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ArtPrize signs up 200th artist, latest additions include Ferrofluid Magnetoscope and 30-foot video projection |
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Related Document: ArtPrizeSigns200th_July201.pdf
By The Grand Rapids Press
July 20, 2009, 7:27PM
GRAND RAPIDS -- With two months to go before the ArtPrize display downtown, organizers say 200 artists from all over the United States and several foreign countries have been confirmed to participate.
"We have some fantastic stuff headed our way," said Kevin Buist, who is coordinating the artists who will participate for $450,000 in prizes from Sept. 23 to Oct. 10.
Michael Flynn, of Ann Arbor, will display a Ferrofluid Magnetoscope at The B.O.B. This interactive sculpture creates art with a magnetic liquid developed by NASA.
Matthew Kluber, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will project 30-foot video images on the exterior of the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Jason Mack, of Bloomington, Ill., will set up a furnace and make glass sculptures using donated bottles.
"The response is surprising," said Bill Holzinger-Robinson, director of operations. "I get more confident the closer it gets that this is going to be a great event."
More than 1,700 artists have begun the registration process on the Web site but Holzinger-Robinson said not all those artists will follow through to be matched with one of more than 100 approved venues. About 60 percent of the participating artists are from outside the area, including artists from Italy, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Sweden and several states, he said.
Volunteer coordinator Kathy Wildt said she is looking for 100 to 150 homes that can accommodate one or two artists as guests for a weekend or, in some cases, up to a month. She said about 1,000 volunteers are needed to help direct visitors to the various venues. Volunteers can register at artprize.org/volunteering.
The registration deadline for artists and venues is July 31. That gives the participating venues two weeks to make their final matches. All artists and venues are to be matched up by Aug. 15.
Holzinger-Robinson said he expects thousands of people will attend the display and vote for their favorite piece. Top prize, based on the public vote, will receive $250,000, with cash prizes for the top 10 finishers.
All the venues will have free admission, and voting is free, he said.
"Our goal was to reboot the conversation about art and that's already happening," he said.
E-mail Sue Merrell: smerrell@grpress.com
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