Tag Archives: La Grande Vitesse

How the Calder impacted West Michigan focus on new WKTV program

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Alexander Calder’s “La Grande Vitesse” at night.

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org


In 1969, the Grand Rapids area was the recipient of the first piece of Art in Public Places funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Fifty years later, SideCar Studios and ArtPeers came together to explore the impact that Alexander Calder’s “La Grande Vitesse” has had on the West Michigan community. The film premiered at the 2019 Festival of the Arts, a three-day celebration of the arts that takes place in downtown Grand Rapids. Festival can credit its foundation to the big red sculpture among other elements.

For those who might have missed the premier, or just want to see the film again, “The Great Swiftness” (which is what”La Grande Vitesse” translates to) will air on WKTV Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. WKTV is available in the communities of Wyoming, Kentwood and Gaines Township on Comcast Channel 25 and on AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

“You see it everywhere on street signs, city signs and on stationary,”  John VanderHaagen, director of communications at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

The 17-minute film features an array of people from the Greater Grand Rapids community, from artists to familiar faces such as Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. The guests talk about Calder’s sculpture and the importance of art in general to a community like Grand Rapids. The interviews are mixed with old footage of when “La Grande Vitesse” was installed and dedicated, sprinkled with comments from Nancy Mulnix Tweddale, the leading organizer who helped to bring Calder’s piece to Grand Rapids. 

To check out more programming at WKTV, visit the wktvjournal.org and click the schedule tab at the top or read through the many stories about our community.

Marking 50, Festival of the Arts reveals 2019 poster commemorating GR’s famous red sculpture

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The 2019 Festival of the Arts poster. Festival takes place June 7, 8, and 9.

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

To commemorate its 50th year, Festival of the Arts is excited to announce renowned designer Stephen Frykholm as its 2019 poster artist. One of the longest running festivals in the state of Michigan, Festival of the Arts will hold its 50th celebration on June 7, 8, and 9 in downtown Grand Rapids.

“Steve was an obvious choice to create the 50th celebration poster,” said Festival of the Arts Executive Director David Abbott.” He is a luminary in the design community and we knew he would create something unique and compelling to commemorate this milestone event.”

Frykholm started his career at Herman Miller in 1970 as the company’s first graphic designer. In 1986 he received the Carl F. Frost Award, Herman Miller’s highest recognition for an employee. In 2007, AIGA, the professional association for design, awarded him an AIGA Fellow, and in 2010 he earned AIGA’s most prestigious award, the AIGA Medal. Steve has been recognized as an annual report design legend by Graphis magazine and he was acclaimed as an American design icon in the 50th anniversary issue of Communication Arts. He retired from Herman Miller in 2015.

“When David Abbott asked me if I would design the Festival of the Arts poster this year, I couldn’t say no, because it’s the 50th year of the festival. That’s a big deal!” Frykholm said. “It was also 50 years ago that the critically acclaimed Calder stabile was installed, and it is the epicenter of the festival. After reviewing all the former posters in the lower level of City Hall, I decided on my direction–the iconic Calder would be my focal point. The Grand River and the Native American mounds are also important city symbols, and I wanted to include them. The large poster I came up with is simple and direct in its design and typography with a blue sky for optimism. I hope it inspires people to start their summer–and perhaps a suntan–by attending the 50th Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts in June.”  

This year’s poster will be available for sale in the Festival Store and at the Gift Shop at the GRAM during Festival of the Arts. Both signed and unsigned versions will be available at different price points.
    

The Calder stabile, or La Grande Vitesse, was formally dedicated on June 14, 1969, and has since become the civic symbol of the City of Grand Rapids. Its installation inspired the first Festival of the Arts, a three-day community arts celebration held each year on the first full weekend in June. Festival began in 1970 and was originally sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids.

Festival started with two stages, some artwork and a few food booths. Today, the celebration covers much of downtown Grand Rapids with three performance stages, dozens of food booths, and endless art and activities for all ages. Now in its 50th year, Festival of the Arts is one of the longest running festivals in the State of Michigan.

ArtPrize winning artist creates poster for Festival of the Arts

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Artist Chris LaPorte at the unveiling of the 2018 Festival of the Arts poster.

Festival of the Arts co-chairs Melissa Bush and Jessi Nix Gould are excited to announce well-known artist Chris LaPorte as the 2018 Festival of the Arts poster artist.  In its 49th year in 2018, Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the state of Michigan and will be held June 1, 2 and 3 in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

“This year’s theme for Festival is celebrating the community through art, and Chris has really captured this in his work,” said Melissa Bush, 2018 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair. “Chris has been involved in the Regional Arts Exhibition for years, participates in Art on the Spot drawing caricatures and hosted an art class in his studio to help fundraise for Festival of the Arts.  He was an obvious choice for a poster artist.”

 

Chris LaPorte loves to draw and says drawing is always cool, no matter what your age or background. He has pursued drawing as a vocation his entire adult life, and has earned art degrees from Aquinas College, La Coste Ecole de Beaux Arts and the New York Academy of Art. He has taught drawing at GVSU, GRCC, Kendall College of Art and Design, and Aquinas College as well as educational institutions in New York and Michigan. He is also a past winner of ArtPrize, with his work “Calvary, American Officers, 1921” winning first-place in 2010.

 

Bush said she and her co-chair Jessi Nix Gould were looking for someone who represents the West Michigan community who had also been involved in Festival over the years.

 

“We are honored that Chris has created the artwork for this year’s poster,” said Jessi Nix Gould, 2018 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair. “His work perfectly embodies the event’s theme by representing the beautiful Grand Rapids city skyline, the movement of dancers in front of La Grande Vitesse and fun, playful colors indicating the spirit of festival.”

 

La Grande Vitesse was formally dedicated on June 14, 1969 and has since become the civic symbol that represents the City of Grand Rapids. The installation of the Calder inspired the first Festival of the Arts – a three-day community arts celebration to be held annually each year in June.  It began in 1970 and was originally sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids.

 

Festival started with two stages, some artwork and a few food booths.  Today, Festival of the Arts covers much of downtown Grand Rapids with three performance stages, dozens of food booths, and endless art and activities for all ages.  In its 49th year, Festival of the Arts is one of the longest running festivals in the State of Michigan.