Like so many of the people I interact with on a regular basis, I was absolutely thrilled with the announcement of the ArtPrize competition earlier this week. If, as Devos Jr. Jr. promises, this does in fact become an annual event, the ArtPrize competition has the potential to make Grand Rapids a venue for some of the biggest names in the art field. Not just artists, but collectors and curators as well. This is a big deal for the small but thriving art community in GR. We now have to potential to become visible on a national and possibly international level.
Now, as optimistic as the above sounds, I am not naive enough to think that West Michigan has already secured it's place as the next London or New York. I really don't see that happening. Admittedly, I have my doubts about the idea of the general public making the ultimate decisions about which ten artists represent the best of the best. We live in a profoundly conservative area. An area that is known for having more churches per square mile that any other in the midwest. An area that was outspokenly against the placement of the now iconic Alexander Calder sculpture in downtown GR. As wonderful as it is to see Rick Devos spearheading the organization of the largest (read $$$) art competition on the world, let us not forget that his mother also recently spearheaded a campaign involving the arts. Yes, thats right, Betsy Devos spearheaded a campaign to ban nude models in life drawing classes at the local universities. Let us hope that the apple has indeed fallen far from the tree.While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that the arts should be as publicly visible as possible, I am doubtful that the general public has the necessary command of art criticism to make the ArtPrize competition anything more than a study in the marketability of not-so-postmodern art. I am confident that we will see some amazing things on display come October, but I am not confident that those amazing things will get the notice they deserve.
I truly hope that Grand Rapids can prove me wrong on this one.
Hi Michael,
ReplyDeleteI share your excitement about ArtPrize and it's potential. I think the idea of a brand new and innovative conversation between art/artist and the public is going to be beneficial to all who participate. The best part is no one knows what's going to happen yet.
However, I'm finding your statement about Betsy DeVos spearheading a "recent campaign" to remove life drawing classes from local schools to be laughably and patently false. It's simply not true and I'm doubtful there is any credible source to that rumor.
I do believe Grand Rapids is a world class city. But many people feel ArtPrize is a perfect opportunity to bellow out the same old and tired stereotypes about GR. These narrow labels are not accurate blanket statements about our community...or any community for that matter...it's just more unnecessary stereotyping.
Thanks for letting me post a comment. I think we'll all be very pleasantly surprised by ArtPrize...
Brian