ArtPrize 2010 winner returns to GRAM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The countdown to ArtPrize 2012 is nearly over with just one day to go.

Every year, The Grand Rapids Art Museum serves as a venue to some of the most popular pieces in the world's largest art competition. This year looks to be no exception.

Photos: ArtPrize 2012 inside The GRAM

Demand is high among artists to get their works into The GRAM. It's in a high-traffic area and the building specializes in showcasing art in the best light.

In the last two years, four pieces that made the Top 10 have been displayed there.

ArtPrize 2010's winner "Cavalry" by Chris LaPorte was displayed at The GRAM. It's an 8-foot tall pencil drawing that was done from a photograph LaPorte found in an antique store.

LaPorte is back at The GRAM this year -- but he has some stiff competition.

One is "Drawing Apparatus" by Robert Howsare.

Two turntables attached to pens churn out some very interesting pieces.

"It's a mesmerizing piece to watch," said GRAM Associate Curator Cindy Buckner.

And it poses an interesting question from those who view and listen to it.

"They may question, 'Is it really a work of art if the turntable is drew it?' So we invite those kinds of questions," said Buckner.

Adonna Khare is displaying a giant graphite work called "Elephants" that was still a work in progress as of Tuesday.

When Khare arrived at the museum, she wanted to continue the piece beyond the paper and onto the wall of the museum. She describes it as "stream-of-consciousness drawing," so she adds to it as she goes along.

LaPorte, meanwhile, is back at The GRAM with an even grander scale.

"City Band" is a 12-foot-tall graphite drawing that was inspired by LaPorte's grandfather's high school band in Bay City in the 1920's.

It's similar to his winning entry -- stunning in detail and shows off LaPorte 's skill as a draftsman.

"His technique is superb and that he is able to work on that scale and be that proficient is something that people really respond to," said Buckner.

Whether that technique will be enough to get LaPorte back in the winner's circle is still unknown. Voters will get to decide over the next three weeks.

But there's more art -- much more art -- to be seen than just the displays at The GRAM.

Organizers said they wanted to create a way for people to wander with some direction. So this year, they created three walking tours to guide people around the city and its more than 1,500 entries.

Stencils on the ground will take art enthusiasts on a path that takes in a lot of highlights, but also encourages a little independent sightseeing.

There is a three-mile, a six-mile and a nine-mile path.

The three-mile might take an hour, or it could take all day depending on how fast you walk and how closely to study each piece. If you want to really explore the entire ArtPrize boundry, the nine-mile path is for you.

All of the paths are clearly marked, so there is little chance of getting lost. All of them begin and end at the ArtPrize Hub on Sheldon Boulevard.

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