Here & Now: Event Updates for ArtPrize at Cathedral Square

After nearly a week of ArtPrize festivities, we have compiled various photos and links to events and guest experiences during ArtPrize at Cathedral Square thus far:

*Promotion for two of our time-based entries*

Voices of the City:

Crowds of people filled the Cathedral of Saint Andrew to overflowing on Sept. 28 for Voices of the City, a 300 + member interfaith choir performance. This ArtPrize entry in the time-based category was organized by Dennis Rybicki, director of liturgical music for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, and hosted by ArtPrize at Cathedral Square.

If you missed the live performance, we invite you to watch the video on our website. If you like what you hear, we encourage you to vote! Please also share this page on social media with your friends and family using #VoicesoftheCity.

Here is a link with a video recep of the choir event: Voices of the City Choir Event

The Voices of the City ArtPrize Vote Code is 56635.

When the Days Become a Moment:

Angela Yetzke, choreographer and assistant professor of dance at Hope College * Rob Kenagy, poet, musician and visiting assistant professor of English at Hope College * Jamie Kreindler, choreographer and Hope College Dance alum * Student performers of Hope College

Performance Times and Location: Saturday, September 27 and Saturday, October 4, 11am and 3:30pm Piazza Secchia of Cathedral Square (outside the Cathedral of St. Andrew), 301 Sheldon SE "When the Days Become a Moment, When the Body Becomes Adrift" is a time-based weaving of dance, poetry and live music conceived and performed by twenty-four 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. A shifting stage invites the viewer to experience the performance from different vantage points. "If time was a line and not a circle / like our bodies. / Or a kick drum like your heart / shimmering in the riffle."

Catch their next performance Saturday, October 4, 11am and 3:30pm, at the Secchia Piazza.

All Saints Academy, GR:

All Saints Academy of Grand Rapids toured the gallery during a morning visit.

Aquinas College:

Steve Schousen, Art Professor at Aquinas College (AQ), brought students down for a tour of our 40 artists, including a handful from AQ!

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Enjoy more by "liking" our Facebook page!

One Artist, Five Questions: Dennis Rybicki

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: Dennis Rybicki

Dennis Rybicki, Voices of the City, 2014, time-based interfaith choir concert

Dennis Rybicki is the Grand Rapids Diocesan director of liturgical music, Aquinas College Alum, and 2014 ArtPrize artist coordinating "Voices of the City". This ArtPrize entry is a time-based, interfaith, 300+ member, live choir performance event which will take place September 28, 3:00pm, in the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.

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What is your background?

I am a liturgical choral director trained at Aquinas College, Calvin College, University of Notre Dame, Westminster Choir College and St. John’s University. I have taught choral music at Catholic Central High School since 1995 and have worked as the Director of Liturgical Music for the Diocese of GR since 2006.

What is your favorite or most inspirational place?

I have had the wonderful opportunity to tour with choirs throughout Europe. My favorite places are Assisi and Rome in Italy and the countryside of Ireland.

Do you have a favorite artist? What attracts you to that artist’s work?

I have two favorite composers: Giovanni da Palestrina from the Renaissance period and Arvo Pärt from the Modern period. Both composers use minimal compositional techniques with such perfection. They are a joy to perform and listen to.

Létourneau organ inside St. Andrew's Cathedral

Why choose to perform inside the Cathedral?

The Cathedral of Saint Andrew is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. It also has a beautiful space for choral singing and has the distinction of having three Létourneau organs in the worship space. The opportunity to collaborate with so many churches and their choirs for this ArtPrize concert has been truly inspirational and a lot of fun. I hope something like this can happen again in the future.

What is integral to the work of an artist?

Honesty and dedication to the craft. Music, like art, requires the musician (or artist) to “get out of the way” so the music (or art) can speak for itself.

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Check out our Facebook event for more specifics: Voices of the City Event

Cathedral Square: New and returning features

New for 2014! Cathedral Square features LIVE performances:

Two Days, Four Performances!

Yetzke, Kenagy & Kreindler, When the Days Become a Moment, 2014, performance art

Hope College will showcase TWO live performances at Cathedral Square, under the title "When the Days Become a Moment", a 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. A shifting stage and opportunities for audience interaction invite the viewer to tangibly experience the performance.

1st and 2nd Saturdays of ArtPrize, performances at 11am and 3:30pm each day. Performances expected to last 30 minutes per. Expected to have 5 poets, 5 musicians, and 15 dancers in their ensemble.

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One Time Only!

Dennis Rybicki, Voices of the City, 2014, time-based interfaith choir performance

In the opening week of ArtPrize 2014, Grand Rapids Diocesan director of liturgical music and 2014 ArtPrize artist Dennis Rybicki, along with the Cathedral Square ArtPrize Team, will host "Voices of the City", a time-based, interfaith, 300+ member, live choir performance event at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew,  located at 301 Sheldon Blvd. SE in Grand Rapids.

The public is welcome and invited to witness this one-hour performance on September 28th in the parish of the Cathedral at 3:00pm, but seating is limited so hurry! There will also be a live feed showing in the 2nd floor gallery of the Cathedral Square Center, where other ArtPrize entries can also be enjoyed. Refreshments will be served after the choir event.

This event is a free sacred music concert featuring local church choir members and student ensembles from faith based schools in the Grand Rapids area. The 300+ member choir will be comprised of individuals from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids Christian High School, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Basilica of St. Adalbert and more. The concert will start with performances by several individual choirs and culminate with a performance of well-loved hymns by the combined congregation of all choirs included.

One of the largest choir performances ArtPrize, and possibly Grand Rapids, will experience!

RSVP on Facebook: Voices of the City

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The Pulse is Beating at Cathedral Square!

We are happy to welcome new artists such as Sun Young Kang with “Memories Unfolded”, and returning artists such as Tony Hendrick with “Gathering Sap”. Every artist who will exhibit at our showcase venue conveys a pattern of rhythm within their work.

Arena District Preview: Arena District is offering a preview of ArtPrize by enlisting participating venues to display artwork one week before the start date, September 24. Starting on the 17th, each participating venue, including Cathedral Square, will be open for viewing during regular business hours (M-F 9am-5pm).

Education Days: Students and visitors can learn about the artwork on display, art composition and methodology, and the importance of how rhythm connects to art and life. Meet and greet with artists during these brief informational sessions within the indoor venue space. Sept 30, Oct 2, Oct 7, Oct 9, 9a-12p each day (each session lasts about 1 hour).

Slow Art 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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While You Visit:

Utilize FREE parking! Register to vote without long lines!

Meet and speak with artists! Enjoy art with family and friends!

* Here is a map to illustrate how to get to the free parking facility:

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Visit our Facebook page for dates and venue information! "Like" ArtPrize at Cathedral Square and stay up-to-date with everything happening at our showcase venue!

Julie Friedman Installs Her Art

This photo timeline illustrates an example of the installation process that our 40 featured artists are currently undergoing. Follow the artists on their journey further via our Facebook page and Twitter page.

Step 1:

 

Step 2:

Step 3:

  

Step 4:

Step 5:

Julie Friedman, A Greenhouse for Life, 2014, tyvek and pipe, 144 x 60 x 108 inches

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/