ArtPrize 8: Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind Donation

General

Donated panel from Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind

The Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind orange panels with thousands of ribbons signifying a promise to be kind have been donated to the following schools and organizations:

Westwood Middle School of Grand Rapids, Michigan
William C. Abney Academy of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Southwest Community Campus of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kentwood Public Schools of Kentwood, Michigan
West Michigan Academy of Spring Lake, Michigan
Saranac Community Schools of Saranac, Michigan
Wedgewood Christian Services of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind Voted Top 25 in Time-Based

General

Orange ribbons being tied on to Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind at ArtPrize Eight

We are so excited. ArtPrize Eight visitors voted Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind into the Top 25 Time-Based! Thousands have interacted with our anti-bullying entry Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

100,000 ribbons have been tied onto the artwork to illustrate solidarity in the movement to eliminate bullying. By tying an orange ribbon onto the mesh canvas, visitors agree to live by the Golden Rule: “Do onto others, as you would have them do unto you.” Here’s how Jeff Veley, bullying prevention expert of Love Changes It All, puts it: “Treat everyone like a friend, especially your enemies.”

Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind: Thank you!

From the Heart

Night scene of Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind full of orange ribbons tied on by ArtPrize visitors

Thank you to the thousands of ArtPrize visitors for helping us to successfully complete our eight years of ArtPrize. It has been an amazing journey. I would like to acknowledge and thank over fifty volunteers—plus the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore. You did a fabulous job serving the ArtPrize guests and showing compassion.

A special thank you to my dear friend, Kathy Pluymert, for her faithful support as volunteer coordinator for the last few years of ArtPrize. I couldn’t have expanded the size and scope of my work without her. I would also like to thank my new friend and creative project manager, Marijo Heemstra. She has been an amazing asset and has helped work through several challenges in creating Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind. Metal artisan Steve Umstead did a fabulous job crafting the metal works portion of my installation. Plus I want to thank my team of Grand Valley State University and Cornerstone University interns and a team of carpenters who stepped in at the last minute to help with installing the work at the Ford Museum.

A huge thank you to the Ford Presidential Museum for hosting my work for another year. We also are grateful for all those who shared about their courageous journeys through bullying (#ColorMeKind). And, lastly, for the last couple of months, Josh Stewart followed us around with his video camera and put together a great film representing my work and healing message.

Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind

ArtPrize Eight (2016) Artist

Coloring with Kindness
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
September 21 to October 9, 2016
Voted Top 25 in Time-Based
(Located outside on the museum plaza)

Tell Us Your Story. #ColorMeKind

Watch the Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind video…