U.P. artists to be featured at ArtPrize
ESCANABA — The 906 is about to storm Grand Rapids.
Over forty artists from the Upper Peninsula will be featured in venues across this year’s ArtPrize, an international art competition held annually in Grand Rapids. Many of those will be displaying their work in the new and exclusive U.P. Art Pavilion.
“It’s the first time a region has been represented at ArtPrize,” said City of Marquette Arts and Culture Manager Tiina Harris. “It is very much a prestigious venue. All the artists there are our best.”
“This is a world’s stage. These are people from all points of the planet,” said Ceramics Artist Scott Leipski of Gladstone, “Thousands of people attend and thousands of people participate. So to call myself one of those, I’m very blessed.”
The pavilion is the result of a collaboration between arts and cultural organizations — such as the Bonifas Arts Center in Escanaba and the Marquette Arts and Culture Center — that provide networking and exposure for artists from across the Upper Peninsula.
“We’re trying to build a new alliance between arts organizations and cultural organizations, and let them know, ‘let’s put it out there. Let’s strut our stuff,'” said Pasqua Warslter, Executive and Artistic Director at the Bonifas Art Center.
ArtPrize 2016 begins September 21st and runs through October 9th. Click here to find out more about ArtPrize. You can also visit the Bonifas Arts Center and the Marquette Arts and Culture Center websites.
[Photo courtesy Bonifas Arts Center / Marquette Arts and Culture Center]