Red Thread is in the ArtPrize Top Ten…

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Red Thread

Red Thread, photo by stevedontsurf.

The Top 10 entries for ArtPrize have been announced! Click that link to see them all on Absolute Michigan and also to check out interviews with the finalists. Voting ends next Thursday and you can still head to ArtPrize in Grand Rapids to see the finalists and 1700+ more works of art!

Here’s the lowdown on Red Thread by Beili Liu (one of my personal favorites):

The ancient Chinese legend of the red thread tells that when children are born, invisible red threads connect them to the ones whom they are fated to be with. Over the years of their lives they come closer and eventually find each other, overcoming the distance between, and cultural and social divides.

Inspired by this legend, the installation makes use of thousands of hand spiraled coils of red thread suspended from the ceiling of the gallery. A disk may be connected to another, as a “couple”, and each pair is made from a single thread. Every coil is pierced in the center by a sewing needle, which enables the suspension of the disks from the ceiling.

Check this photo out background bigtacular and in Steven’s ArtPrize 9/26/10 slideshow.

Tons more ArtPrize on Absolute Michigan!

ArtPrize 2010 Flickr Contest

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Prizing the art

Prizing the art, photo by tinney.

ArtPrize is holding a photo contest for photos added to the ArtPrize Flickr group. Click that link for the details and submit your photos to any or all of the following categories for a chance to win prizes!

  • installed art
  • public reactions/interaction with art
  • venues
  • artists
  • events (any ArtPrize related event)
  • voting (all forms)

Check Dustin’s photo out bigger and check out the ArtPrize 2010 slideshow on Flickr.

Much more ArtPrize on Absolute Michigan!

Would the Loch Ness Monster be considered an invasive species?

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The Loch Ness Monster

The Loch Ness Monster, photo by Eridony.

Because the Emerald Ash Borer isn’t very photogenic, we’re taking a break from Invasive Species Week to bring you a reminder of another kind of invasion that’s about to descend on Michigan: the fabulous Grand Rapids ArtPrize! 2009 brought all kinds of incredible sights to the city, including the Nessie Project. See a bunch of them in our ArtPrize Video from 2009.

ArtPrize starts next Wednesday (September 22) and continues through October 10th. We will once again be On Location with Absolute Michigan, and we encourage you to attend and to share your photos from ArtPrize in the Absolute Michigan pool and also to the ArtPrize Promotion Group for anyone who wants to share their photos & video of ArtPrize installations and the accompanying hoopla with bloggers and online media outlets.

Be sure to check this out monstrously massive and see it and many more in Brandon’s ArtPrize slideshow!

Grand Rapids gets ready for ArtPrize 2010

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Face Paint
Face Paint, photo by TerryJohnston.

Last year ArtPrize in Grand Rapids launched and was the most successful art event in Michigan’s history, attracting 200,000 visitors to see the work of over 1000 artists in every media from fine art to paper airplanes. In 2009, Absolute Michigan was on location for ArtPrize and I have to say that it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life to see this city transformed into a giant gallery teeming with active, engaged crowds of people looking this way and that, trying to take in a mind-boggling amount of art.

In 2010 the format will be the same, with artists submitting a single entry at venues all over the city, all vying for the votes of those who attend and the $250,000 1st place prize. Absolute Michigan will be back to cover the event, and I sincerely hope you can make the time to go to Grand Rapids and experience ArtPrize.

Terry took this photo of 2010 ArtPrize artist Jeff Zimmermann at the Kendall College of Art & Design. More in his Jeff Zimmerman slideshow and also stay tuned to Terry’s art prize 2010 slideshow for many more photos as ArtPrize gets rolling!

PS: Be sure to stay tuned to ArtPrize in the Absolute Michigan pool and add photos if you take them. Here’s the ArtPrize 2009 video we did last year from some of the pics we received!

Slip and Slide … down Lyon Street in Grand Rapids

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Slip and Slide 1

Slip and Slide 1, photo by JSmith Photo.

Rob Bliss writes:

For the weekend of August 21th-22nd, Lyon St. will be shut down in heart of Grand Rapids, during which time the worlds largest inflatable water slide (500ft) will be constructed in the middle of the street in downtown Grand Rapids at NO COST to ride.

this is NOT a slip n slide! This is a fully inflatable, $30,000 WATER SLIDE, and is completely safe and approved by the City of Grand Rapids to be safe for public usage. Its all in…flatable vinyl and half a foot off the ground, it’ll be like riding on air. YOU MUST WEAR A BATHING SUIT.

Running Saturday and Sunday from 8AM-10PM on Aug 21st-22nd, this nearly two football field long, dual-laned, 10 ft. drop water slide will run COMPLETELY FREE and open to all. This slide was built in California and is professionally managed by ACP Entertainment. Whats most exciting is that by only being used once a year, this event will be able to be repeated for over 20 years to come, continuing to build in length each year!

Over 9000 people are already attending – head over to Facebook to be one of them!

Check this out bigger or in Jeffrey’s slideshow.

Chillin’

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Chillin'

Chillin’, photo by docksidepress.

It’s been a long time since I added to the Michigan in Pictures Duckie Project. It’s been so hot that I think I want to join that little guy in the pool!

View this background bigtacular or in Matt’s August ’10 Grand Rapids slideshow.

Hope you’re finding ways to chill – share them in the comments below!

Grand Rapids is a winner

Posted on by farlane

crossroads
crossroads, photo by pentax hammer (gary syrba)

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce BCLC & Siemens have named Grand Rapids, MI the most sustainable mid-size community in America. Grand Rapids was selected based on efforts to achieve complementary economic, environmental and social goals, as well as to improve the overall quality of life within the city.

See this photo bigger in Gary’s In the City (Grand Rapids) slideshow and connect with Grand Rapids photographers and photos of Grand Rapids in the Grand Rapids, Michigan group on Flickr!

Grand Rapids Founding Day Parade, May 1, 2010

Posted on by farlane

NOTE: This event has been CANCELLED!


Grand Rapids, 1915, photo by Kenneth Spencer

Grand Rapids cruise director Rob Bliss has launched the latest in a series of events, the Grand Rapids Founding Day Parade (view poster). The first annual of this event happens May 1, 2010 and he writes:

May 1st will be the 160th Anniversary of the Founding of Grand Rapids, and to mark that day I am putting on a large scale parade and celebration. Floats, marching bands, and retro cars will all be involved in making this day great.

$5,000 Float Competition: $5,000 will be given away to the best float, decided by a public vote. Anyone can enter a float and be in the parade and possibly win this prize, and there is no entry fee. All floats must have some connection to the greater Grand Rapids area (includes lowell, caledonia, etc.) but are very open ended. A local band playing local music on a float stage would apply! Dance party on the blue pedestrian bridge as a float would work. Whatever idea you have will most likely work.

…This parade is decided by a public vote, with paper voting taking place at the end of the parade, near the Grand Rapids Library and Veterans Memorial. Mayor Heartwell will be speaking to the crowd following the event.

This exciting new community event works to celebrate and to continue to push our city forward. Very few citizens know when their hometown was founded; come downtown and help celebrate our community.

This photo from the Library of Congress is available as a stunning panorama which I hope you get a chance to see. You may also want to explore the photographic history of Grand Rapids through the photographs from the Grand Rapids Historical Commission’s online archive!

Michigan Events in April are Dillys

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Dillys

Dillys, photo by docksidepress.

“In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.”
~Mark Twain

Every month Absolute Michigan posts a Michigan Event Calendar, and the month of April is no exception. In addition to Tax Day (boo!), Earth Day (yay!), Opening Day (Monday!) and April Fool’s Day (yesterday!), April has a bunch of great events.

Some highlights are the National Trout Festival in Kalkaska, Vermontville’s venerable 69th Maple Syrup Festival (and the whippersnapper 51st Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival), the Blossomtime Festival in St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Bellaire’s Great Lakes Art Fair the Detroit Music Awards, the Green Street Fair in Plymouth and the Michigan International Wine Expo in Novi.

April is also Michigan Wine Month and you’ll want to stay tuned to Absolute Michigan for all kinds of Michigan wine-related giveaways & features!

Be sure to check this out bigger and in Matt’s April ’09 Grand Rapids set (slideshow).

Hipstamatic at Aman Park

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

aman park

aman park, photo by abigail burch.

The city of Grand Rapids says that the 331-acre Aman Park is located on Lake Michigan Drive, about 6 miles west of the city and has six self-guided trails. They take you from the succession of plants to a mature, climax forest.

Regarding the photo, Abigail took it with her favorite app, Hipstamatic, which is also my favorite cameraphone app. You may remember the Hipstamatic camera.

Check this out in her Nature set (slideshow).