ArtPrize: I Want to Vote You Up

No, it definitely isn’t Kansas! Last night — the opening night for ArtPrize — was great. Walking around Grand Rapids — a city that has already transformed so much since I’ve lived here — had a feeling more like New York last night. I saw many artists I recognized from the New York art scene, and many more who would fit in to that niche quite effortlessly.

My sister and I decided to do our voting last night, after we returned from the festivities. I must say, it worried me. I easily put in my vote for Yours Truly, having already set up my iPhone with the handy ArtPrize app. But Sue, who isn’t the type to sit in front of her computer screens for hours ( like some of us), found the whole thing kind of confusing. I’m not so sure she wouldn’t have just given up if I wasn’t there helping her.

So, a note to all who would like to vote:

1. Register in person at one of the registrations sites (you’ll find those here…), when you register, they will ask you for your email address, and then send you a password. You will need this password for step 3.
2. If you’re comfortable texting your vote, you can do that by sending your vote to 878787.
3. If you want on vote online; go and fetch your password that they sent to your email address & copy it.
4. Go to ArtPrize.com, and click on the left, where it says “vote online”
5. Then you’ll be taken here: where you will need to open an ArtPrize account (easy), and then you’ll fill in your email address and the password that they sent you.
6. Push the little “sign in” button, and you’ll be taken here: where you can type the artists name (I suggest; Nancy Tobin) and press the “search” button.
7. And here you are. Whew! Press the up or the down symbol (again, my suggestion is the “up”), and when it turns orange, you’ve made your vote!

You can vote for as many artists you’d like on the first week.

Good luck to all, and have fun.

I’ll see you at Peaches! Today I’ll be there from 3 to 7PM.

Tags: ArtPrize, artPrize Registration, Chelsea, iphone, Peaches, voting

ArtPrize: I’ve a Feeling We’re Not in Kansas Any More

Last week was a frantic blur. The finishing touches on scores of new paintings, the readying of printed materials and the tying down of schedules (mine in Grand Rapids — my children’s, while I’m away.)

Next came the twelve hour drive: Car packed with 21 paintings — some so new that they needed to be set carefully upon the backseat so that the surface could harden on the drive, me with a brand new audio book  (Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides — halfway through, don’t give away the end!), and the long somewhat boring Interstate 80 in front of me.

This all was followed by the very frustrating, but ultimately successful hanging. Peaches gracious dining room is bedecked, bejeweled and bewitched by fifteen paintings. I was too exhausted by the time I left to have had even thought of taking a photo — but they will come.

Today will be the crescendo to all this preparation. The grand opening is tonight and the city of Grand Rapids is abuzz with excitement. I feel small among all this, but am happy to be here taking part in what I think is going to be grand!

I’ll see you at Peaches!

Tags: ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, Interstate 80, Jeffery Eugenides, Middlesex, oz, Peaches

I’ll See You at Peaches: ArtPrize Events

Here’s a list of times and events when I will be at Peaches:

9/23 – 3 to 5pm: Meet the Artist/Free Poster Signing

9/24 – 3 to 7pm: Meet the Artist/Free Poster Signing

9/25 – 3 to 5pm: Meet the Artist/Free Poster Signing

9/26 – 3 to 8pm: Gala Reception for all 8 Artists at Peaches

9/27 – 12 to 6pm: Demo Day! Come enjoy a festive day of artist led activities, demos and talks with all 8 artists showing at Peaches:

Running With Scissors – Instant Art: Pick a sheet of  hand-painted paper, and I’ll cut it into a fanciful shape for you to take home!

Here’s a list of all the ArtPrize events at Peaches:

9/23, 3-9pm
Artists Up-Close: Meet and chat with the artists.

9/24, 3-9pm
Artists Up-Close: Meet and chat with the artists.

9/25, 3-9pm
Artists Up-Close: Meet and chat with the artists.

9/26, 3-8pm
Gala Artists’ Reception
Join all the artists for this festive event, featuring delicious food and wine!

9/27, 12-6pm
Heartside Neighborhood Days
Art Demonstrations & Workshops:
Bring your family for a day filled with artist-led activities.
Painting with Damsels: Sarah Weber, Kathleen Kalinowski, Bold Strokes for Art, Sue Visker
Paper cutting workshop with Mary Gaynier,
Instant Art! with Nancy Tobin
Smithing on an active forge with Dragons Anthony Jackson & Joel Sanderson.
Featuring tasty samples from Big Bore BBQ!

Mon – Weds, 9/28 – 30
Artists Up-Close: Meet and chat with the artists.

9/28, 3-9pm
Snowflakes in September: paper-cutting workshops hourly with Mary Gaynier

10/3 Heartside Neighborhood Days

Sat & Sun, 10/3-4, 12-6pm
Heritage Hill Home Tour (extra charge for other houses)

Peaches Hours: Monday — Thursday: 3-9pm, Friday & Saturday: 12-10pm, Sunday: 12-6pm.

Tags: Kalle Demos, Peaches

Totally Unofficial, Utterly Biased, Guide to ArtPrize

Here are my picks — for artists to see during my visit to Grand Rapids, for ArtPrize.

Click and Print! Here’s a handy PDF version of the Totally Unofficial, Utterly Biased, Guide to ArtPrize.

Peaches Bed & Breakfast

29 Gay Ave SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Susan Viskar

L.Joel Sanderson

Mary Gaynier

Anthony Jackson

Sarah Weber

Nancy Tobin

Kathleen Kalinowski

Bold Strokes For Art

Hop Cat

25 Ionia SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

James Foster

Sophie Canadé

Cathedral Square

Diocese of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Charlie Brouwer

JW Marriot

235 Louis St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Jennifer O’Meara

The TangleFoot Building

314 Straight Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Ellen Margelis

maureen nollette

Riverview Center

678 Front Aveune NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Jorge Enrrique Serrano Sanmiguel

The BOB

20 Monroe Ave Nw
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Wrenay Gomez-Charlton

elizabeth ivy hawkins
Jaye Schlesinger

Jason Mack
georgia donovan

Don Simon

Michael Flynn
Patrick Thompson

Old Federal Building

155 N Division Ave
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Jason Ross

Mari-Megan Moore

robin rogers

Kevin Bourgeois

Heidi Van Wieren
Sun Kwak
Sonjie Feliciano Solomon

Eric Daigh
Ran Ortner

Michigan State University @ Michigan and College

445 Michigan NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Janel Schultz
Lisa Simon
Mary Brodbeck
Renee Robbins

Michelle Word

Grand River

Grand River between Fulton and Pearl Streets
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

David Lubbers

Plaza Towers

201 W. Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Rick Beerhorst/Cameron Van Dyke

DeVos Place

303 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

David Greenwood

Victoria Fuller

Dejonge Gallery and Studio

187 Monroe Avenue, Suite 250
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

john kleber

River House Condominiums

335 Bridge St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Michael Shankman

Open Concept

50 Louis Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Matthew Stork

Mike Kelley

UICA

41 Sheldon Boulevard SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Norman Mooney

Jason Hackenwerth

george schmidt

Cyrus Karimipour

Kurt Perschke

Shelly Klein

Fountain Street Church

24 Fountain Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Eric Rattan
Eric Standley

Gerald Ford Museum

303 Pearl St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Jonathan Hils

The Castle

455 Cherry SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

John Clement

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

187 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Stefano Bolcato

Kendall College of Art and Design

17 Fountain St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503l

Jenny Brillhart

Grand Rapids Art Museum

101 Monroe Center
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Mimi Kato

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

11 Sheldon Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Tracy Van Duinen

LaFontsee Galleries/Underground Studio

820 Monroe Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

David Huang

Tags: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Anthony Jackson, Bold Strokes For Art, Charlie Brouwer, Cyrus Karimipour, David Greenwood, David Huang, David Lubbers, Don Simon, elizabeth ivy hawkins, Ellen Margelis, Eric Daigh, Eric Rattan, Eric Standley, Fountain Street Church, george schmidt, georgia donovan, Gerald Ford Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Heidi Van Wieren, Hop Cat, James Foster, Janel Schultz, Jason Hackenwerth, Jason Mack, Jason Ross, Jaye Schlesinger, Jennifer O'Meara, Jenny Brillhart, John Clement, john kleber, Jonathan Hils, Jorge Enrrique Serrano Sanmiguel, Kathleen Kalinowski, Kevin Bourgeois, Kurt Perschke, L.Joel Sanderson, LaFontsee Galleries/Underground Studio, Lisa Simon, Mari-Megan Moore, Mary Brodbeck, Mary Gaynier, maureen nollette, Michael Flynn, Michael Shankman, Michelle Word, Mike Kelley, Mimi Kato, n Sun Kwak, Norman Mooney, Old Federal Building, Patrick Thompson, Peaches Bed and Breakfast, Ran Ortner, Renee Robbins, Rick Beerhorst/Cameron Van Dyke, robin rogers, Sarah Weber, Shelly Klein, Sonjie Feliciano Solomon, Sophie Canadé, Stefano Bolcato, Susan Viskar, The BOB, The Castle, The TangleFoot Building, Tracy Van Duinen, UICA, Victoria Fuller, Wrenay Gomez-Charlton

Handy Dandy ArtPrize Guide – Now in PDF!

Here’s a handy PDF version of the

Totally Unofficial, Utterly Biased, Guide to ArtPrize.

Click and Print!

Tags: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Peaches Bed and Breakfast, UICA

ArtPrize- Registration

This post is in the line of “passing on information.” (It’s really just cut and pasted from their web site.) Hope you find it helpful.

For more help, read my article: How the Heck Do I Vote?

Go to the ArtPrize web site to pre-register starting September 14th!

You must be 16 years or age or older and you must register at the event to vote. You can pre-register on artprize.org (coming Sept 14) and save time activating your voter status at the event.

Voter registration stations will be available throughout the city from September 23-October 7.

Note: All locations have agreed to be open the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 23–Opening Night.

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Ave
M-Su: 9a-6p

ArtPrize Headquarters @ Old Federal
155 N. Division
M-Th: 5p-8p, F-Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-6p

Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline NE
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
111 Pearl NW
M-F: 8:30a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center
M: closed, Tu-Th: 10a-5p, F: 10a-9p, Sa: 10a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Ballet Co.
341 Ellsworth SW
M-Th: 9a-7p, F: 9a-5p, Sa: 9a-1p, Su: closed

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
11 Sheldon NE
M: closed, Tu-W: 9:30a-5p, Th: 9:30a-8p, F-Sa: 9:30a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Community College
Student Community Center off Lyon St
M-F: 8a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Symphony
300 Ottawa NW, Suite 100
M-F: 9a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl NW
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p

GVSU University Bookstore
401 W. Fulton
M-Th: 8a-6p, F: 8a-5p, Sa: 8a-2p, Su: closed

JW Marriott
235 Louis NW
M-Su: 9a-6p

Main Public Library
111 Library NE
M-Th: 9a-9p, F-Sa: 9a-6p, Su: 1p-5p

UICA
41 Sheldon SE
M: 9-8p, Tu-F: 9-10p, Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-7p

Tags: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, ArtPrize, ArtPrize Headquarters @ Old Federal, artPrize Registration, Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Ballet Co., Grand Rapids Children's Museum, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Symphony, GVSU University Bookstore, JW Marriott, Main Public Library, UICA

Branching Out

It never fails. Just when you’re busy with all sorts of stuff that you should be posting on daily, you don’t because you’re too busy doing cool stuff!

My family and I just got back from a vacation at Walt Disney World, the kids just started school, I’m trying to finish a studio full of paintings for myriad show coming up this fall and now I’m headed off to Boston for the long weekend.

So, I thought I’d leave you with a few shots that I took in my studio recently. I’ve been doing a lot with branch forms, and I thought they made such lovely designs when they were all stacked on top of each other.

Have a wonderful weekend, and I promise — next week many posts!

xo

Tags: Boston, branches, studio