Five must sees at this year’s ArtPrize
Kristin Coppens
| 3 min read
It’s that time of year again. We are little more than three weeks away from the start of the 2013 ArtPrize in Grand Rapids. The international competition boasts a number of different events each year—some new, some returning—throughout the course of the 19-day art contest.
In its 5th year, the 2013 ArtPrize is sure to please all art lovers, whether novice or regular connoisseur. From art and health to art and education to art and entertainment, 2013 could be the best ArtPrize yet! Below are some of my top 5 must sees for this year’s ArtPrize.
Art Walk: Sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Wolverine Worldwide, Art Walk brings together health and wellness with art exploration. This year’s walk will take place on Saturday morning, September 21st. The walk, spanning five different paths throughout the five neighborhoods hosting art, will have guided and self-guided options. Each route begins and ends at Rosa Parks Circle downtown.
ArtPrize Speaker Series: This year, ArtPrize will host a series of speakers discussing how contemporary art influences the revitalization of post-industrial cities. The series will host a total of 15 world-renowned art experts. The speaker series will showcase three events; ArtPrize will also host two panel discussions on the art in the 2013 competition. For the full list of speakers, event details, and discussion topics, visit the events calendar on the ArtPrize website.
ArtClub: Sometimes being a member really pays off. ArtPrize introduced Art Club as a way for individuals to experience the competition at a different level. Open to all, ArtClub provides perks like exclusive events and opportunities, discounts, insider information, access to the Clubhouse, transportation, and more for only $40 as an individual member (memberships also include different prices for students and artists, membership for two, and household options). Grab your membership today—it lasts all year long!
Chair Camp: Chair Camp is a great way to include children in ArtPrize and art creation. The workshop series is open to students in grades 1-12 and hosted by Carla Hartman, Education Director of the Eames Office. Students will use recycled materials to create miniature model chairs to be displayed during ArtPrize. At the conclusion, chairs are available to be picked up and returned to the students. Visit the ArtPrize website for more information and register your class for a workshop here.
The Internet Cat Video Festival: On a light note, ArtPrize 2013 is incorporating the Internet’s obsession with cat videos with a community event. The Walker Art Center’s The Internet Cat Video Festival is a worldwide tour that brings online communities together in the real community. On Friday, September 27th, Grand Rapids joins a number of other cities around the world in their own spin on the event; the ArtPrize version features videos submitted and voted on by artists, members, volunteers, and the public. If you are not able to attend the free event, follow along with #CatVidFest on Twitter.
What do you look forward to the most during ArtPrize?
Photo credit: ArtPrize
