Photo Credit: ArtPrize
ArtPrize Eight, taking place in downtown Grand Rapids from Wednesday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 9, will feature work from faculty in two departments.
Dr. Charles Cusack, associate professor of computer science, has entered “Increasing
Asquareness,” constructed of Lego bricks. Even though squares may seem simple, Cusack
says what seems to be random may have an unnoticed structure. He hopes his piece encourages
viewers to not only take a closer look in order to discover all of its intricacies,
but also to take a closer look at others in order to discover who they really are.
“Increasing Asquareness” will be on display at Fifth Third Bank/Warner Norcross &
Judd LLP, located at 111 Lyon NW.
Pianist Steve Talaga, adjunct assistant professor of music, has entered “Deadman’s Hill,” a recorded musical work. The piece depicts his childhood experience of sledding down Deadman’s Hill in Bay City. In the recording, Talaga is accompanied by Hope music professor Tom Lockwood (saxophone). “Deadman’s Hill” can be heard at the Women’s City Club, located at 254 E Fulton St.
Now in its eighth year, ArtPrize continues to be known as “a radically open, independently
organized 
international art competition.” According to The Art Newspaper, ArtPrize is recognized
as “the most-attended public art event on the planet.” The event was also highlighted
in The New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2016.” In 2015, there were more than 430,000
attendees.
Spanning across a three-square-mile area in downtown Grand Rapids, ArtPrize entries can be found in museums, galleries, bars, restaurants, theaters, hotels, public parks, walls and bridges. The highly communal artworks are voted on by a jury of art experts and the public with two $200,000 grand prizes being awarded. This year, there are 1,453 entries of art in the competition.
More information about ArtPrize is available online at artprize.org.