Prize of fame

One of them is Haslett artist Heith Lantz, a first-time ArtPrize entrant. He worked for nearly three months on “The Life of a Great White Pine,” a 400-pound, wood-burn piece inspired by a tree he and his wife saw on their honeymoon in the Upper Peninsula.

“We (had) followed a river down a trail and came across a pine tree that we couldn’t put our arms around,” Lantz said. “It was inspiring. I (wanted to) make a piece that would move somebody the way that tree moved me.”

“Great White Pine” will be displayed at Founders Brewing Co., a brewpub and performance space. The piece is composed of multiple birch plywood panels assembled into the shape of a tree. Lantz started work on his piece in March. He incorporated 12 animals into the work, including his favorite part: A raccoon in the bottom left-hand corner. He named the raccoon Roscoe.

“I spent the longest on him, so I kinda bonded with him,” he said. “The longer I can keep someone in front of my piece, the better.”

Another local artist relying on curiosity to hook viewers this year is Henry Brimmer. His piece, “there’s something happening here … ,” is made of nine militaristic figures in silhouette that have been installed along the rooftop and ledges of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art. Brimmer, a graphic designer, photographer and professor at Michigan State University, declined to comment on the meaning behind the piece, but waxed philosophic on the nature of what he does.

“I don’t consider myself an artist,” Brimmer said. “More a visual communicator.”

The piece has generated a lot of media buzz throughout West Michigan since its installation two weeks ago. The name for this the piece comes from Buffalo Springfield’s 1967 protest song, “For What It’s Worth.”

“It is interesting that a song written 50 years ago can be so relevant to today,” Brimmer said.

Brimmer’s conversation-starting ArtPrize entry in 2012 was “Gravity Matters Little,” another silhouette piece suspended high over the streets of Grand Rapids of a man walking a high wire. Brimmer said despite his fear of heights, he had no problem assembling the pieces, some as high as 180 feet.

“I don’t like heights, but its kind of fun,” When asked why he contributes to ArtPrize, Brimmer seemed to revel in the spectacle of it. How often is art the center of attention?

“It is truly a phenomenal event,” he said.

“The first time I went, I saw people wrapped around the block. You only see (lines like that) at rock concerts or football games.”

ArtPrize

Various locations throughouit downtown Grand Rapids Today-Sunday, Oct. 12 FREE artprize.org

Lansing-area ArtPrize entrants:  

Jim Alfredson, Lansing

“Run Away With You”

Henry Brimmer, East Lansing

“there’s something happening here … ”

Matias Brimmer, East Lansing

“The Explosive Plastic Inevitable”

Allen Deming, Grand Ledge

“The One Tree”

Michelle Detering, East Lansing

“Animals”

Katherine Erickson, Lansing

“After The Day Is Done”

Elyse Gambino, Lansing

“A Study in Captivity: The Men and the Chair & The Suicide Bride”

Sarah Gilmore de Ruiter, Haslett

“Mostly Water”

Doug Heilman, East Lansing

“Tree Spirits: Illuminating Perception and Transition”

Troy Huddelson, Lansing

“A Timeless Bond”

Rob Klajda, Lansing

“Shake the World”

Heith Lantz, Haslett

“The Life Of A Great White Pine”

Judy Kransz, East Lansing

“Coral Hibiscus”

Mary McGuire, Lansing

“Love Struck”

Nancy McRay, East Lansing

“Great Felt Lakes”

Stuart Knickerbocker, East Lansing

“M Lisa Opted”

Suzan Rozell, Lansing

“Ladies and Their Purses”

Gordon Satoh, Holt

“Ephemeral Epiphany”

Tom Sheerin, Lansing

“They call the wind Mariah”

Brian Snyder, Lansing

“Puzzled Piece”

Mary Ann Southworth, Grand Ledge

“Down the Lane”

Mason Taylor, East Lansing

“A Baling Wire Horse”

Pamela Timmons, Bath

“Supporting the World”

Brian Whitfield, Lansing

“400 Miles as the Crow Flies”

Laura Wixson, Eaton Rapids

“Memento Mori: Apothecary”

Richard-Gene Wolf, Grand Ledge

“Michigan From All Angles”

Katie Woodhams, Lansing

“Unbound”

Geri Alumit Zeldes, East Lansing

“The Living History Project: Stories Told by Michigan’s Oldest Old”