Short List venues see interest boost

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - There is already an increase in people headed to see pieces of art that made the ArtPrize Short List, which was released Monday night.

Site:Lab is housed in the old Grand Rapids Public Museum on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and State Street SE. It's home to "Habitat" by Alois Kronschalaeger, which made the top five in two separate juried categories -- 2D and 3D Art.

The artist has left all of the old diorama from the old public museum largely intact, but he has added elements that invite you to become part of them. It is particularly neat for people who remember the old museum.

Tom Clinton with Site:Lab said the venue had indeed seen increased interest as early as Tuesday morning.

Site:Lab itself also got a nod in the Outstanding Venue category.

At the UICA on the corner of FultonS treet and Division Avenue, there are three pieces of distinction.

"Song of Lift" by Martijn van Wagtendonk made the Top 25 in the public vote and is a finalist for the 3D Art juried award. Also at the UICA, "Collective Cover Project" by Ann Morton it is also in the top 5 for the 3D juried award, as is "More or Less" by ABCD 83.

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Photos: ArtPrize 2012 Short List

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"Song of Lift," according to the ArtPrize website, is a 5-minute automated show set to music. Suspended butterfly-like sculptures move in time with the music, accentuated by changing lights.

"More or Less" is an eclectic collection of objects and video projections.

"Collective Cover Project" is made up of items found on the road. ArtPrize-goers can use their smartphones to find out the story behind each piece.

UICA staff says as soon as the doors opened Tuesday morning, they started noticing something.

"We have seen an increase in traffic," said UICA Public Relations Manager Phil Meade. "We have seen a lot people coming in and asking, 'Where are these pieces? We really want to see them.' And so it has been a great opportunity to let them see the rest of our pieces but also see the ones that are kind of more popular as well."

All of that is good news to Chris Silva, one of the creators of "More or Less." He was concerned with his location in the basement of the UICA.  

"We could have been totally lost down here," Silva said. "It is a nice little boost, I think, for anyone who is missing the fact that we are down here. This whole museum is full of such awesome pieces. It's great to be in such great company."

Printable map to entires named as juried award finalists ( pdf)