Figuring Out ArtPrize

Now that the top 10 ArtPrize pieces have been announced and after reading a few responses to this years work, I would like to add my two cents. This is the forth year of the worlds largest art prize and it has begun to settel in as an anual event as well as in expectations.

I remember the first year probably a bit differently than most. I was an art student in the midst of my senior year and ArtPrize was about the only thing people could talk about for months. Us know it all art students with years of learning to dislike everything and the ability to negatively evaluate a puppy were, as you can imagine, ArtPrize's biggest critiques. We began with setting our expectation extremely high. We thought this art competition would pick the public out of Thomas Kinkade butt and revitalize art in their eyes. Then we were devastated to find out that the public only cared to vote for the big shinny pieces that were easy along high traffic areas. Months after we talked in depth about the artistically uneducated person, the effects of public vote, and how ArtPrize could fix the problem next year, as to highlight the "true artist" in the competition.

The next year hopes were still high, possibly even higher, because maybe they ironed out the issues of last year. It turned out that the results and reactions were much the same. By the third year of ArtPrize, I was tired of talking about ArtPrize.

This year I pleasantly find myself appreciating ArtPrize 2012 for exactly what it is. The purpose of the art competition is to explore creativity and promote "critical dialogue and collaboration". In an interview Rick DeVos, commenting on GQ's article, explained that this show is one of a kind and it's goals are not that of traditional art events. ArtPrize is about getting people downtown into the little shops, engaging them with the community, and exposing them to art from near and far. As it's own thing, it successfully hits its goals. There are even a lot of people I know that don't even care to vote. They just enjoy hopping around and seeing Grand Rapids, which on any normal day is weirdly deserted, packed with visitors. The second year of the juried awards are also great because it awards art that is considered good by art community standards. The GRAM even made a good attempt to educate the public on viewing a piece in their museum this year. With the use of an infographic they outlined the steps a general viewer could use to think critical about piece when observing it.

I think my only critique this year would be the lack interesting pieces. I do think it is great that ArtPrize is open to anyone, but it has seem to have fallen into a slump of predictable work. A lot of the art is likable and friendly to sales, but you can find most of it in the everyday. Very few pieces are unique or ground breaking. There was a really great article I read this morning making one important suggestion; the need for more curated venues. Many agree Site:Lab has by far the best curated group of work in all of ArtPrize, as well as the most interesting. If more venues seek out artist we might find a greater range of work. Personally I would like to be exposed to much more experimental pieces that I can't regularly see in a gallery or show room.

Anyways, I have finally found a happy place with ArtPrize and I'm glad to have it so close to home.