ArtPrize opened Wednesday in downtown Grand Rapids, and this year there are at least 14 artists from our area (and maybe more) showcasing their work in the 19-day event.

For nearly three weeks, three-square miles of downtown Grand Rapids become an open playing field. Art from around the world pops up in every inch of downtown, and it’s all free and open to the public.

It’s different than other art competitions, in that the public gets to vote on their favorites. There is $360,000 in public awards, and $200,000 in juried awards given to various artists. Voting happens in two rounds. You can register to vote online, but must activate it at ArtPrize. Round one voting opened Wednesday, and ends on Saturday September 29. The top ten will then be announced September 30, and round two voting will begin that day. Round two voting will close October 4, and awards will be announced Friday, October 5.

Two local artists from the area are Doris Vinton and her daughter, Sarah Goller. The two women from Sand Lake have created something they call “The Wall Project.” It is a birds-eye view, pen and ink line drawing of downtown Grand Rapids, during the Art Prize festival. “It illustrates a wide variety of art, activities, and art lovers. We’ve included art from past festivals, along with a variety of viewers to create a loose, fun filled, festive experience,” they said. “The Wall Project” is approximately 9-feet tall and 14-feet wide. “We hope to create intrigue with this detailed and playful piece.”

If you’d like to see the piece it is located at the Downtown Courtyard by Marriott at 11 Monroe Avenue. Their vote # is 53249.

Other area artists featured include David Huang, Amita Modzelewski and Carol Parlow DeChamplain, all of Sand Lake; Jenny Dood, of Pierson; Darryl Love, of Howard City; Ronald G. Campbell, Nancy Wanha, Andrea Lucas, Matthew Metoxen, Ronald Hampton, and LeAnne Sowa, all of Cedar Springs. Read about all of these artists and their projects, find their vote numbers and venues at http://www.artprize.org/.