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Can't win for losing!
September 21st, 2009
I received a pretty angry voicemail message this morning. I haven't received a call like that in quite some time. The message was from a man who was not at all pleased about a postcard he received from us at GRCF about the two artists we are hosting at our building. He stated that he owns several businesses and that his wife is an artist also part of the competition of ArtPrize. He said that we would likely not receive any gifts from the other artists, their family and friends because of the fact that we are hosting two artists at our venue. Okay . . . got that. But the part that was nasty had to do with his comment that whoever came up with the idea regarding the postcard and the artists should no longer have their job. Well then fire us all! My heavens - why so angry? He said to NOT call him back and that he didn't want any association with us in the future. So to all of the artists who are competing in ArtPrize - to all the families and friends of the artists who are a part of ArtPrize, remember this: we are voters too and that we are all celebrating the importance of the arts and the attraction this competition will have promoting how great Grand Rapids truly is! AND if the piece of art you are entering in ArtPrize receives the number one vote, then congratulations! No amount of promotion - hype - or advertising is going to improve someone's chances if the artwork is not good! Even though the ongoing debate for some (not me!) is whether or not the "general public" has the ability to choose good art. But don't get me started on that one! Here's to a grand competition!
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Where's Ira Glass when you need him?
August 19th, 2009
The arrival of Daan Hoekstra on Monday, August 10th driving in from his home in northern Mexico got me thinking about the great stories that ArtPrize will provide! It is about the art - yes! It is about showing the world our wonderful city - yes! BUT what didn't dawn on me until Daan's arrival and learning a bit about his life, was the richness of the stories that each artist will be bringing to Grand Rapids! Daan is a gifted artist and we are fortunate to be connected with him offering up the east facing exterior wall on the Grand Rapids Community Foundation's building for his beautiful mural. His story is very interesting and I'm sure that more will be learned as the weeks pass. His website shows a bit of his story. This would make for a good entry in This American Life on NPR! And then The Man in the Van Project is rolling this way! The other artist we are hosting is Aaron Heideman who is working on an inspirational project that is quite unique. In fact, his journey is attracting a great deal of interest on the part of people participating in his effort providing their thoughts on the impact that the recession has had on their lives as well as Aaron's own journey. He is traveling across the country in a van that he purchased in his home state of Oregon for $350 and is collecting compelling and heartbreaking stories of how people are coping or NOT coping well in this economic climate. His website provides a glimpse in his life and when he rolls in to Grand Rapids, I'm sure his story will be quite intriguing! So while ArtPrize is about so many things, I am also interested in the stories. What is the motivation behind the artists' decisions to participate in addition to the prize money? How is it that the artists decided to make their creations here? More to be uncovered! What an opportunity!
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Cynicism will slow us down!
May 3rd, 2009
This is a longer entry than usual but worth the time!People who know me well know that I exercise a healthy dose of skepticism when dealing with issues and occasionally I travel down the path of cynicism. I do have a dry sense of humor and I just want it known that I am aware of these traits before this blog entry is read leaving some to shake their heads wondering what has come over me. Some of my staff know that I am growing increasingly weary though of excessive cynicism. There needs to be some trust left on this planet to know that when an idea is thrown into the mix that it deserves consideration and not summarily thrown out.
I will say though that when I am approached by people pitching ideas my antenna do go up when I wonder who is behind the "idea" and what do they ultimately want from The Foundation in addition to the obvious which is funding. This usually occurs when it is not clear who is really doing the promoting.
We all learned a few weeks ago that a big announcement was going to be made that would transform how GR would be perceived and would literally rock the world with the power of the idea. Armed with a dose of Sieger skepticism and cynicism, I awaited the news expecting that it would be the usual hype promoting someone or over promising something.
As the date of the announcement was drawing closer, I read various tweets on Twitter from local artists whom I admire and respect a great deal. These tweets were teasers about the big announcement and while I still had no idea what it was, I tempered my view about what was coming because I so respect these wonderful folks. A confession: I am a lover of art and love our local artists whose work are displayed both in my home and in my office. I am certainly no artist BUT I am not intimidated by what "experts" call important art. I know what I like and that is all that matters and our local artists do create important and great art! While I am not fond of opera as some of my friends will attest, I still am a huge fan of Opera Grand Rapids because of its importance in keeping our area vibrant and attracting audiences who do appreciate it! In other words, all forms of art are so critical to our very being - be it performance art, the visual arts, a beautiful symphony, a piece of jazz that feeds my soul - whatever!
So it was with a more open mind that I awaited the announcement which was to occur at an event on the morning of Thursday, April 23rd by Rick DeVos. I was not able to attend as The Foundation was hosting a Spring Philanthropy Forum with Tom Rogerson, a wealth manager and great speaker, from Bank of New York Mellon! There were two events connected with the forum - the first was a breakfast with professional advisors and then a luncheon program for our donors and prospects. More on this event can be found on our website. I learned about the ArtPrize later that morning and as I greeted our luncheon guests, it was obvious that many people were energized by the news and the possibilities that this arts competition could garner!
I dug through all the news later that day and read how thrilled many people were particularly the artists I follow on Facebook and Twitter! And these people are not pushovers by a long shot! I watched a video that Andy Dragt produced interviewing Rick DeVos, tuned in to an interview with writer/artist Tommy Allen relaying his excitement on local TV news, and was advised by photographer and artist Brian Kelly to not be deterred by the negative comments that inevitably emerged as the hours and days followed after the news hit the streets! Ghastly comments they were!
Reading the Thursday, April 23rd issue of Rapid Growth (RG) was a joy as I was able to view Andy's video. In the following week's edition of RG, Tommy Allen wrote in his G-Sync column words that caught my eye regarding the reaction to the ArtPrize and its importance to Grand Rapids and to artists around the globe. He wrote, "The key is not to be a Monday morning quarterback, but a real player. Judging by the chatter, the playing field is about to become massive."
For those who read this blog from outside of Grand Rapids, it is worth your time to review the ArtPrize link above and here. The website describes this effort as the following:
A radically open art competition, giving away the world's largest art prize. Part arts festival, part social experiment - this international art contest is decided solely on a public vote. Call for entries ends July 31, 2009. Art festival begins Sept. 23, 2009. Come and see.
The entire process is detailed on the website with the handsome sum of $250,000 to be given to the artist whose work is viewed as the best based on public vote. Other financial prizes are to be awarded as well. This is being funded by the family foundation led by Dick and Betsy DeVos who are Rick's parents.
My observation is just this: give this a chance! Watching Rick on West Michigan Week on WGVU-TV, I was impressed by his answers, his demeanor and his humility. We are building a dream and all that is needed is an open mind and a chance to let that dream unfold. Skepticism is an important filter at times. However in this case I think the ArtPrize is worth a shot and let's see where it lands. Hey why NOT?????
Criticism has been leveled by the "establishment" of the art community outside of Grand Rapids and was addressed by Brian Sherwin the Senior Editor of myartspace.com. Here is an excerpt from his blog: "My opinion is that the critics of this competition are stuck in the past and fear change. They fear the same public that they strive to reach out to with their art criticism and exhibit reviews. They don't want the flood gates of the art world to be opened to the public-- while at the same time it is common for these same individuals to complain about how the general public is not interested in art. It is obvious that they want the 'system' to change-- on their terms."
The ArtPrize will help bring attention to our area to inspire innovation. Certainly when GRCF provided $500,000 to InnovationWorks of Right Place, Inc back in October 2008, we took a chance that this program can provide the needed inspiration for entrepreneurs and inventors to stay in West Michigan and develop new businesses and industries. We need to just take action and frankly doing nothing will garner us exactly that. Now is not the time for over planning and being risk averse.
But then just so you know, my filters are not turned off totally! Here's to a more promising future for our community!
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