This photograph by Nancy Crabbs, which depicts movement of light, is at The Bob.

It’s that time of year again, when the city of Grand Rapids is transformed into an open playing field where artists and venues will vie for a combination of Public Vote and Juried Awards totaling $500,000. 

Nancy Crabbs, of Cedar Springs, entered her photograph “The Slide,” the third installment in her Light Series. Taken from an airplane at 37,000 feet, she captures light in movement. You can check it out at The Bob, 20 Monroe Ave. Two other Cedar Springs residents also entered works: Andrea Lucas and Mark Del Covell. Check them out at ArtPrize.org.

Round one voting began Wednesday, September 19, and will close September 29 at 11:59 p.m. The public vote final 20 and independent awards will be announced September 30 at 1 p.m., and the round two voting then begins at 2 p.m. Round two voting closes October 4 at 11:59 p.m. with awards October 5.

“The Hummingbird Tree” is now on display at The Bob for ArtPrize Nine. Post photo by J. Reed.

by Judy Reed

Those visiting ArtPrize Nine next week will have the chance to see a variety of art, including some from artists here in Cedar Springs and the surrounding area. Blake Wondergem’s entry is one you don’t want to miss.

Wondergem, 56, a commercial sign artist by trade, has spent the last 7-1/2 months working 12-hour days on “The Hummingbird Tree,” an original piece of artwork he first imagined four years ago.

Artist Blake Wondergem puts some finishing touches on his artwork. Post photo by J. Reed.

“It was like a vision,” he said. “I had never seen it, but I knew I wanted to do a hummingbird bladder built into a tree.”

Wondergem was born in Grand Rapids, and came to Cedar Springs at age 9 or 10. He created his first mural at age 17, in Illinois. He later moved to Tennessee, and while there, he created a mural of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty that is displayed on Main Street in Bristol, Tenn. He estimates that more than 6 million people have seen it.

He also built a business as a commercial sign manufacturer, one that has sustained him for the last 30 years. But the creative side of the art world still calls him.

He began working on “The Hummingbird” while still in Tennessee earlier this year, then moved back to Cedar Springs three months ago, where his mom, Linda, still resides. He has been working out of a studio behind the Peacock Pet Parlor.

Wondergem calls his artwork a portable mural. It consists of 240 layers of acrylic paint on fabric, and hundreds of hours of study.

“The secret of the painting lies like a pirate treasure in all of this,” explained Wondergem, as he picked up a file of notes and photographs that he has spent countless hours studying, to get all aspects of the artwork the way they might look in a photo.

“When people look at this, I want them to ask, ‘Does it look like a picture?’ I don’t want it to look like a painting; I want it to look like a picture,” he explained.

An example of his perfection and attention to detail was working on refection. When looking at the artwork, people will be looking up at it, and the sun in the picture is in the southeast. He wanted to get the angle of the reflected light in the hummingbird feeder just right.

“I put a candle in a beer glass to study reflection,” said Wondergem. “It was one of the hardest studies I’ve ever done.”

He has used a variety of hummingbirds in the mural, as well plant and insect life. But the real star of the artwork is the ellipsis, with the nectar flowing from the tree limb into the feeder and out through the flowers. “I was so at peace when the egg was done,” remarked Wondergem.

The artwork is 7-feet wide and 9-feet tall, and is installed at The Bob, 20 Monroe Ave., Grand Rapids. The vote code is 66248.

Public voting for ArtPrize Nine begins on Wednesday, September 20 at noon and closes September 30 at 11:59 p.m. The public vote top 20 will be announced on October 1, and round two voting will begin the same day at 2 p.m. and close on October 5 at 11:59 p.m.

ArtPrize is an open, independently organized international art competition that takes place for 19 days each fall in Grand Rapids, Michigan. More than $500,000 in prizes are awarded each year, and includes a $200,000 prize awarded entirely by public vote, and another $200,000 prize awarded by a jury of art experts. Any artist working in any medium from anywhere in the world can participate.

To register to vote and to get more info, visit www.artprize.org.

Adult artists with disabilities have a chance to win $500 and have their artwork displayed in the Grand Rapids Art Museum and entered in ArtPrize 2017 thanks to the Legacy Trust Award Collection.

Back for its eighth year, the Legacy Trust Award Collection is soliciting artwork from Michigan artists with disabilities for its popular mini-competition in advance of ArtPrize. Four winning artists will each receive $500 and sponsorship in ArtPrize, the radically open art competition, scheduled this year Sept. 20 through Oct. 8 in downtown Grand Rapids.

The statewide competition is open to all Michigan artists with disabilities and seeks paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, collages, mixed media and other works of art. Four winners will be chosen by popular vote, a panel of celebrity judges, and the LTAC Advisory Committee.

Artists must register with LTAC by Friday, April 24 to be considered for the 2017 competition.

Sponsored by Grand Rapids-based investment advisory and wealth management firm Legacy Trust, LTAC will be held this year in the Grand Rapids Art Museum May 22-23. A private reception for all artists, judges and LTAC supporters will be held on the evening of Monday, May 22.

The public will have a chance to view and vote for its favorite entry on Tuesday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the GRAM, which is located in downtown Grand Rapids.

Winning artists will have their work displayed during ArtPrize at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Last year, 101 artists from around the state submitted artwork to LTAC, its seventh straight year of growth.

“After hitting triple digits for the first-time last year in artwork submissions, we are eager to see how much more LTAC will grow this year,” said Mary Ann Sabo, chair of LTAC Arts, the nonprofit arm that supports the event. “Each year, I am amazed by the incredible talent of the artwork submitted and by the personal stories of the artists.

“We are delighted to welcome artists from across the length and breadth of our state. And we are so pleased to again partner with Grand Rapids Art Museum and DeVos Place for a fourth year, to showcase the talents of truly incredible Michigan artists.”

Winners of LTAC 2017 will be announced on Monday, May 30. Along with having their artwork entered into ArtPrize, the winning artists will each receive a cash prize of $500. All entry fees and promotion expenses for ArtPrize will be paid by Legacy Trust, which for the fourth year has secured the high-profile DeVos Place venue for the winning artists during ArtPrize.

Artists from all genres are invited to participate in the competition. All artists must submit an artist registration to Legacy Trust by April 24. All artwork must be completed and available for showing in Grand Rapids by 5 p.m. on April 28.

Following is a list of guidelines for submitting artwork:

* All participating artists must be a resident of Michigan and at least 18 years of age by April 3.

* All artwork must be original, attributable to the applicant and completed within three years prior to September 21, 2017.

* All artwork is subject to the Official Rules for Artists-ArtPrize, which can be found at http://www.artprize.org.

* The top four artists will retain ownership and all rights to their artwork, subject to the rules and restrictions of ArtPrize 2017. The artists agree to make themselves and their artwork available to LTAC and all partnering agencies and sponsors prior to and during ArtPrize for promotions and marketing efforts.

* The top four artists who receive the award will be entered into ArtPrize 2017 as a Legacy Trust Collection Award winner.

* LTAC artists agree that if their artwork wins any ArtPrize award, they will donate 25 percent of any award to create a special Legacy Trust Endowment Fund to continue arts programs for adults with disabilities in greater Grand Rapids.

* Winning artists will be notified by Legacy Trust by May11 and will be entered into ArtPrize.

* There are no restrictions on artists who are not part of the Collection from entering ArtPrize on their own.

Artwork may be delivered by mail, UPS, FedEx or in person to Legacy Trust, 99 Monroe, Suite 600, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503 by 5 p.m. on April 28. See the registration form for additional rules and details at http://ltacarts.org.

ArtPrize, an international art competition that draws hundreds of thousands of people to West Michigan each fall, returns to Grand Rapids for its eighth year on Sept. 20 through Oct. 8.

More information on LTAC is available at www.LTACArts.org. Join the conversation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LegacyTrustAwardCollection and on Twitter with #LTAC.

The sixth annual Michigan Adventure Race: ArtPrize Edition presented by Community West Credit Union will be held October 8, 2016 in Grand Rapids. The race will weave through the massive and massively popular ArtPrize festival and feature mental and/or physical challenges, many related to the ArtPrize exhibits and venues. Part bike race, part running race and part Amazing Race, the ArtPrize Edition is believed to be the only sporting event on the planet that blends a major, world-class art festival into its race course.

Two-person teams will start off from Ah-Nab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids and bike or run to checkpoints pre-marked on a map—kept secret until just before the race—collecting as many points as they can within four hours. Racers will encounter Amazing Race-like challenges in popular downtown spots and out-of-the-way venues. Past challenges have included riddles that racers must solve related to art installations, a Pictionary-like challenge where one teammate had to draw a piece of art well enough for their teammate to enter an exhibit hall to identify, and a giant egg launch at a target.

“We’re excited that ArtPrize endorses this race as part of its social experiment. It’s a great way to expose people to out-of-the-way exhibits as well as to the electric atmosphere of the downtown venues,” says race director Mark VanTongeren. “Racers love getting in a great workout, experiencing a fun and challenging race with an Amazing Race feel, and seeing a good deal of ArtPrize all at the same time.”

Friends, family and the general public are welcome to experience the race. Maps and a guide provided at the start will direct people to the most entertaining challenges. It is a challenging race to follow however as racers head off in dozens of directions.

The charity partner selected for this edition of the race is the Purple Community, which gives 100 percent of funds raised in this race and all events to support biomedical research in the fight against cancer and neurodegenerative diseases at the Van Andel Institute.

For more information about the race, go to www.miadventurerace.com or www.facebook.com/MiAdventureRace/. They will also be holding the Michigan Adventure Race: Sleeping Bear Edition on September 17.

Hometown Happenings articles are a community service for non-profit agencies only. Due to popular demand for placement in this section, we can no longer run all articles. Deadline for articles is Monday at 5 p.m. This is not guaranteed space. Articles will run as space allows. Guaranteed placement is $10, certain restrictions may apply. You now can email your Hometown Happenings to happenings@cedarspringspost.com please include name and phone number for any questions we may have.

Family Fun Day at Metron

Aug. 5: Metron of Cedar Springs located at 400 Jeffrey, Cedar Springs, would like to invite the community to our Annual Family Fun Day on Friday, August 5^th from 4 to 6 pm. Activities for the day include: Bounce House, Games for the children, Live Musical Entertainment, food/drinks and fun for all. Hope to see you August 5^th! #31

Free Lake Effect Concert

Aug. 7: Free Lake Effect Concert featuring the band “Round Brown Suitcase” will be held on Sunday, August 7^th from 12 to 3:30 pm (band starts at 12:30 pm). The concert will be held at Bostwick Lake UCC Church, 7979 Belding Rd. NE, Rockford. Donations and food sales will benefit Pause with a Cause. Contact Lisa Atchison, 616-634-6459 with any questions. #30,31p

Take off pounds sensibly

Aug. 9: Take off pounds sensibly (TOPS), a non-profit weight loss support group for men and women, meets every Tuesday at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Sand Lake. Your first visit is free so come check out what TOPS can do to help you reach your weigh loss goals! Weigh-ins 8:15-9am, meeting starts at 9:15am. Call Barb at 696-8049 for more information. #31

Rummage Sale at CS UMC

Aug. 10,11: The Cedar Springs United Methodist Women will hold a rummage sale in the fellowship hall on the corner of Main and Church Streets. August 10, Wednesday, from 9 am to 7 pm and August 11, Thursday, from 9 am to 2 pm. There will be a bag sale on Thursday. Proceeds go toward their mission projects. #30,31p

My Choice..My Health Diabetes Prevention Program

Aug. 15: This program will help you take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes. You’ll learn about healthier eating habits, ways to be more physically active and other behavior changes over the course of 16 weekly one-hour sessions. The group will continue meeting monthly, completing a full year. My Choice..My Health Program will be held at Solon Center Wesleyan Church, 15671 Algoma Ave., Cedar Springs starting Monday, August 15^th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. To register, visit www.nkfm.org/dpp or call the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan at 616-458-9520. #31,32p

Creating Local Herbal Remedies

Aug. 15: Join local plant enthusiast Rachel Potter for a discussion and demonstration of how to gather and use medicinal plants to make salves, teas, tinctures and other natural remedies that nourish and heal the body and keep it healthy year round. This workshop will teach you to nurture yourself with what is growing all around us. For adults. Monday, August 15^th at 6:30 pm at the Nelson Township/Sand Lake KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. #31

DIY Tie Dye for Teens

Aug. 16: Bring a white or light colored t-shirt to this program and try a new way of tie dye – with permanent markers! All other materials will be provided to help you create a one-of-a-kind shirt to wear. Tuesday, August 16^th at 4 pm at the Spencer Township KDL Branch, 14960 Meddler Ave., Gowen. #31

Auditions for CSCP Production of “The Foreigner”

Aug 22,23: The Cedar Springs Community Players are pleased to announce auditions for its upcoming production of “The Foreigner” by Larry Shue. This comedy has won two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. Auditions will be held at the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church on Monday and Tuesday Aug. 22 and 23 between 6:30 -8 p.m. Needed are: 4 adult males, 1 teen male; 2 adult women, and 4 non-speaking extras, can be either male or female. Production dates are October 13, 14 and 15 at the Kent Theatre. Please like our FB page and to see details! #31,32p

Tri-County High School Annual Gathering

Sept. 10: The Tri-County HS annual gathering for 1963 – 1975 will be held on September 10^th at the Sand Lake VFW. Appetizers and dinner from 5 to 7 pm with RSVP and $20 due by August 27^th. Lou Fisk, 616-263-9054 or gfisk01@charter.net.  Social hour is from 7 to 10 pm.  Social hour only is $5 at the door. #31,32p

MCC Offers Trip to Art Prize

Sept. 30: Experience ArtPrize September 30^th in Grand Rapids with Montcalm Community College. Buses depart from the Stanley and Blanche Ash Technology and Learning Center on MCC’s Greenville campus at 8:30 am and from MCC’s Sidney campus at 9 am. Buses will arrive at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) at 10 am and depart at 5 pm. The trip is free to all who register. Admission to the GRAM is $4 per person. Anyone planning to participate in this trip must be age 12 or older; participants between 12 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult. To register, email the registration form located at www.montcalm.edu/events/artprize-trip/ to karen.maxfield@montcalm.edu or call 989-328-2111, Ext. 334, by September 15th. #31

ArtPrize, the radically open international art competition in Grand Rapids, opened round one of voting on Wednesday, September 23, and once again features several artists from Cedar Springs and the surrounding area.

• Dave (Redneck) Crumback, of Cedar Springs, is showing his 3D entry, “Built to work, show or play” at Kilwin’s Chocolates at McKay Tower-Rosa Parks.
• Billy Meinke, of Cedar Springs, is showing a 3D entry called “Lady of the Woods,” also at Kilwin’s Chocolates at McKay Tower-Rosa Parks.
• Carol Graham, of Sand Lake, is showing her 3D entry “Country Time” at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown.
• Jill Risner, of Rockford, is showing her 3D entry “Bloom” at DeVos Place Convention Center.
• Joshua Adams, of Rockford, is showing his 2D entry “The Tempest” at DeVos Place Convention Center.
• Sara Pearson, of Sparta, is showing her 2D entry “Steel City USA” at Fifth Third Bank/Warner Norcross Judd LLP.
• Stacie Tamaki, of Greenville, is showing her 3D entry “4000 Culture Cranes” at Grand Central Market and Deli.

ArtPrize accepts any individual over 18 as a competing artist and any space in the designated district as an ArtPrize venue. Registered artists and venues connect online at artprize.org and agree to present the artwork for public display.

The public votes using free mobile apps, text messages and the web to distribute a $200,000 grand prize and $50,000 in category awards, while an additional $200,000 grand prize and $62,500 in category awards are decided by expert jury. ArtPrize Seven takes place September 23 – October 11, with the first round of voting ending on October 3. The top 20 will be announced on October 4, and the second round of voting will start. Voting will end on October 8, and awards will be given on October 9.

ArtPrize Seven includes 1,554 entries representing 48 countries and 42 U.S. states and territories. ArtPrize 2014 attracted more than 400,000 active participants. Since its inception, individuals of all backgrounds have cast more than 2.4 million votes for public art.

To register to vote, visit the ArtPrize HUB located at 41 Sheldon Blvd SE, or download the mobile app for iphone or Android, which you can also use to vote.

For more info on the artists and venues, visit www.artprize.org.

Alena Gray, of Howard City, will exhibit this needlework piece titled “Animals.”

Public can vote in competition for artists with disabilities

Two area residents are among 85 Michigan artists who will showcase their artwork in the 2015 Legacy Trust Award Collection for a chance to be sponsored in ArtPrize.

For the sixth consecutive year year, Legacy Trust is sponsoring a statewide art competition for adult artists with disabilities, in an effort to bring their voices and vision to ArtPrize, an international art competition that draws tens of thousands of visitors to Grand Rapids each year. Artists from Ada to Zeeland across the Lower Peninsula and into the UP have submitted artwork.

Bradley Hall, of Sand Lake, will exhibit his painting “Spring Rain.”

Alena Gray from Howard City will exhibit “Animals,” a needlework piece, and Bradley Hall, of Sand Lake, will exhibit “Spring Rain,” a framed painting.

Four winners will be chosen—one by a panel of celebrity judges, two by public vote and one special juried award—and sponsored in ArtPrize, the world’s largest art competition.

The public is invited to view the art and cast their ballots on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in downtown Grand Rapids. Meijer has graciously provided free admission to the GRAM on both days of public voting. Votes can also be cast online. Online voters may visit the LTAC Facebook page, www.facebook.com/LegacyTrustAwardCollection, on May 5 and 6 for a link to online voting.

Winners of LTAC 2015 will be announced the week of May 11.  Along with having their artwork entered into ArtPrize, the winning artists will each receive a cash prize of $500. All entry fees and promotion expenses for ArtPrize will be paid by Legacy Trust, which has secured the high-profile DeVos Place venue for the winning artists during ArtPrize.

ArtPrize, an international art competition that draws tens of thousands of people to West Michigan each fall, returns to Grand Rapids for its seventh year on Sept. 23 through Oct. 11. It debuted with much enthusiasm in 2009 and participation has soared in the following years. This year is expected to see a continued increase in community engagement and entries.

Rob VanderZee’s entry into ArtPrize.

By Ranger Steve Mueller

Rob Vander Zee, talented young man, was seeking an art project while in high school and has now displayed in Artprize 2013. When I was developing a wetland learning station at the Howard Christensen Nature Center in the 1980’s, it was fortunate that Rob connected with us. I explained a wetlands vision and gave him an image. From there he created the artwork mural that still draws youth and visitors to think about wetlands. Please visit HCNC and become a member.

I gave Rob a picture of a beaver pond and he painted a wonderful realistic rendition. The work entices viewers to think about the world we live in. Rob is at native of Cedar Springs and his work helps people think about the future.

Wetlands are major contributors to Michigan’s recreation economy.  They are economically valuable assets that filter toxics from water, reduce flood damage, are major food producers, and provide desirable sites for human habitation. Wetlands modify weather conditions and determine the depth of ground water tables that recharge city and private wells.  Water moves from wetlands to ground water and vice-versa.  How we handle sewage, fertilizers, pesticides, and toxic substance disposal are important community health issues that are constantly in debate. Safe drinking water is taken for granted and there are those that want to reduce community efforts to protect water quality by reducing government programs protecting our health and the environment.

In the 1970’s we passed the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species. These programs have helped restore conditions that improve our quality of life. Those protections are being challenged to reduce taxes. People forget the pollution costs were more expensive and damaging to health than the preventive tax programs. Saving tax dollars spurs efforts to reduce government programs but at what cost? They may not be perfect but the programs protect our economy, health and quality of life. Rob’s art work hopes to engage people to think about the future and I hope my articles do the same.

When we bought Ody Brook property in 1979, the home plumbing from the toilet went into a 55-gallon drum that had rusted away and other water was piped directly to the Little Cedar Creek. We installed a proper septic system and drain field. It was not until 1976 that government regulations changed construction codes to meet the Clean Water Act and provide environmental protection. We recently added five acres to Ody Brook that has an existing home. That home’s plumbing ran to the Little Cedar Creek without a septic drain field. The home construction predated the 1970’s Clean Water Act tax legislation. We recently installed a proper septic system to protect the stream, wetlands, and water quality for Cedar Springs human and wildlife neighbors.

How many homes still have systems that pollute water quality, fishing, health, and damage our community’s economy and quality of life? The current budget battle in Washington is wrestling with what is needed to maintain a high quality of life in Cedar Springs. That brings us back to Rob Vander Zee’s art.

Rob painted a mural for ArtPrize called Michigan Forest: The Future of Genetic Manipulation on an Eco System. He comments his artwork is open for interpretation. He wants people to think about society actions. His work displays possibilities for the future. He wants viewers to contemplate nature niches and our role as participants in the ecosystem. I hope many of you viewed his work. If not, view and read his comments about the painting at: www.artprize.org/rob-vander-zee.

Natural history questions or topic suggestions can be directed to Ranger Steve (Mueller) at the odybrook@chartermi.net Ody Brook, 13010 Northland Dr, Cedar Springs, MI 49319-8433.

Rob VanderZee, a 1989 Cedar Springs High School graduate, is well-known for his art. He lives in both New York and Washington D.C., and has a cabin in Big Rapids. His entry is called “Michigan Forest: The Future of Genetic Manipulation on an Eco System”. It is at the DeVos Convention Center, 303 Monroe Ave. Rob says this painting is an imaginative look into the future of genetic experimentation and its impact on an eco system in Michigan. “My painting posts the questions, ‘How far will we go?’ and ‘What will the impact be on the natural and human world?’ ‘What would happen if these experiments somehow leaked into the natural world and began evolving on their own?’

Craig Jurkowski, of Cedar Springs, says his art piece, “Tee Time”, was inspired by the vast number of picturesque golf courses present throughout the state of Michigan. As an avid golfer, Craig wanted to share his enthusiasm and love for the sport of golf through art. “Tee Time” is a 3-D art piece constructed using a wood base and a total of 27,171 hand-placed golf tees representing the grass and golf ball from a cross-cut section of a golf green and hole. The golf ball itself consists of 2,569 of those tees. It is showing at 50 Monroe.

LeeAnn Sowa is a watercolor artist from Cedar Springs who likes to see the humor in life, and loves to see people smile and laugh at her work. “Moose Rapids II” is the continuing saga of her moose paintings. Made up of nine different panels, it is a sequel to last year’s exhibit, “Moose Bath II”. After the bath, the moose and his friends are out riding around town. Her exhibit is at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave.

Randall Hampton, of Cedar Springs, has been drawing ever since he could hold a pencil (or maybe a crayon). He says he is here to create and to give new perspective to viewers everywhere. “I feel that the artist’s work is not complete until it has been seen and interpreted,” he said. His piece is called “Illumination—no, no you are looking at it wrong.” It is a translucent synthetic painting created using adhesive polymers and various paints and dyes. It is mounted onto a wood frame and lit from behind. The drying process causes the dyes to shift and create a fluid effect that gives the piece movement and energy. Being back lit, the image bursts to life and brings the viewer in. “Listening to viewers look at a piece and share what they see is reminiscent of hearing children find objects in the clouds, and is almost as enjoyable as creating the art in the first place,” he said. His exhibit is at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown, 11 Monroe Ave.

Andrea Lucas, of Cedar Springs, was inspired by the recent Titanic Exhibit in Grand Rapids to create a watercolor of the Captain of the Titanic. “My goal was to capture the legendary stoic nature of Captain Edward John Smith. I chose icy blues and grays to give the painting an eerie feeling. I also intentionally left watermarks in the painting. They provide an interesting dynamic to the piece,” she said. Her painting can be seen at West Coast Coffee, 55 Monroe Center.

Clare Freeman, of Cedar Springs, is an Oriental dance artist. “Let the magic of Middle Eastern dance sweep you away! Swirling silk, entrancing candles, captivating swords, glittering costumes…” she says. Her entry is called “Moon’s Enchanting Light” and can be viewed at Dadds Magic Bus and Limousine at 407 Turner Ave.

Carol DeChamplain, of Sand Lake, submitted her entry, “Tree Pose,” made with naturally made paint. “My art recognizes the beauty of nature combined with the stamina and meditation of yoga by super-imposing yoga poses within my tree. Within the tree are 16 sun salutation poses surrounded by the beauty of nature. My medium is Eco-Friendly by mixing my own paint from Wild Michigan Berries, Limestone, Cornstarch and Milk, 100% Cotton Acid-Free Canvas, hand made frame,” she explains. Her painting can be seen at Yoga HEAT, 820 Monroe Ave.

David Huang, of Sand Lake, has created another piece of sculpture for ArtPrize this year titled, “Luminous Relic 1168.” He says this piece began as a flat 12 inch disk of copper and through much hammering, has been formed into the work you see. “The rim is polished sterling silver and the interior is gilded with 23-karat gold leaf. Like my other vessels this piece is about the natural, sensual world, skilled labor, timeless beauty, and the inner spirit made visible.” David’s entry can be seen at Women’s City Club, 254 East Fulton Street.

A complete list of participating artists and venues can all be viewed at www.artprize.org/entries.

Steve Anderson, the metal sculptor who designed the Cedar Springs Red Hawks at the high school and athletic stadium, created this frog for Probst Floor Coverings and Draperies to display.

The Red Flannel Festival is holding its own version of ArtPrize here in Cedar Springs. The Red Flannel Art Review opened Labor Day, with 21 businesses featuring 22 artists.

Residents will determine the winner by their vote, and they are being asked to vote only once. Voting will end on Wednesday, September 18, and winners will be announced September 21 at the Wine & Microbrew tasting event.

Look for the art review symbol (a paint palette and paintbrush) or sign displayed in a window to see who might be featuring a piece of art, or go to redflannelfestival.org for a complete listing of the businesses and artists.

Do you want a fun way to see ArtPrize without the hassle of driving around to all the locations, dealing with crowds, and finding parking spots that do not require a lot of walking? There is now an opportunity for just that by taking an ArtPrize bus tour!

The tour takes place on Thursday, September 27, and begins with the motorcoach leaving at 8:15 a.m. from Cedar Springs. The tour will guide you to many of the ArtPrize exhibits and get you around without the hassle. Included in the day’s activities are admission into the Grand Rapids Art Museum before opening to the public that day, admission to the Frederick Meijer Gardens, lunch at the Pearl Street Grille, a souvenir, a water bottle and an ArtPrize guidebook from the day and more. This will be a great new way to experience ArtPrize, so get registered today as space is limited. The cost is only $75 and includes all these great things. The deadline for registration is September 17, so don’t waste a minute!

This is just one of the many offerings through the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation Department. If you like travel, there is also Virtual Travel Adventure shows and other bus trips are in the planning stages. Please check out these an other programs by logging onto the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation website at www.csaparksandrec.com. You can register for these programs in person at the Cedar Spring Public Schools district office (a.k.a Hilltop building) at 204 E. Muskegon. The parks and recreation office is located on the 3rd floor. For other information or questions, please feel free to call the office Monday-Wednesay from 8:30am-3:00pm at 696-7320 or email the director anytime at director@csaparksandre.com.

If you are going to ArtPrize, you might want to consider riding the trolley from Cedar Springs to Grand Rapids on Monday, September 26. The special ArtPrize Trolley tour, brought by Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation, costs $74 and includes:
•    a visit to the Grand Rapids Art Museum and special gift bag.
•    A guided tour of historic Heritage Hill and down town Grand Rapids with time to view the outdoor art exhibits downtown and along the Grand River
•    Lunch at the beautiful Covenant Village of the Great Lakes. Featuring more Art Prize exhibits
•    A visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Your visit includes the indoor gardens,

•    a tram ride and seeing the ArtPrize exhibits located at the Gardens
•    Transportation via Grand Rapids Trolley
•    Services of a Countryside Tour Director
The trolley will depart from Cedar Springs Public Schools District Office (in the lower parking lot near Northern Physical Therapy) at 8 a.m. For more information call Amanda Gerhardt at 696-7320 or email her at director@csaparksandrec.com.
If you haven’t yet registered to vote at ArtPrize, it can be done online at artprize.org. Anyone ages 16 and up can register to vote. If you voted in 2010 or 2009, your email will still be on file. Just log back in to re-register. Once registered, accounts must be activated in-person. Participants are required to present a valid government-issued identification in order to ensure the validity of the vote, and so outsiders can’t “game” the system. Your valid ID MUST be presented at any ArtPrize registration and be in the form of a driver’s license, state ID or passport. This can be done beginning Sept. 17 at The Hub at 41 Sheldon, or at any of the eight ArtPrize Exhibition Centers starting Sept. 21 and through the duration of the event.
Voting during week one of ArtPrize 2011 begins Sept. 21 at 6:00 p.m. and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 28. Voters can vote up or down for any of the 1,582 artists. One vote per person is allowed for each work of art. Voting results will continually be posted online at artprize.org. The Top 10 finalists will be announced Sept. 29; 6:00 p.m. at Rosa Parks Circle, in downtown Grand Rapids.
Voting during week two begins after the Top 10 announcement. Voters can cast only one vote for one of the 10 finalists. Votes can be changed until the close of voting on October 5 at 11:59 p.m. In week two, voting results will not be posted online. The winners will be announced on October 6.