Can you guess where this couple are sailing the seas of ArtPrize?
Photo Taken By: Matt Burrows
This photo is part of the ArtPrize® 2010 “Where’s this?” series on the blog. The photos are taken by photographers working independently. They do not reflect the opinion on ArtPrize organizers.
Nicole Caruth is a freelance writer and curator living in New York and frequent contributor to the Art:21 blog. ArtPrize hired Nicole to chronicle the 2009 event, and decided to bring her back this year. Nicole’s thoughts and opinions are her own and in no way represent an endorsement or objection from ArtPrize toward an individual artist or venue.
ArtPrize 2009, Grand Rapids, MI. Photo courtesy of Brian Kelly.
You may have heard by now, via the ArtPrize Twitter feed, that I have come back to cover this year’s event. (Many thanks for all of your welcoming tweets.) Over the next several days, I will visit venues and attend events, talk to voters and artists, interview guest speakers, tweet, and of course blog about my observations. In so doing, I will be voting in my own way.
Given that the top ten finalists will be announced tomorrow night, you might be thinking that I’m “late to the party.” My arrival at this moment in the competition was a personal and deliberate choice that was largely influenced by last year’s grand-prize winner, Ran Ortner. When I interviewed Ortner in April, he spoke of a shift in how people looked at art and cast their votes after the top ten announcement.
“Early in the competition, people would vote their fancy. They would say, “Oh, I like that. That’s cool,” in this very caviler and off-hand vote. But then what happened is something that I see in my studio. My friends will come in, look at my work, and say, “Oh, that’s my favorite, I love that one.” Or “If I could have any of them, I’d have that one.” But a collector comes in at an entirely different tempo. They are coming from a different register. They are investing with more of who they are. They’re establishing who they are in the context of the work. Establishing their own taste by putting their stamp of approval on something and parting with resources. All of these things require a different kind of consideration and the level of consideration is apparent. It takes much more time and it is a much more deliberate process. I saw the same thing happen with ArtPrize. Once the top ten [finalists] were established I went back to Grand Rapids. I could see that people were slowing down, and considering how their vote reflected Grand Rapids as a community, and what they really felt had value as art.”
Intrigued by his description, and assuming what he said is true, I wanted to experience this part of ArtPrize myself. Are ArtPrize voters really more discerning after they know who’s made the top ten? Does it even matter at that point? And when you consider the larger cultural and economic impact of ArtPrize, which is rapidly growing, do votes and prizes matter at all? Let’s see.
As of noon Wednesday, September 29, 2010–ALL customers of Sprint/Nextel, Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T can vote via text message.
So, if you are a Sprint, Verizon or T-Mobile customer, you’re probably wondering if you can text in a vote now…
I’m an activated voter and I registered my mobile phone
You should have received a text message requesting that you validate your mobile phone by sending back a 4-digit validation code.
I’m an activated voter and NEVER registered my mobile phone
If you are an activated voter and would like to register your mobile phone now, send your phone number (including area code) AND email address you signed up with to support@artprize.org.
I’m registered to vote but I’m not sure I was activated
You must present a government issued ID to a registrar at a registration site at the event. Only a registrar can activate you.
Colley, Viviano, Rockman and Greenwood
International Artists and Ideas in a Midsize Midwestern Town
Please note, get to The Hub early as seating is limited, overflow room available for the latecomers.
Wednesday, Sept. 29th
Cocktails: 6 PM
Presentation: 7 PM
Where: The Hub
Our speakers hit the stage at 7:00 p.m., and a cash bar is available the hour before. These four educators from Grand Valley State University or Kendall College of Art and Design collectively serve as the jurors for the ArtPrize International Award. As the event draws near, learn more about them at artprize.org. Brought to you by Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.
Photo by RapidGrowthMedia, on Flickr
Week 1 voting ends at 11:59PM tonight!
Tomorrow, Thursday September 30, ArtPrize will do an audit of the results and announce which artists have made it to the top 10 for Week 2 voting. Join us at 5:30PM in Rosa Parks Circle to kick off the fun. At 6:00PM, Rick DeVos will announce the top 10 finalists.
After the Top 10 are announced, voting will resume. Every voter has ONE VOTE LEFT to use on one of the top 10. (You can change your vote among the top 10 until voting closes for Week 2, 11:59PM next Wednesday, October 6.
A quick update on text message voting. As of yesterday AT&T, Sprint and Nextel are all processing votes sent via text message. (Of course, all activated voters can vote on artprize.org.)
Are you activated?
You have until 8:00PM tonight to present your government issued ID at a voter registration site and get activated to vote in Week 1. Voter registration sites will close at 8:00PM.
Anyone can still get activated to vote until close of venues next Wednesday, October 6, but those who wait until tomorrow can only vote among the Top 10.
This is part of a large oil painting absurdly exploring human life from birth to death. Which Monroe North venue displays this painting?
Photo taken by: Yolanda Gonzalez.
This photo is part of the ArtPrize® 2010 “Where’s this?” series on the blog. The photos are taken by photographers working independently. They do not reflect the opinion on ArtPrize organizers.
Brian Kelly is a photographer and filmmaker living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Based on the video journal he made during 2009, ArtPrize® invited Brian to share his videos on our blog during the 2010 event. He’ll walk around and document what interests him as a filmmaker. Brian’s thoughts and opinions are his own and in no way represent an endorsement or objection from ArtPrize toward an individual artist or venue.
Adam Lerner, Ph.D.
Director, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and Chief Animator, Department of Fabrications
Spill Paintings and Fine Beer:What is the place of art in a world filled with art?
Tuesday, Sept. 28
Cocktails: 6:00 PM
Presentation: 7:00 PM
Adam Lerner is the Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and the Chief Animator in the Department of Fabrications. As the event draws near, learn more about Dr. Lerner at artprize.org. Brought to you by Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.
Brian Kelly is a photographer and filmmaker living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Based on the video journal he made during 2009, ArtPrize® invited Brian to share his videos on our blog during the 2010 event. He’ll walk around and document what interests him as a filmmaker. Brian’s thoughts and opinions are his own and in no way represent an endorsement or objection from ArtPrize toward an individual artist or venue.
Once vandalized, this ArtPrize entry now stands complete in all its glory.
Photo by Victoria Fanning
