Paper airplanes and big ArtPrize crowds

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Despite a stiff southwest breeze, about 100,000 paper airplanes fell almost directly down from six downtown rooftops -- which was Rob Bliss's ArtPrize entry.

Bliss, a Grand Rapids social networker, had multicolored paper airplanes launched from six downtown rooftops while people below sang. There were about 20,000 people downtown for the event, according to the Department of Special Events.

The airplanes were timed and thrown in six shifts, just minutes apart.

"(At first), I just thought, Rob, c'mon honey, they're not gonna let you do it," said Denise Blumberg, Bliss's mother.

But he did.

"I am just busting with pride of my baby brother," Bliss's sister said.

Although thousands came to see it this ArtPrize entry, one might ask, is it really art?

"(There were) so many schoolkids and churches and choirs and volunteers," Blumberg said. "It's like, the whole community did this one, and that to me is what makes it special."

On the ArtPrize Web site, Bliss said , "This once-in-a-lifetime event will be an event of brotherhood, a celebration of life and a reminder that we are all in this together."

On Sunday, he said his event makes everyone a winner.

"So many of these people are going to go see all of the other ArtPrize venues and stuff, and I think that's really good for everybody," Bliss said.

He showed a documentary of the launch immediately after and a 10-person cleaning company was hired to pick up the airplanes.

There also were recycling bins along Monroe Avenue, which was shut down for the event.