In Grand Rapids for the Art Prize

After a few diversions, I finally made it to Grand Rapids to catch the Art Prize.  Art Prize is an annual art contest that is open to anyone.  The top prize in the contest is $200,000 and some of the prizes are awarded by vote.  The first one was in 2009.

 Since I just wandered outside, I only saw the sculptures.  I didn't know where to get a form to vote, so I didn't vote on any of the works, nor do I know much about the art except for what I like.

 Grand Rapids was first settled by Ottawa Indians around 1700.  The first European settlers arrived in the early 1800's.  The town itself was founded in 1826.  The railroad would come in 1858 and was the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad.  The city itself is the second largest in Michigan and has a pretty diverse industry base.  It was the home of former President Gerald Ford.

 I thought this was a piece of art at first and then I realized it was a food truck.

 I kind of liked this sculpture of a jet made out of junkyard parts.  There was a sign nearby that was pretty cool as well.

 I kind of liked the looks of this Porsche passing through town.

 I thought this was just a parked Mercedes but it turns out that it was art.  I kind of liked it.

 This is St. Mark's Episcopal Church.  The parish traces its roots back to 1836 and as such is probably one of the earliest churches in the city.  Built in 1848, this is the oldest public building in Grand Rapids.

 I kind of liked the look of this mural.

 I tried to get some pictures of some of the buildings but I still need to work with my newer lens.

 I really liked the looks of this staircase.

 So I tried looking up....

 And then decided it would look good in black and white.

 I think I like this shot the best.

 Looking down one of Grand Rapids' streets.

 Looking up at a building.

 I kind of liked the looks of this mural on the side of the building.

 I really liked the reflections of the buildings in Van Andel Arena.    Van Andel is the home of the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey Team which is the farm team for the Detroit Red Wings.  They play in the American Hockey League.

 This bridge was decorated with these streamers.  Since I love truss bridges, I had to take a picture.  I suspect this used to be a railroad bridge.

 As I was crossing the bridge.

 I really liked this in the Grand River.  I'm pretty sure that every flag was different.

 Looking at the bridge from another angle.

 Looking at the buildings and flags from another angle.

 A giant fish.

 Another shot.

 I think this may be a Marshall Fredericks sculpture, but I'm not sure.

 The flags, bridge and another building.

 A closeup of the flags.

 Another angle of the flags.

 I'm not sure if this was a permanent piece of art or one for the show, but I did like it.

 A duck that you could pull on.

 A doghouse.

 A one man band.

 Looking down the Grand River.  One of these days, I'm going to take Grand River Boulevard from Detroit out ot Grand Rapids.

 Looking down the street.

 I really liked the look of this building.

 I really liked this sculpture.  For a second, I thought it was some guy in a body suit.

 A granite sculpture.

 Another one by the same artist.

 Looking down the street.

Evidently, my mom knows the guy that did this sculpture.

I kind of wish I would have gone inside of some of the buildings because I would have seen more of the artwork but there were way too many people to really enjoy it.  Besides, it was a nice enough day for a walk around town.  One of these days, I will head back out to Grand Rapids for more thorough picture taking.