An Art Guide From Around Heartside: Part 4

The season of ArtPrize has arrived! As Labor Day celebrations wind down, it’s time to build up hype for the next big Grand Rapids festival: ArtPrize 2014.  Prepare for the excitement of ArtPrize by celebrating your favorite events around the community this month which continue to embody an artistic, cultural experience.

Here is a short list of art and community events throughout September happening in, around and beyond the Heartside Neighborhood:

Thur, September 4, 11, 18, 25: Thursday Nights at Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM). Featuring galleries open late and live piano music. Encouraging new and returning visitors to explore galleries and take advantage of tours and other programs (e.g., gallery talks, presentations, demonstrations). FREE general admission GRAM, every Tuesday 10am-5pm, every Thursday 5-9pm.

Sat, September 6: Urban/Rural, Michigan Outlook. Art Opening and LIVE JAZZ at LaFontsee Galleries’ NEW Douglas Location! Come and see “URBAN/RURAL, Michigan Outlook”, a collection of works highlighting Michigan’s diversity, depicted by a group of enormously talented local artists. This FREE event is coinciding on the same day is the annual “Douglas Wine Stroll”. Lafontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Dr., Saturday, 5-8pm.

Sun, September 7, 14, 21, 28: Fulton Street ARTisans Market. Grown since 2005 to be a venue for all kinds of arts, from acrylic to fiber to crafts, all items handmade by local Michigan artists. FREE to enjoy! Fulton St. Artisans Market, every Sunday, 11am-3pm

Sat, September 13: Eastown Street Fair. The Eastown Community Association along with the Eastown Business Association are hosting the 41st Annual Eastown Streetfair. This outdoor festival will take place on along Wealthy Street between Atlas Avenue and Lake Drive and the first few blocks of Ethel Avenue. Streetfair will have fifteen musical performances, dozens of children’s activities, and approximately 100 booths featuring some of Michigan’s finest artists, craftspeople, and non-profits. Eastown Business Association, Wealthy St. between Lake and Giddings, Saturday, 9am-8pm

Sat, September 13: Urban Institute of Contemporary Art’s (UICA) Oddball Lux. Get a first look at “Collaboration”, UICA’s ArtPrize 2014 exhibition. Explore four floors filled with art installations, musical entertainment, and opulent paper gardens, while enjoying libations and edible delights. Ticket price includes a strolling dinner, one drink voucher, and parking. UICA, Saturday, 7-11pm. Members Fee $98.89 | Non-members $125.03

Wed, September 17: ArtPrize on Tap. FLIGHT 5: ArtPrize Like a Pro. We help you craft up your own unique adventure, preview event details on our new Critical Discourse Series and share a refresher course on the "The ArtPrizer's Creed". Founders Centennial Room, Wednesday, 5-8pm. Reserve your spot through Eventbrite (you'll receive a promo code with your invite), Non-members and friends: $10.

Mon, September 29: ArtFan Party. A very special reception created just for ArtFans. This special event will include a viewing of the Juried Awards Shortlist at the state-of-the-art facility Blue 35. The event wouldn't be complete without a special visit from the jurors later in the evening. This event is by invitation only to our ArtFans. Learn more about becoming an ArtFan. Blue 35, 35 Oakes St. SW, Monday, 6:30-9:30pm

Wed, September 24-Sun, October 12: ArtPrize 2014. ArtPrize is a radically open competition. Open to any artist in the world who can find space. Open to anybody in Grand Rapids, Michigan who wants to create a venue. Open to a vote from anyone who attends.Winner is determined by public vote - All attendees of the event can vote. Discover more at www.experiencegr.com/artprize! Downtown Grand Rapids, hours vary

Sat, September 27: “When the Days Become a Moment” Poetry and Dance Performance. Showcased by Hope College .  Time-based weaving of dance, poetry and live music performed by twenty-five student and faculty artists from Hope College.  This original work explores time, memory, and human connection while responding to the landscape and texture of Cathedral Square.  Shifting stage and opportunities for audience interaction invite the viewer to tangibly experience the performanc.  Expected to have 5 poets, 5 musicians, and 15 dancers in their ensemble. Performances expected to last 30 minutes per session. Secchia Piazza, 301 Sheldon Blvd SE, Saturday, 11am and 3pm

Sun, September 28: “Voices of the City” Interfaith Choir Performance.  Hosted by Grand Rapids Diocesan director of liturgical music and 2014 ArtPrize artist Dennis Rybicki, along with the Cathedral Square ArtPrize Team.  Time-based, interfaith, live choir performance event at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral.  ONE time only, free sacred music concert featuring local church choir members and student ensembles from faith based schools in the Grand Rapids area.  300+ member choir will be comprised of individuals from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids Christian High School, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and more.  One of the largest choir performances ArtPrize, and possibly Grand Rapids, will experience!.  There will also be a live feed showing in the 2nd floor gallery of the Cathedral Square Center.  Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 301 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Sunday, 3pm

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*See organization websites for specific details.

Visit www.GRNow.com or ExperienceGR for more events!

One Artist, Five Questions: Jessica Z. Schafer

Engage with new and returning artists before visiting the Cathedral Square venue to see their amazing array of work. Learn about the artists’ personal stories and creative ambitions through five enticing art-related questions.

This week: Jessica Z. Schafer

Jessica Z Schafer, cinephile: trio, 2014, digital photography, 1 x 36 x 11 inches

Jessica arranges triptych installations to mimic the process of developing memories about our relationship to the rhythms of landscapes that shape our lives. Inspired by a lifelong interest in the design of classical films, the images she chooses to display summarize complex narratives within a few stills. Her 2014 entry, “cinephile: trio”, recalls the frames of a filmstrip reworked into a panoramic landscape as a response to the significant rhythms and cohesive patterns of nature.

What is your background?

My serious interest in photography began in high school with a darkroom class. While I majored in History and French language during college, I continued learning as much as possible about photography. Life took its own twists and turns, and I left the aesthetic pursuit of making images for a number of years. More than a decade ago, I landed in an incredible job with a contemporary art museum. Inspired by my position there, as well my work for a local film festival, my enthusiasm for photography and art reignited. For these last 11 years, I have worked behind, in front of, next to, and beyond the camera. My work has been featured in solo shows, highlighted in a number of juried exhibitions and invitational shows, and included in ArtPrize 2011 and 2013. I also express my enthusiasm for the field as an independent curator, arts writer, and community arts advocate in Southeastern Wisconsin.

What themes do you pursue?

The distinct drama injected into a scene by light and shadow––as well as the impact of careful composition­­––informs all of my images. These factors embody the mood and atmosphere inherent to a scene at a particular moment. It is my intent that each photograph is not just a landscape or cityscape, but instead offers a glimpse into a familiar set of memories about recognizable places.

What got you interested in art?

I thank my family for initiating my passion for art. My grandmother brought me to art museums and historical sites as often as possible when I was a child. Each artwork or artifact told a story. Sometimes, she and I would act out the histories together––pretending that we were inside a particular painting or living in another time and place. My grandmother was creative throughout her lifetime. Her guidance and example established my interest in art. My mother continued that tradition, and I hope to one day be as creative as she is every day of her life.

What is your favorite or most inspirational place?

All of my photography is about “place.” I find both familiar and new locations inspire my work, allowing me to tell a story about a moment. Walking through cities, towns, and natural areas is always the first step in my creative process. I do a whole lot of walking and careful looking. As I move through these spaces, I begin to see pleasing forms, patterns, and repetitions. From these elements, I make photographs intended to capture emotion and meaning about the scenes depicted. For these reasons, any place I photograph may become my favorite for a period of time.

What memorable responses have you received for your work?

Any time that a viewer tells me that my images remind them of a treasured memory, I am delighted, since that is my dearest goal in making photographs.

Discover more about Jessica Z Schafer’s work: http://jessicaz.yolasite.com/

Slow Art: ArtPrize at the Catholic Information Center

Sometimes people feel like they just don’t have enough time during ArtPrize to slow down and enjoy the art. Slow Art at the Catholic Information Center (CIC), located on the 2nd floor of the Cathedral Square Center, gives visitors the opportunity to relax and spend time seeing art in the venue at a comfortable pace. After viewing, staff and visitors meet with a guest artist, enjoy lunch, and talk about impressions of the art. 

During Slow Art, people get “inspired, not tired!”

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Slow Art and Lunch with Sandi Lummen:

"August Field", Sandi Lummen, 2014, oil painting, 2 x 48 x 36 in.

Sandi Lummen is a retired art professor from Kendall College of Art and Design, where she taught color, design and composition for 25 years. Sandi has a strong appreciation and connection to the land. With her knowledge of growing up on a farm, surrounded by fields, orchards, ponds and trees, she uses her skills and experience to simplify the forms she sees in nature.

View Sandi’s artwork and other art pieces on exhibit in the Cathedral Square Showcase Venue, enjoy lunch, and share in a discussion with Sandi and the CIC.

Friday, September 26, 11am-1pm. Cost: $10, lunch included.

*Lunch is provided but RSVP required. Please call 616-459-7267.

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Slow Art and Lunch with Jean Allemeier Boot:

"In the Exchange of Echoes", Jean Allemeier Boot, 2014, intaglio prints, 3 x 27 x 48 in.

Jean Allemeier Boot has been dedicated to drawing and printmaking since she received her BFA in studio art from Aquinas College. She currently focuses on intaglio and monotype printmaking processes. Jean makes landscapes and the natural world her subject matter. Her connection with nature goes back to her initial interest in biology and pursuit of a career in the medical field, working in a microbiology laboratory.

View Jean’s artwork and other art pieces on exhibit at Cathedral Square, enjoy lunch, and share in a discussion with Jean and the CIC.

Monday, September 29, 11am-1pm. Cost: $10, lunch included.

*Lunch is provided but RSVP required. Please call 616-459-7267.

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In addition to the art on display, the CIC is offering several “Art and Religion” themed educational programs during ArtPrize. Click here for more information: CIC Fall Programs

One Artist Five Questions: Sr. Lucianne Siers

Engage with new and returning artists before visiting the Cathedral Square venue to see their amazing array of work. Learn about the artists’ personal stories and creative ambitions through five enticing art-related questions.

This week: Sr. Lucianne Siers

Sr. Lucianne Siers, Dancing In Life, 2014, alabaster stone 

Sr. Lucianne Siers, OP, has been a teacher, pastoral minister and most recently, serves in a leadership position. She has had the opportunity to study art with excellent sculptors who have mentored her work in stone over the years. She is a Dominican Sister and has the opportunity to share her work in stone in a variety of venues and activities.

What themes do you pursue?

I choose to pursue more contemplative figures in stone.  I desire that my pieces have a form that moves, but not too much.  I desire to make the stone smooth and able to be touched so that the viewer can experience the material that has been shaped for viewing.

What got you interested in art?

I have always loved art, but really never considered myself an artist until I was in my late 40s.  I had the opportunity to take classes that led me to carving stone.  I fell in love with making human forms in stone.  It is a very satisfying activity to find what is in the stone and carve it out so that others can see it and enjoy it.

What is your preferred medium and why?

My preferred medium is carving alabaster. This stone will eventually turn into marble within several thousand years.  Alabaster is a soft and sturdy stone and it is so beautiful.  There are many different colors of alabaster, but I prefer white alabaster with the black and grey veins that run through it.  It is a Michigan stone.  

What is the hardest step in creating work?

The hardest step for me in creating work is finding the time and space to do it.  I need to work outside and so the winter months are really difficult because it is too cold to work outside.  My desire is to find a good space and the time to work regularly on some project during the cold Michigan winter!

What is integral to the work of an art

What is integral to me is to have the contemplative space to think deeply about what is going on in me and around me.  I need time to get deeply into the a place where my mind is clear of worry or confusion.  In other words, I need to be focused and uncluttered before I attempt to carve.  Getting deep into the stone and engaging only with what is before me is a way that I am able to bring forth what is hidden in the stone, and unconsciously bringing forth something hidden inside of me.

Learn more about Sr. Lucianne Siers as an artist: http://www.artprize.org/lucianne-siers

Heartside ArtPrize: 2014 venues along E. Fulton

There are 59 ArtPrize venues in the Heartside Neighborhood, including Cathedral Square, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA), Grand Rapids Brewing Co. and Van Andel Arena. In the last Heartside ArtPrize post, we highlighted prominent venue locations along S. Division Ave, starting from our own showcase venue. Because Cathedral Square marks the southern border of the ArtPrize territory, it serves as an ideal starting point for any ArtPrize trek.

In this post, starting again from Cathedral Square, we will explore a route that takes us along E. Fulton Street to end up right in the center of the downtown art experience.

1) This list starts with Cathedral Square. Begin your ArtPrize expedition in our venue on the second floor of Cathedral Square Center. Enjoy art which embodies rhythm as a compositional device and subject matter, and don’t miss the captivating live time-based performances, new this year to our venue! // 360 S. Division

2) Pass through the Square's gardens down the meandering walkways that cross the Cathedral of Saint Andrew and venture north on Sheldon Blvd to the ArtPrize HUB. Here you can find maps, event guides, wristbands for unlimited bus rides, the ArtPrize shop and free WiFi. // 41 Sheldon SE

3) Sheldon is not only the way to the ArtPrize HUB, but also Echo Salon, with multiple large windows, curved wall and an overhang that runs the length of the salon to nourish their passion for all things artistic. // 24 Sheldon SE

4) Next, head two blocks over to enjoy the art at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Acknowledging the importance of nurturing community within the congregation and the neighborhood, Westminster will focus on art works which reflect the ideas of community, spirit and personality of the artist. // 47 Jefferson SE

5) The next stop on your ArtPrize route lands at Cottage Bar, on La Grave Ave. Cottage Bar is the oldest pub in Downtown Grand Rapids, home to many regulars, those involved in the theatre, area church choirs and a group of writers and artists. It's charming pub like atmosphere is like a comfy old slipper that many come "home" to. // 18 La Grave SE

6) As you come to East Fulton Street, don’t miss Palatte Coffee & Art. Palatte offers delicious coffee and espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, plus smoothies, hot and iced teas, sweet pastries. And a wide variety of paintings and photographs by local artists. // 150 E. Fulton

7) Next, be sure to visit One Trick Pony. This grill/taproom is located in the theatre district, right across the street from St. Cecilia's, an Exhibition Center. It is the venue of choice for local musicians who play there every Thursday night, and a favorite dining place delivering something to suit anyone's tastes. Their "one trick"....is hospitality! // 136 E. Fulton

8) The tour continues with Acton Institute, in the Acton Building. The Acton Building is a creative and visual jewel. Completely restored and renovated and home to the Acton Institute and West Michigan Center for Art and Technology. Featuring an ArtPrize winning mural on the east exterior wall. The art exhibit is surrounded by a visually stunning environment. // 98 E. Fulton

9) The final stop on this tour before you venture into the Center City District will be the building of TowerPinkster Architects | Engineers. The location, 4 East Fulton, sits in the heart of Grand Rapids at the head of the Avenue of the Arts (intersection of Fulton & Division). Its location directly across from the UICA, making the building a prime location for artists. TowerPinkster recently restored this venue to its original, art deco style. // 4 E. Fulton

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For more exploration of Cathedral Square and the Heartside Neighborhood, “like” our Facebook page:

ArtPrize at Cathedral Square

One Artist, Five Questions: Zach Mory

Engage with new and returning artists before visiting the Cathedral Square venue to see their amazing array of work. Learn about the artists’ personal stories and creative ambitions through five enticing art-related questions.

This week: Zach Mory

Zach Mory, 25 Circles and Diamonds, 2014, graphite on paper series, 21 x 21 inches each

New to our venue, Zach’s work has come to focus on the abstract and non-objective possibilities of drawing. Mory’s 2014 graphite entry, “25 Circles and Diamonds”, is a series of precise, repeating movements on paper that culminate into varying graphite designs. His intention behind the process is to distinctly follow the given rules associated with each piece in the series, where no two outcomes are the same. While his initial ideas generally experience natural distortion, the challenges and rewards of his process reflect an illusion of control, a balance of human influence, and a sentiment that we are as ingrained with the kinetic outer world as our own inner rhythms.

What themes do you pursue?

First off, my practice revolves around drawing. In my case, I think the media informs the process. That in turn informs the themes I'm interested in. Because I draw in a particular way (borderline obsessive mark-making) this seems to align me with minimalism, though I’m not huge on labels. Basically, I am interested in systems, labor, mark making, process and drawing. Though to be fair, I do have another body of work that is more illustrative in nature with nods to underground comics, psychedelic art, outsider art, medieval manuscripts, and post-modern myth making.

What got you interested in art?

My artistic influences started at a young age. While growing up, I always loved building things with Construx and copying my favorite comic book characters and baseball card profiles. My uncle owned a comic book distribution company in Madison, WI and he would inundate my siblings and me with all sorts of strange and fantastic comics…mainstream stuff as well as graphic novels that kids of 10 or 11 probably shouldn’t have been reading. My older brother is a cinema fanatic and I spent a lot of times watching great films that he would dig out of the crevices. Movies and comics played a huge role in my love of all things visual. When I went to college, I went in as an art major and spent a lot of time taking life-drawing classes. I think I took eight semesters worth in total as an undergrad. I learned a lot from a technical perspective, especially from Bob Schultz, who is absolutely amazing when it comes to life drawing. Slowly my interest veered away from life drawing and into non-objectivity, but the technical chops and work ethic stayed on and really defined the trajectory of my work in the future.

What is your preferred medium and why?

I love graphite and am comfortable with it, so it has become my main vehicle of choice. The nature of creating works with graphite from a pencil (as opposed to powdered graphite or charcoal where you can cover large areas more quickly) requires a substantial amount of labor in order to get the desired results. Part of me not deviating away from a pencil tip or marker nib stems from pure stubbornness (I have zero interest in painting, for instance), but that familiarity with the media has opened the door to the underlying questions that really inform my work. The Sisyphean nature of my work brings to the forefront existential themes about how we define meaning in our lives.

What is the hardest step in creating work?

With the way I work, starting is never really an issue. I usually have about 10-15 future drawings always on queue in my head. The hardest part for me is time. My work, by design, takes a long, long time to create. This means I have to get really creative with my time, often getting up and out the door by 5 on the weekdays to get drawing time in before work and then finding whatever time I can in the evening and on the weekends. Finding time, especially with a three month old baby, is a bit tricky...but I like the challenge.

What is integral to the work of an artist?

Solitude. Conversely, it’s just as important to have lots of people to discuss work with, or at least a few trusted people with whom you can be unashamedly honest. There has to be a balance of both things.

Connect with Zach Mory and his art: http://zachmory.com/

Cathedral Square Needs YOU: Volunteer opportunity

Hello Friends!

ArtPrize at Cathedral Square is fast approaching. We've been busy preparing for another great exhibit, but we can’t make it happen without you! We heartily welcome our returning volunteers. And if you’ve thought about joining the ArtPrize experience but haven't yet, volunteering is a great way to get involved. Just as in past years, our venue needs helpful people for two important roles: greeting visitors and assisting with voter registration.

To see volunteer details and opportunities, please click the link below. If you've volunteered with us before, on the Sign-Up Genius welcome page, click Login from the upper right corner and sign in using your previously-created login credentials. If you're new to the site, click Join to create your volunteer account. Then, register for the days and shifts when you are available. Choose the volunteer role that best suits you. 

Click Here to Volunteer: ArtPrize at Cathedral Square 2014 Volunteer Sign-Up

* If the link above does not work, please visit www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org, click on the “ArtPrize” headline and follow the volunteer sign-up link.

If you have questions, contact Dustin Coon at artprize@dioceseofgrandrapids.org or call 616-246-0591. Your support will help the Diocese of Grand Rapids be a successful part of this great community event!

Sincerest thanks!

Your 2014 ArtPrize at Cathedral Square Team

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Don’t forget about Volunteer Orientation! We will provide job descriptions and general information. This 1-hour training session is required for all volunteers to prepare for your role during ArtPrize at Cathedral Square 2014. Click HERE for quick sign-up!

Dates for Volunteer Orientation: 
Mon 9/8, 6-7pm; 
Wed 9/10, 6-7pm; 
Sat 9/13, 10-11pm

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Cathedral Square Showcase Venue Hours of Operation:

Opening Day 9am-8pm // Monday - Friday 9am-8pm

Saturday 10am-8pm // Sunday 10am-6pm

(Volunteer shifts start at 10am each day)

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Visit the ArtPrize website to learn more about volunteer orientation, benefits and reminders: artprize.org/get-involved/volunteers/