In case you missed it, I wanted to take note of an article in the Detroit Free Press on Thursday, “Public Can Vote in New Art Competition.” They — not art critics and curators and other experts — will choose the winner of a $250,000 grand prize, plus smaller purses for other contenders, a total of $450,000.
ArtPrize, created by Rick DeVos, a scion of the family that founded Amway and Prince Corp., is probably the largest that goes to an individual visual artist, dwarfing others.
What I like best about the program is DeVos’s plan to display the works of the finalists in Grand Rapids, creating excitement for art there. I hope it generates the kind of enthusiasm sparked by Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s “Gates” in Central Park in Manhattan in 2005 (at left). Anyone who strolled through the park during its display could feel the spirit in the air; people seemed to be jubilant just walking through the Gates.
There are a couples of catches, though. For one, only those who visit the display will be allowed to vote. I wish the contest were open to all. While seeing something on the web is no substitute for visiting in person, it could well be good enough in this case, given the tech tools available today.
For another, the finalists have to get themselves and their art to Grand Rapids, which probably eliminates many who’d like to participate but can’t afford that expense. On the other hand, this limitation aids Michigan artists, and that’s probably a good thing.
It’s an experiment, DeVos says on the prize’s website. A good one, I add.
Here’s a link to the Free Press article, and here’s a link to the ArtPrize website.