Tempest II

Ohio artist Laura Alexander has spent more than 300 hours and exhausted 400 razor blades to create her Artprize entry. “Tempest II” is an eight-foot-tall sculpture of hand-cut paper arranged in an articulate, mesmerizing display. Alexander’s work is on display at the Grand Rapids Art Museum on Monroe Center.

Ocean Exodus

Paul Baliker has been sculpting for 35 years. His imagination led him to create “Ocean Exodus” out of wood. This exotic scene depicts wildlife intertwined with each other as a statement of what Baliker describes as a depleted ecosystem. “Ocean Exodus” is on display in the parking lot of The B.O.B. on Monroe Avenue.

Rusty

Ritch Branstrom, a Michigan native, has used a vast collection of discovered auto parts, farm tools and other used objects to create a 12-foot-tall dog. “Rusty,” standing next to his enormous ball, represents Branstrom’s image of the hardworking people and culture of his home state. “Rusty” can be spotted on the lawn of the Grand Rapids Public Museum on Pearl Street.

Rain

Seventy-six hundred squares of aluminum, polyester film and silver leaf have been suspended by monofilament line in a 10-foot cube by Lynda Cole. Cole, an Ann Arbor native, has traveled the world taking in art and culture and is finally starting to show her work in Michigan. “Rain” is on display at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

President Gerald Ford Visits Artprize

One of the most talked-about entries this year is the eerily lifelike sculpture of former U.S. president Gerald Ford. Sunti Pichetchaiyakul, born in Thailand and currently living in Montana, has gained international notoriety for his bronze and fiberglass resin work. Pichetchaiyakul requested and was granted permission to do this piece from the late Betty Ford. As a dedication to the former first lady, Pichetchaiyakul has been sculpting a bust of her likeness next to the sculpture of her husband. President Ford can be found at the PNC bank building on Monroe Avenue.

Mantis Dreaming

Bill Secunda spent more than six months collecting and welding together the steel that makes up “Mantis Dreaming.” This 20-foot-tall praying mantis has been constructed mostly out of a discarded railroad car. On the left claw of this 3000-pound sculpture sits a metal butterfly. Secunda, a Pennsylvania resident, says music was his inspiration for this massive work. “Mantis Dreaming” can be seen in the parking lot of The B.O.B.

Under Construction- LiveStatue

West Michigan local Robert Shangle has been creating costumes and performing as a live statue for years. Shangle was picked to represent the United States in an international live statue contest in 2009. His ArtPrize entry consists of him and his son Jasper painted to appear as bronze sculptures. The figures are a part of a construction scene, a scene Shangle says Michigan residents are used to. The Shangle family can be found in the parking lot of The B.O.B.

Crucifixion

“Crucifixion” is a 13-foot-tall stained glass mosaic depicting Christ being crucified. Mia Tavonatti was commissioned by a church in California to produce this altarpiece that she then decided to enter in Artprize. It took 2,500 hours to hand cut the individual pieces of glass adhered to a wooden backing. “Crucifixion” can be found in the DeVos Place Convention Center on Monroe Avenue.

Grizzlies on the Ford

Llew “Doc” Tilma, father of three and grandfather of one, creates his art with the most delicate of tools: a chainsaw. Using tree trunks and what looks like a horror movie prop, Tilma creates lifelike statues of wildlife. After entering a tribute to the heroes of Sept. 11 last year, this year he has created a scene of multiple bears fishing in the fountain at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on Pearl Street.

Metaphorest

As a Kendall College of Art and Design graduate, Tracy Van Duinen is familiar with Grand Rapids’ art scene. He competed in the 2009 ArtPrize and was a part of the second-place team. This year he has expanded his team to include the Grand Rapids community. Van Duinen’s 90-foot-wide mosaic and multimedia mural became a project incorporating West Michigan Center for Arts staff and students along with other members of the West Michigan community. As the biggest of the 2011 top 10 entries, “Metaphorest” can be seen at the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology building on Fulton Street.

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