GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The 10th year of ArtPrize kicks off Wednesday, and hundreds of artists were in Grand Rapids installing their work.
Of more than 1,400 artists, most are putting together their pieces over the weekend and in the last days before the competition, said Exhibitions Manager Katie Moore.
"Some have come over the past few weeks, but these couple days here, right to the lead up of ArtPrize, are when it gets really exciting," Moore said. "And you can head downtown and see some of the artists and meet them."
In the last year before the recently-introduced "Project 1 by ArtPrize," the organization wants to show appreciation to both the first-time and veteran competitors, she said.
First-time participants Julain Voss-Andreae and Ryan Swanson installed their pieces Sunday. Both artists said there is already a lot of excitement about their work.
"I've never seen anything like this," said Voss-Andreae. "It's stunning, and I'm really glad I'm here." His three-meter tall steel female figure, "Quantum Meditation," took two days to erect in front of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
It will be interesting to see how people engage with "Oscillation," Swanson said. His featured public project on the Gillette Bridge presents a series of objects that reflect different colors and create unique sounds relative to how far people walk from them.
"[There have been] a lot of questions and a lot of interest," he said. "They're these objects, kind of these parasites on the bridge. So people are kind of attracted to them and...interested in what's going to happen with them."
At the Harris Building on Division Avenue, almost all 49 artists have installed their works. The three-story building is the third-largest venue at ArtPrize.
"I can't wait for it all to come together," said Curator Taylor Bishop. "We hope to bring a lot of people in. From what we've heard, this building has been a staple in ArtPrize. So we're excited to use almost all the space that this building has to offer."
The first round of voting opens at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 19.
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