Say Yes to Michigan!

I used to be called "The Hub"...back when I actually knew what everyone was up to and no one else did. I think I'm out of the loop now so thank goodness that there's a building that now claims all of my knowledge. (I feel so much less pressure.) Here's a brief rundown (there are over 1200 artists so this is but the tiniest sliver) of the ArtPrize extravaganza that I attended in Grand Rapids, MI last weekend.

FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS AND SCULPTURE PARK


A Chihuly sculpture...completely separate from the ArtPrize competition...but still totally rad.



Vessel by Amanda Katz


I'm a sucker for anything typographic.


Conductivity by Julia Rogers

DOWNTOWN GR


The artists' reception at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. My mom in the foreground right, my sis in the background right. My one-dimensional self in the center background: Tina by Char Anderson.


More of the artists' reception.

DOWNTOWN GR: AH-NAB-AWEN PARK


Burial Mounds by Flinten Sackett. Read about it here.


More Burial Mounds


Detail of Burial Mounds


Dream Big by Pete Fecteau made of 4242 Rubik's Cubes.


Detail of Dream Big.


Art break: Reserve, the all new GR wine bar/art viewing-pit stop slice of fabulosity, the perfect downtown destination in which to sample over 100 wines by the glass. (Not all at the same time!) While sipping a Cremant D'Alsace I also sampled a Michigan sparkler. Not bad! There are also some tasty prosciutto/jamon/queso/formaggio options (I was so busy eating that I forgot to take photos) as well as other sorted snacks. You really can't go wrong. Wine and cheese is the perfect meal!

GRAM


Chroma Passage by Janice Arnold


Baby Calder: La Petite Vitesse


Dreamscape by Kathy Stecko

INTERSECTION


Extremely random ArtPrize festivity: The Shaolin comes to GR. GZA at Intersection. For realz.


GZA up close and personal. I'm pretty sure that he and I were the oldest people there.


The winning ArtPrize entry from last year (Open Water No. 24) gracing the bar at the brand spanking new wine bar/small plate eatery extravagana: Reserve. The end.