Grand Rapids has already started its transformation as the city suits up for its fourth year of one of the world’s largest art competitions, ArtPrize.

It’s a time when the entire downtown area will be transformed into an art gallery, including parts of the Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus.

GVSU is hosting seven new ArtPrize entries located throughout the campus, including the DeVos Building, the L.V. Eberhard Center, the Fred M. Keller Engineering Lab and the John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering.

The variety of artwork displayed ranges from the watercolor painting “Lake and Land Michigan” by Jaleelah Ahmed to the aluminum sculpture “Freedom Bound” by Charles McGee.

Other GVSU featured artists include Anita Bates, the West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics, Heather Keesler, Peter Middleton and Juan Luna.

Each piece offers a different element of art and keeps audiences intrigued as they walk across the Pew Campus.

“Scrap is Beautiful – the view from Stuart’s eye” by Luna pays tribute to Stuart B. Padnos, the former senior vice president at Louis Padnos Iron and Metal Company.

Luna was a long-time collaborator with Padnos, working at his company and helping him complete his sculpture visions. Luna’s 6-foot tall ArtPrize piece was created from scrap metals into a colorful piece that resembles some of Padnos’s work.

Padnos, who died in April, was known for his unique sense of art. With vivid colors and scrap metals he created a masterpiece – much like the sculpture Luna has created for this year’s ArtPrize.

Some of his work can be seen spread throughout GVSU’s Allendale Campus. Most prominently is his iconic marching band sculpture that stays in formation across from the Kirkhof Center.
ArtPrize 2012 officially begins Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. and runs until Oct. 7.

The first round of voting runs until Sept. 29, when the top 10 entries will be chosen. Voters then have until Oct. 4 to choose the $200,000 top prizewinner.

All the GVSU exhibits are free and open to the public Monday-Thursday from noon-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon-10 p.m., and Sunday noon-6 p.m.

The collection can also be viewed online at gvsu.edu/artgallery or through the free Art at GVSU application available in the Apple App Store, or on the Android market.

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