ArtPrize - Making Music

There were a number of ArtPrize entries that featured music.  This one, "Accord", by Bree Gomez exhibited outside at the Grand Rapids Art Museum was voted into the Top 25.

The description written for ArtPrize is:

Accord is a dynamic and engaging sculpture comprised of strands of light that are interwoven within a metal structure. Upon investigation, a sonar beam emitted from within the sculpture captures movement and converts it into recognizable tunes such as the violin and flute. The lights (strings) then respond to the sound generated by movement. By utilizing the captivating medium of sound, light and metal, Accord provokes interaction and dialogue.


The sound component of Accord enables those with limited mobility an opportunity to communicate using sound.

Here are young viewers interacting with it to make their own music complete with a light show ...

Another sound sculpture was "The Benchmark Experience" exhibited along the river front at DeVos Place by Scott Naylor.  It was voted to be among the Top 75.

There was "soft" rock'n roll music piped from the speakers above each molded chaise seat which housed the woofers so you could feel the beat.  For me and Lee it was a welcome respite to get off our feet and to enjoy a "moment alone".

It, too, lit up at night ...

My favorite making music ArtPrize entry was "Street Pianos ... Play Me, I'm Yours" by Luke Jerram.  It, too, was voted into the Top 25.

Play Me, I'm Yours has reached almost three quarters of a million people in cities stretching from London to Sydney. Sites are found where there is an existing hidden community or where we feel a piano may be values (park, bus stop, bridge, etc.) Each piano has a local custodian - someone who works in a shop or opub next door. It is an unpaid job, keeping any eye on the piano, covering it if raining, and reporting major problems or issues that arise. Pianos are placed to target specific parts of the Art Prize perimeter, reaching different sections of society. The pianos can be played by anyone, anytime or used for concerts, lessons, sing-alongs, street parties, charity events, music videos - whatever! A Street Piano website accompanies the project and documents everyone's creativity and contains films, photos and comments posted by the public, connecting communities and also providing maps of piano locations. Pianos are donated to a good home after the completion of Art Prize.

There was lots of participation ...

Colleen Kole and I enjoyed this fellow's street corner concert.

Lee surprised me with a rendition of "Chop Sticks" on this one placed outside of DeVos Place.

ArtPrize ... One of My Favorite Entries

A most intriguing ArtPrize entry was this small livable dwelling constructed with salvaged materials.

Here's the artist's information:

Brent Ahmicasaube embraces his Native culture by creating functional art using salvaged materials. His father,an artist, taught Brent the trade of skilled carpentry while beautifying several 'fixer uppers' in his youth. Brent studied Fine Art at Michigan State University and Lansing Community College. For almost a decade Brent has been restoring historical homes and commercial buildings (Heritage Craftsmen). He currently lives in Grand Rapids with his wife and son in the home he restored and renovated (containing salvaged pieces of over 100 homes).

And more pictures of this house exhibited at the Douglas J. Aveda Institute in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Note the bowed out wall on the sides.

How about those hand rails? and risers?

 It's a 500 square foot one-room charmer with a sleeping loft. 

I could see it as a backyard studio ... or a wonderful guest house.

ArtPrize ... and the Fun Is Over

This year 1,715 artists from 21 countries exhibited.  450,000 votes by 31,014 registered voters were cast over a two week period.  I'm pleased that my entry, "The Lake", exhibited at DeVos Place got a lot of them to be ranked among the top 75 vote getter's.

Here are three YouTube videos taken by SteveKaterberg that present an overview of what ArtPrize was all about.  I especially like the bits of conversation by the viewers he included.  Enjoy!

ArtPrize ... and the Fun Continues!

Earlier this evening the ArtPrize entries voted into the Top 10 were announced.  Mine was not one of those.  However, I'm very happy to say "The Lake" was voted into the Top 75.  There are 1,713 entries in this exhibition.  Woo Hoo!

It pleases me greatly that my art piece is so well received.  There has been a steady stream of viewers through my venue, DeVos Place, which is a conference center in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Most stopped to study my piece.  Many were surprised it was NOT a painting.

Men, women, and children were intrigued.  An occasional viewer, most of whom were men, would lean back against the rail and contemplate for a while.  The few I asked what they were thinking, responded to the effect that they were enjoying "a moment on the beach".  One of the comments I liked hearing was, "I keep expecting the beach grass to move."

Several kids asked for my autograph.  Over the weekend there were kids who were intrigued enough to stop and watch me demonstrating my "ortwork" technique.

One of them convinced her grandmother to see the art in DeVos Place without her so she could stay and make her own lake piece.

It's been a wonderful first week.  The ArtPrize exhibition runs through October 10th.  I'll be sharing some of the other entries in future posts.

Interpret This - September

"Nelliephant" - 23"x 17"

fabric, tulle, yarn

oil stick pastels, watercolor pencils, ink

Go to the IT link to read more about my interpretation of this photo of a fence in Indonesia taken by Debra.

PS:  ArtPrize News!  At this point in time my entry, "The Lake" is one of the top 100 vote getters!  Woo Hoo!

ArtPrize ... and the Fun Begins!

Here's where I was 24 hours ago.

Waiting for the ArtPrize opening reception at DeVos Place to begin.  This was the only opportunity to get a photo of just me in front of "The Lake".  I loved the steady stream of people, many who marveled this was a textile piece rather than a painting.  There were even some who were surprised to discover that it was twenty-five panels instead of one big piece.

Thanks to Colleen for taking this one.  It was wonderful to see her and other friends as well as everyone else who came.

I'm pleased with this piece ... that the kind of day at the beach I pictured in my mind comes across ... a perfect day between storms.  The strong waves rolling to shore are the result of a storm that's already passed while the clouds on the horizon are building another storm to come ... a reflection of weathering the storms of life while appreciating the changes those turbulent times bring ... and most importantly, cherishing the time between.

And then the word spread about Elvis "swimming" in the piece.  Some people even came back again to find him.  The most obvious of all the images is in the center of this panel.

Here are some of my favorite panels of "The Lake".

 

"The Lake" 9' x 7'

PS:  I'll be demonstrating my "ortwork" technique on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from noon to 5:00pm at DeVos Place in Room A.

ArtPrize Installation at DeVos Place

 I am so grateful to Janice from Good Goods gallery for all her work in getting my textile installation, "The Lake",  on the wall of DeVos Place.  That is the convention center in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan and is my venue for the ArtPrize exhibition that begins on September 22nd.

At the Gallery

During a recent weekend I was one of three textile artists featured at Good Goods Gallery in Saugatuck, Michigan.  Dawn Edwards (on left) who makes fabulous felt hats is demonstrating felting to a customer (on right).

Sandra Adams who is the third featured artist is watching with me.  Sandra's medium is also felting and she, too, had a table out in Good Good's garden for demonstrating her techniques that result in scarves ... scarves that I would hang on a wall as art, rather than wear.

I demonstrated my "ortwork" collage technique in the upstairs gallery.

Above I was composing a small lake piece.  The foundation of which was made up of cut-offs from "The Lake" installation piece.

Two were completed that afternoon.  Each was purchased almost before I could get the back signed.  In fact, the first one was gone before I thought to take a photo.  Here's a picture of the second one.

"Piece of The Lake" 8"x 8"

Speaking of a piece of "The Lake", two of the five rows of my ArtPrize entry is hanging in Good Good's Gallery until next Friday.

Next Sunday all 5 rows will be installed in DeVos Place ready for the BIG exhibition that begins September 22nd.

ArtPrize Featured on CBS Sunday Morning

Just in case you missed this episode on CBS Sunday morning yesterday as I did.  It's gives you a good idea of what ArtPrize is about and why I'm so pleased and excited to be a participant this year.

I'm An ARTPRIZE Artist!

Those of you who follow me on Facebook are familiar with this photo.  It portrays the anxiety of getting a venue in which to exhibit "The Lake" in ArtPrize*.  I had announced my entry in this post.  But entering and getting to be an exhibitor are two different things.  It was a scramble of 2,249 registered artists vying for exhibition space in 226 registered venues.

I had mailed a packet of written information with photos to fifteen of my first choice venues.  Two weeks later I sent emails that included updated material and pictures to those venues plus fifteen more.  One venue very much wanted "The Lake" to be part of their exhibition.  However, after a trip to Grand Rapids to view the space, I determined that this large scale installation piece would not show well in any spot where there was space to hang it.  Declining that invitation was nerve wracking.  What if no other venue responded to my work?

I received a couple of emails expressing interest in my entry.  However, all but one indicated that they would get back to me later after they had curated their exhibitions from ALL the entries.  So when this email arrived I got excited:

Your work is very unique, and with a subject matter that resonates with many of us.  We do hope to include your entry in our venue.  I'll be in touch when things are solidified.

I had to make another trip into Grand Rapids to get a repaired sewing machine (that's another post yet to be written).  While there, I took two panels from "The Lake" plus the study to show the art director for that venue.  He liked what he saw.  I liked the exhibition space.

Woo Hoo!  "The Lake" will be in the DeVos Place Convention Center.

It's located at 303 Monroe Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids.  This is the lobby entrance.

Art by 54 artists will be exhibited here.  "The Lake" will hang in the Skywalk Gallery.

............................................

After the final audit of artists and venues that secured each other for ArtPrize 2010, the results are…

• 1,713 artists
• 192 venues

Artists from 21 different countries will exhibit, including the United States. 44 different states in the U.S. will be represented.

*ArtPrize is an open art competition, giving away the world's largest art prize. Part arts festival, part social experiment - this international art contest is decided solely on a public vote.  So if you're in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 22nd to October 10th come join the fun!

Making Waves

I'm here ...

making waves ...

As you can see, that's not making waves in the lake ... nor making trouble, but waves for "The Lake" textile installation that is entered in the ArtPrize exhibition which takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan this coming September.

Here at the cottage the little ones get to make waves in a bucket bath to wash away the beach sand.

Before we left Tennessee each of our metal birds constructed from garden tools got a bucket bath before roosting in our bedroom for the summer.

You may also notice that the robin's tree got pruned now that the nest is empty.

Speaking of metal objects, I love the vases ordered from Paula Art.  She made them from construction steel supports.

They are perfect for our outside tables.  These won't blow over with a gust of wind off the lake as has happened several times with glass vases.  Also, they are a great size to scatter bouquets among the serving dishes on our rather narrow picnic tables

... and low enough to see over.  My just-turned-nine year-old granddaughter had set the table for her birthday dinner.

Summer has begun ... and I must keep busy making waves ... lots of waves.

Liking These Clouds

Well, I'm finally done with the top row of cloud panels for "The Lake" installation piece ... for now.  They're much closer to the effect that I think I want.  Photos of the individual panels were taken this morning in front of a window with natural light.

I'm glad to finally have a tripod to attach my camera for taking steady and consistent photos.  I found this one at a Tuesday Morning shop for only $20.  It telescopes and folds up to be quite small.  A piece of cardboard marks the place for each panel to be positioned so there is consistency in the photographs.  I've found it's best to snap at least two pictures.  It seems I have a heavy finger for the first shot as evidenced by the first photo usually  turning out blurred.

I also took a picture of the panels laid out on the floor.

Rotating the photo gives the perspective of standing at one end to view it.

And then I had taken a photo outside my studio after spraying the panels with Krylon fixative to set the oil stick pastels, as well as to build up layers of protection from dust and to prevent fading from UV rays.  This is what I want to see.  Is this a clue as to how they'll appear when mounted so far above eye level and spot lighted? ... hmmmmmmmmm ...

The day couldn't pass without my checking up on the baby Robins in our courtyard tree.  It's amazing how fast they're growing.