GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - ArtPrize is more than three months away. But the artists and venues are preparing now for the big event.
Last year more than 1,200 artists participated in ArtPrize. In 2010, artist registrations continue until Thursday, June 17. And organizers say they are on track to match or top last year's numbers. The staff at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is accustomed to building and designing exhibits. Director of Marketing for the Museum Rebecca Westphal says, "Our installation team has dealt with 3,000 year old masks and 9,000 pound sarcophagus lids." But now they are busy preparing for a show of a whole different kind... ArtPrize. Westphal recalls, "We decided that really if we could we were going to reserve the entire building for it. Because it just seemed like such a great thing for the city and we really just wanted to participate as fully as possible. It was last year during ArtPrize that we said, we're not going to be left out again." So, the big bug exhibit is gone and workers will begin prepping the space to become an art gallery. The Public Museum will be one of seven ArtPrize exhibition centers this year. As ArtPrize Executive Director Bill Holsinger-Robinson explains, much of ArtPrize was centered at the Old Federal Building last year. This year, each exhibition center will have registration, a gift shop, and numerous artists. Holsinger-Robinson says, "We really have a commitment to all of the neighborhoods in the district that are participating in ArtPrize. Instead of having everything so tight, we want to continue year after year to push people out into the neighborhoods." It requires a big commitment from the non-profit organizations hosting the exhibition centers. Westphal says, "We will be open free to the public, obviously that entire time. So, it does have a little bit of a scary moment when we're thinking, okay. We are just kind of throwing the doors open and taking this leap of faith that we'll be okay in terms of the finances." So, even in the second year of ArtPrize, one thing remains the same. Holsinger-Robinson says, "Surprise. I think that's the one thing that you can count on is that there are going to be things that are completely unanticipated. It's going to be a great show on the whole." One new and unique venue you might see in ArtPrize this year is WZZM 13's own satellite truck. We are talking with several artists who are interested in putting their mark on the truck. Artists have until Thursday, June 17, 2010 to sign up for ArtPrize. Artists and venues have until July 1, 2010 to come to agreements on what pieces will go where.
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