ArtPrize Nine Preview Week offers chance to see work before voting begins
Many ArtPrize venues will have their exhibitions ready for the public to visit early, from September 13 through September 19. See the shipping container muralists and other artists in action as they diligently prepare their works.
Not a fan of crowds but a big fan of experiencing art? Just want more time to see it all? There are, after all, 175 venues participating this year for the over 500,000 people we expect will attend, if last year’s numbers are any indicator. Whatever your reason for wishing you could do some “ArtPrizing” now, you’re in luck. Preview Week starts today.
An addition to programming that officially started last year, ArtPrize Nine kicks off with Preview Week starting on September 13 and going through September 19. This gives visitors a chance to see exhibitions, meet artists, and attend events across downtown Grand Rapids. Visitors can beat the crowds to exhibits at venues like Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Ladies Literary Club, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) The Fed Galleries @ KCAD, and more during this week. Unlike the official ArtPrize days, when entrance to all venues is free, museum entrance fees may still apply during Preview Week.
Along with getting a chance to visit venues, visitors to downtown have a good probability of catching artists installing or even creating their work during this week. One example is the shipping container murals that will be placed in four well-trafficked areas for well-known street artists to paint—and those shipping containers will be painted this weekend.
So get downtown, beat the crowds, meet the artists. It’s Preview Week!
Just a few items to add to your week of exploring before the crowds:
EQUITY NOT EQUALITY: At the Ladies Literary Club (61 Sheldon Blvd SE), the exhibition by local artist Eliza Fernand opens to the public starting September 13.
Gerald R. Ford Museum: ArtPrize Nine Exhibition Open- Museum admission applies for indoor art.
Painting Live at Manic Muse: Watch Marsha Lucas as she prepares her abstract works live.
The Fed Galleries @ KCAD opened August 29 and presents a series of work this year around the them “Society of Spectacle.”
Artist Meet and Greet at Arnie’s located at 722 Leonard St NW. Talk with a few artists about their work from 6-8 p.m. on September 14.
Meet the Artist Open House at J.Gardella’s Tavern on 11 Ionia Ave SW. Dr Krusynski’s will talk about her quilted work “Reaching Upward” from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on September 14.
Looking for more events to see during Preview Week? Stop by the ArtPrize Nine Preview Week page to see a list of all the available venues and events happening during Preview Week, September 13–19.
