaign.
“I just love hugging people.” Thompson said. “I know how it feels to be alone…So I decided to create a hug campaign. I prayed about it and I’m like ‘okay God what do I do with this.’”
Thompson’s campaign started four years ago in her hometown of Chicago. Money from her first campaign went to caregivers, people who bear the stress of taking care of other peoples loved ones.
“I was able to raise $5,000 and I just started giving it out to caregiving organizations” Thompson said. “They’re not around people all of the time. They’re dying for a hug, they’re dying to be around the regular public.”
Talking about hugging strangers, Thompson said there’s nothing weird about it. Showing compassion and love to people you don’t know is what Thompson said this whole campaign is about.
A mock-up of the Hugs stage which is located at Grand Rapids City Hall.
“Every time that you hug somebody, it doesn’t matter what they did in their past. It doesn’t matter who they are now or how much money they have. When you hug somebody it’s not about any of that. It’s just about at that moment showing love for mankind.” Thompson said about hugging.
Although winning ArtPrize would be a great accomplishment for a first time ArtPrize artist, Thompson has something bigger in mind.
“My goal is to make Grand Rapids hug city; the place to be for a good hug”.
If you would like to learn more about Thompson’s entry or would like to get involved yourself, visit her website mylifechats.com/hug.
