ArtPrize is here again! For those of you who are unaware of what ArtPrize is, it’s an event that takes place for two and a half weeks in downtown Grand Rapids and features numerous forms of art within three square miles of the city. According to the ArtPrize website, there are over 1,500 works of art at more than 160 venues.

As a member of the Grand Valley State University marching band, I’ve had the privilege to perform on the opening day of ArtPrize for the past two years. While it was definitely fun to play at this event, it didn’t really give me time to just walk around and explore. Fortunately, I came back on another day last year and got to experience more of what the event had to offer. My intention was to film for a project. I had a video camcorder, so I was able to capture many different lively events.

They’ve got many different forms of art, from the typical, yet extraordinary paintings to giant decorated structures that spell out the word LOVE. Are you into music? They’ve got live performances. Do you like acting? I saw a group of acting students performing a skit of some kind last year. Do you like seeing what kinds of food are provided? There’s numerous places to look, both in restaurants and in stands on the sidewalks. Or, do you just like to take a walk and look at everything? There’s nothing wrong with that. I recommend checking out www.artprize.org for more information.

I do recommend you prepare yourself for how busy it will be, especially if you’re planning on visiting on a weekend. Even though I was willing to pay for a meter spot, I still had to park on a side street and walk about half a mile past the downtown campus, beneath the freeway, and across the river to get to the city. Be sure to park your car where you are comfortable leaving it for a while, and as always, be safe walking across streets and along busy roads.

On that note, it’s also imperative that you keep your eyes open if you’re driving through the event, because you never know if someone you didn’t see suddenly walks in front of your car just as you’re given the signal to go. Last year, I was crossing a street assuming the car at the stop sign saw me, but they moved forward through the intersection and didn’t stop until they were a few feet from me. This was at a quiet intersection, so imagine what could happen in a city filled with people coming to see the art? I’m not trying to turn this into a safety lecture, but just be careful.

You shouldn’t have to worry about not finding time to check it out, because it continues for two and a half weeks. From Sept. 23 to Oct. 11, the event goes on. I highly recommend you check it out, because with all of the masterpieces on display, it will be well worth your time.