ArtPrize 2023 is now going in Grand Rapids through Oct. 1. Kendall College of Art
and Design and Ferris State University are now playing a larger role in this major
event.
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University is playing a leading role in ArtPrize 2023, hosting exhibits and celebrating student, faculty, staff and alumni contributions in the nationally known competition that stretches throughout the city.
KCAD is set to bring fresh perspectives and creativity to the forefront of the international artist competition as part of the new public/private partnership alongside the city of Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. The event starts today (Thursday, Sept. 14) and runs through Sunday, Oct. 1.
“KCAD has been a proud supporter of ArtPrize since it began in 2009, and we are delighted to be an integral part of the new iteration,” said KCAD President and ArtPrize Steering Committee member Tara McCrackin. “I encourage everyone to seize this opportunity to explore our city during ArtPrize, celebrate creativity and art in all its forms, and engage in opportunities to connect with artists and the conversations ArtPrize stimulates.”
The college’s diverse and dynamic presence includes more than 30 KCAD-connected participating artists, along with competition jurors and project staff, interns, and volunteers. A complete guide to discover everywhere KCAD community members are involved is available here.
KCAD is one of the 153 ArtPrize venues, presenting the on-campus exhibition, “Architecture of Being.” The exhibition offers visitors an engaging exploration of the intricate relationship between human creations and the spaces they inhabit.
Through a curated collection of artworks, “Architecture of Being” delves into the multifaceted nature of the built environment, ranging from immediate ideas of architectural spaces and material permanence to generational belonging and temporality. The works on display offer diverse perspectives and mediums, including painting, sculpture, installation, and multimedia presentations.
"Say It Loud - Beyond the Build Environment" celebrates the contributions of diverse
designers and advocates for equitable built environments and communities. This iteration
of the Say It Loud exhibition—a traveling activation that elevates women and BIPIOC
designers—was organized in collaboration with AIA Grand Rapids and AIA Southwest Michigan.
“Architecture of Being” includes the works of six individual artists—including Brooke Holm, Aryel René Jackson, Roberto Jackson Harrington, Cary Okoro, Mandy Cano Villalobos and Chris Vorhees.
It also includes a collaboration with the American Institute for Architects. Grand Rapids and Southwest Michigan chapters to present the "Say It Loud" exhibit. This traveling activation celebrates the work and identities of local, diverse design professionals.
Visitors can explore the exhibition on the first floor of KCAD's main campus building located at 17 Fountain St. NW. KCAD invites high school student groups to visit for a campus tour and guided viewing of the “Architecture of Being” exhibition during ArtPrize 2023. Group tours are available by request at kcad.edu/artprize.
The show is open to the public Monday through Thursday, 1 to 8 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Kendall’s presence can be felt throughout the event. The West Michigan Honda Dealers have partnered with KCAD to present the new “Paint My Ride Student Showcase.”
This showcase features KCAD students painting live on Honda vehicles during the opening weekend near Rosa Parks Circle. On Sept. 29, finalists will be awarded $1,500 in compensation for their artistry. The vehicles will be displayed in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids on Monroe Center Drive adjacent to Rosa Parks Circle and the GRAM for the entirety of ArtPrize.
In collaboration with ArtPrize and Cultivate, KCAD will host free portfolio reviews for local creative college students on Sept. 26 from 2-4pm and Sept. 27 from 4-6pm. Local professionals in the fields of art and design will be in-person on the KCAD campus to provide constructive reviews. Students must register to attend and will be connected with a reviewer on a first come, first served basis.
ArtPrize this year features 648 installations spread across 153 venues. More than 800 artists from 15 countries and 30 states will vie for $400,000 in prizes across Public Vote and Juror Competition categories. ArtPrize attendees age 13 and older can participate in the Public Vote competition by casting their votes for their favorite pieces as a registered visitor on ArtPrize.org. Voting takes place in-person and/or via the site's voting platform.
For more information about “Architecture of Being” and KCAD’s involvement in ArtPrize 2023, please visit kcad.edu/artprize.