ArtPrize 2010 Winner: “Cavalry, American Officers, 1921”

On Thursday, October 7, ArtPrize announced the winner of the popular vote in the 2010 competition. The $250,000 first prize went to Grand Rapids artist Chris LaPorte. LaPorte teaches art at Aquinas College. The winning work, “Cavalry, American Officers, 1921” is a photorealistic pencil drawing of a gathering of World War I officers.  It took LaPorte over 800 hours to complete the work, which measures 29 feet by 8 feet.

Here are my photos of the winning work.

 

Here is a 90-second interview of Chris LaPorte.

ArtPrize is Back for 2010

ArtPrize, a one-of-a-kind art competition that started in Grand Rapids in 2009, is back again, bigger and better.  Over 1700 artists will display their work at over 190 venues in and around Grand Rapids from September 22 to October 10.  Over $450,000 in prizes will be awarded by a vote of the people, including a grand prize of $250,000.  It is not about the money, though.  Only 10 will finish in the money.  It is about art engaging the community.  It is an extraordinary event, the brainchild of Rick DeVos. It is generously supported by the Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation.

Here are some of my photos of ArtPrize 2010.  Keep coming back.  This portfolio will grow over the next three weeks.

My photos are posted here on Flickr.  You can also view photos from ArtPrize 2009 by clicking here.

The official ArtPrize site is www.artprize.org.

Visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum

I was in Milwaukee last weekend on business. When my business was concluded I had a chance to tour the Milwaukee Art Museum, with its relatively new Quadracci Pavilion, which is stunningly beautiful. Following my tour, I took the high speed ferry across Lake Michigan to Muskegon. It was far better than driving all the way around Lake Michigan.

Here are photos from the museum and from the ferry.