American Idol for the Arts: Art Prize

// January 14th, 2010 // b-scene // Jane

At $250,000, Art Prize offers the single largest cash prize for artists. They are based out of Grand Rapids….Michigan. Random? Yes. But it is such a democratic way to show art —  any artist emerging or established can submit work and the winner is determined by public vote. We’re all art critics now. In this case “good” art really is in the eye of the beholder. Popular opinion is the vote that counts. American Idol for the arts. I can hear the grand poobahs already – Ah plebian, no historical relevance, derivative, well here’s 2009′s winner. What do you think?

Last year’s winner Ran Ortner’s Open Water No. 24

It works a bit differently than other art contests. Venues in Grand Rapids register to be a hosting site for a piece of art work—they choose what artists they would like to exhibit. The artists register and submit their work online—for a $50 registration fee—and wait to be selected. The more venues there are, the more artists that will be shown. All it costs the artist is $50 and a shipping fee to send work to Michigan. Contest starts September 22nd and goes through October 10th 2010.

Top ten artists receive a prize

Before the invention of the internet (did the world exist before internet??) a prize like this might only apply to artists in the Midwestern part of the United States or might not have happened at all.  Sponsored by Rick DeVos, Amway family scion, it most likely would have involved the inevitable curator/museum director/ critic suggested submission and boom the art world machine would have created an immediate barrier. The online web world is tearing those barriers down and now a $250,000 artprize is available for all artists, even if they hadn’t the opportunity to catch Jay Jopling’s attention while at Goldsmith’s. The art world just got a lot more fun. So they can poo poo us online art mavericks but the reality is for $250,000 even a Goldsmith’s graduate will take a chance. Jump on the merry go round because the ride’s just begun….

Last year’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners:

  • I think the size thing was just an matter of visiblity. For example, I can't tell you how many times I would hear people say, "did you see the huge table on the bridge?" or "did you see the huge dragon in the river?" These pieces were visible by everyone as they went about the city. Not to mention, those are the pieces that captured the news cameras and newspaper photographers. (See photo 1 above as a perfect example of what I mean) Also, since the "success" of your artwork was determinded by the number votes, many artists just held outright marketing campaigns that would draw attention to their pieces. This happened for about two weeks leading up to ArtPrize and then during the entire time it was going on. Almost every day I would here an interview with some artist who was doing something to draw attention to thier piece. With all that said, as a Grand Rapids resident, it was a wonderful experience to walk around the city and see so much art. It was also nice to see an entire city and all the surrounding suburbs interested in art and talking about it and thinking about it. (I mean this is Michigan!) As a competition, there are many things that could be fixed for sure. Many of the artists I have talked with, were not entirely pleased with the entire process. However, at the end of the day, I can't help but think how wonderful it is to get people out and focused on art. This in itself is good for us all. As an artist and a Grand Rapids resident, I have no intention of exhibiting in ArtPrize. As a lover of art, I look forward to future ArtPrize competitions, where I can wander around the city and look at all different kinds of art and find happiness in knowing that there is still a desire to explore the creative spirit.
  • Nice painting--the one that won the prize. Looks like they deserved it too. I sent a small piece to the fair (as a life experience mostly, and 50 of my post cards to self-promote). But it was clear early on that the fair was for BIG art. Installations received extra attention right away, before the fair opened.
    Everyone participating received lots of e-updates months before the fair opened to the public.
    After the fair the gallery returned my small painting via the ground prepaid FedEX bill I had enclosed ($10 ), so when FedEx billed me $55. I thought it was a mistake and called them.
    The gallery had slapped on an express sticker and I didn't need that, since I live only a couple hundred miles from Grand Rapids. FedEx reversed the charges back to the gallery, but I will no doubt end up paying the $55. I just wanted to let the gallery know how much they stuck me for unexpectedly. My point is that if you have big art to enter into the fair expect to pay some high fees--I don't know the amount but heard a rumor that someone paid $900. to exhibit a large scale sculpture at the Fair. The artists are footing the bill and so the Art Prize Fair needs to be reorganized IMO...
  • janesclifford
    Thanks for the information Marie, it's great to hear a first hand account from someone who actually participated. Just out of curiosity, where was your work exhibited? Because it seems (from the website) that the venues that take part can be anything, and not all art world related.

    For example a restaurant could be a hosting venue for exhibiting. These people may not know how to ship art or handle it properly, nor would they know the proper etiquette when dealing with an artist. But it seems like bad behavior on the part of your particular venue...
  • Open Source Gallery, in Grand Rapids exhibited my small painting during the Art Prize Fair
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