Does taxidermy violate ArtPrize rules?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - There is debate whether one of the works in the ArtPrize Top 10 should be disqualified because it includes taxidermy animals.

One critic sent a scathing letter to ArtPrize officials saying their own rules should disqualify "The Chase" by  Artistry of Wildlife (Dennis Harris, Paul Thompson, Andrew Harris, Joseph Miles and Jamie Outman), which is displayed inside the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. "The Chase" is a form of art taxidermy that shows five wolves attacking a moose.

ArtPrize officials are defending the art, saying it will not be disqualified.

The artist who sent the letter to ArtPrize is Sylvia Rombis from Ohio. She is the curator of the "Bridging Humanity" display on the Gillett Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids. That piece did not make the Top 10.

Rombis says "The Chase" is in violation of ArtPrize rules:

" The Chase on the other hand. MUST BE DISQUALIFIED. It violates 2 official rules of Artprize. Harm of animals and fraudulent misrepresentation.
"1. “ArtPrize may disqualify any Entry if it determines, in its sole discretion, that any persons or animals were harmed in the production of such Entry”. As a Taxidermy piece, this needs no explanation. 
"2. “This 3 dimensional visual portrayal of a scene in nature lets the viewer get into "The Chase" . It is entirely sculpted using clay, foam, steel and paper mache inside the subjects”…how about the outside…these animals were killed, skinned and stuffed for our viewing pleasure as an “art” piece.  Willful intent to misrepresent their entry...a fraud."

The artist of "The Chase" told 24 Hour News 8 the animal skins were purchased from Alaska where they were hunted or trapped legally -- and according to ArtPrize, that is OK.

Officials say the rule is intended to prevent artists from doing something like bringing animals to Grand Rapids to kill as part of a live demonstration. If the animals are killed before the ArtPrize process begins, they don't violate the rule.

"We don't go around disqualifying things that use leather or other objects or materials that come from animals or creatures," said ArtPrize Public Relations Director Brian Burch.

In the letter, Rombis has other critiques of ArtPrize, including the implementation of a Short List and ArtPrize's juried awards.

== Download and read the full "Dear ArtPrize" letter (.docx) ==

Inside woodtv.com:

Photos: The ArtPrize 2012 Top 10

Printable map: Juried category finalists (pdf)

Printable map: Locations of Top 10 finalists (pdf)