Project 1 by ArtPrize

September 7 - October 27, 2019

The creators of ArtPrize^® – the most attended public art event on the planet – are launching another world-class art experience in Grand Rapids. Project 1 by ArtPrize is the first in a series of citywide exhibitions of public art taking place in the years between biennial ArtPrize competitions.

*Header image: Harvest Dome, 3.0, SLO Architecture – ArtPrize, 2018

Events

Learn more about Project [1] by ArtPrize with these frequently asked questions:

What is Project 1?
Who are the Artists of Project 1?
Where can I see Project 1?
Does Project 1 Replace ArtPrize?
How is Project 1 Different from ArtPrize?

What is Project 1?

Differing from both ArtPrize and traditional biennials, Project 1 will focus on just five artists, each producing large public artworks. Many of these artworks will occupy multiple sites throughout the city, some will function as stages for performing arts and other collaborations, while still others will be geared toward various forms of audience participation.

Organized under the title “Crossed Lines,” these multifaceted installations, urban interventions and community-oriented projects will explore how lines are drawn—literally and figuratively—to demarcate public and private space, as well as how boundaries inform our movement and our sense of belonging within the city. This theme reflects the complex conditions of Grand Rapids, a place with a rich legacy of public art defining and enhancing civic space, yet still confronted with difficult questions about access and boundaries, both visible and invisible.

Who Are The Artists of Project 1?

Amanda Browder, a Brooklyn-based artist, produces large-scale fabric installations for building exteriors and other public sites, engaging the communities where her projects take place, gatherings both materials and stories.

Photo Credit: (Left) Amanda Brower. Photos courtesy of the artist; supplied by ArtPrize. (Right) Spectral Locus by Amanda Browder. Photo by Tom Loonan; supplied by ArtPrize.

Heather Hart, also based in Brooklyn, is an interdisciplinary artist exploring the power in thresholds — her submerged rooftops, complete with shingles and dormer windows, encourage visitors to climb on top and inside and contemplate regional oral histories, as well as serve as a stage for performance.

Photo Credit: (Left) Heather Hart. Photo courtesy of the artist; supplied by ArtPrize. (Right) Oracle of Lacuna by Heather Hart. Photo courtesy of the artist; supplied by ArtPrize.

Olalekan Jeyifous is a Nigerian born, Brooklyn-based artist and architect whose work in public art, installation, drawing, collage and design explores the past and potential futures of urban environments.

Photo Credit: (Left) Olalekan Jeyifous. Photo courtesy of the artist; supplied by ArtPrize. (Right) Crown Ether by Olalekan Jeyifous. Photo by Andrew Jorgenson; supplied by ArtPrize.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, a Mexican-Canadian artist, develops interactive installations that live at the intersection of architecture and performance art.

Photo Credit: (Left) Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Photo courtesy of the artist; supplied by ArtPrize. (Right) Pulse Park, Relational Architecture 14 by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Photo by James Ewig; supplied by ArtPrize.

Paul Amenda, artist and founder of SiTE:LAB, and architect Ted Lott will create an architectural intervention open to the community and activated by performances and events — the work will flip ADA specifications from design constraint to design inspiration, and the entire structure will be accessible.

Photo Credit: Photo Credit: (Left) Paul Amenta. Photo courtesy of the artist; supplied by ArtPrize. (Right) Ted Lott. Photo courtesy of the artist; supplied by ArtPrize.

Each artist will create new and unique installations for Project 1!

Where can I see Project 1?

Project 1 artists will display their work in three separate Grand Rapids neighborhoods.

Downtown

See pieces by Amanda Browder, Heather Hart, Olalekan Jeyifous and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in the center of the city. Locations include The Blue Bridge, Rosa Parks Circle, the corner of Monroe Ave and Louis St., and various points in our covered skywalk system.

Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Located in a residential neighborhood 10 minutes from downtown, this 17-acre greenspace features works by Amanda Browder and Heather Hart. Hart’s piece will also serve as a stage for local music, dance and spoken word.

Tanglefoot Studio

This repurposed industrial campus—now home to artist studios–is just five minutes from downtown. Paul Amenta and Ted Lott are creating an architectural intervention that will invite the participation of audiences and performers. Tanglefoot also hosts a work by Amanda Browder.

Does Project 1 replace ArtPrize?

No. ArtPrize is now held on an every-other-year schedule, as is Project 1. Each event occurs in the fall of alternating years:

2019 - Project 1 by ArtPrize - September 7 - October 27
2020 - ArtPrize 11 - September 16 – October 4
2021 - Project 2 by ArtPrize - September - October
2022 - ArtPrize 12 - September 21 – October 9
2023 - Project 3 by ArtPrize - September - October
2024 - ArtPrize 13 - September 18 – October 6
2025 - Project 4 by ArtPrize - September - October

How is Project 1 different from ArtPrize?

ArtPrize is a competition, with thousands of artists vying for cash prizes awarded by public and juried votes.

Project 1 more closely resembles a traditional art exhibit – though the size and scale of it is anything but traditional. Project 1 organizers work with internationally renowned curators to select a handful of artists that devote significant time and resources to creating bold, expansive outdoor exhibits that transform the Grand Rapids landscape.

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Questions?

Project 1 continues to finalize plans and support materials as the event draws closer. Visit project1byartprize.org for the latest information, or email support@artprize.org.