ArtPrize Nine 2017!

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Detail of Let Go

ArtPrize Nine, Let Go (detail shown), Pamela Alderman, 19 x 6 feet, Multi media, 2017

I’ve actually lived through eight ArtPrizes, earned all eight t-shirts, and watched amazing provisions unfold over the past eight years. But even after eight years of ArtPrize experience, these questions still haunt me: Will I be able to pay for my big ideas? Will I be able to secure a top venue? Will my work communicate hope and healing? The struggle is always ongoing. But, thankfully, donors, the perfect venue, friends, and volunteers, come together every single time! All arrive as special gifts.

In September, my new interactive healing installation, Let Go, will debut at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for ArtPrize Nine.

Be an art patron! Purchase one of Pamela’s unique paintings to help fund her ArtPrize 2017 interactive healing installation.

Enjoying Summer!

It’s time to power down for the summer. See you back in September for Let Go at ArtPrize Nine. Enjoy barbecues and sunshine with your family and friends!

About ArtPrize

Since 2009, ArtPrize is the world’s largest open art competition. This 19-day event in Grand Rapids, Michigan draws more than 500,000 visitors with around 1500 participating artists. This unique event involves local and international artists, art, and active community participation. Veteran ArtPrize artist and facilitator Pamela Alderman is known for creating a new kind of artist/viewer work that invites audience collaboration. Her work lets others speak and respond. In 2015, her work, Hometown Hero, was voted into the Top 20 and finished 3rd Place for Time-Based exhibits. Pamela has been an ArtPrize artist since 2009.

Call for Artists: Arts in Ada 2017

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The 23rd Annual Arts in Ada Festival is now accepting applications for this year’s juried art exhibition on Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Over 90 artists and artisans will display and sell their fine art and fine crafts on the beautiful tree-lined Bronson Street in Ada, MI.

NEW! $1,200 IN CASH PRIZES! This year I will join the Ada Arts Council as a special guest Juror, and together we will award the top three fine art artists and the top craftsperson during the Arts in Ada celebration.

Cash awards are as follows:

Fine art:
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $150

Fine craft:
Best in Show: $250

APPLY TODAY! All visual art mediums will be considered, including but not limited to: painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, mosaics, mixed media and fine crafts. For more information, or to apply visit: adaarts.org. Applications are due on or before May 1, 2017.

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

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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…

Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind: Resolving Conflict

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Children viewing Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind at ArtPrize Eight

Violet, 7

When I was playing outside, a girl told me to do a backbend. I said, “No!”

But she said, “Do it now.”

I kept saying “No.”

Finally, I said, “If you stop bullying me, I will do a backbend.” Then she stopped so I did a backbend.

A special thank you to the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore for providing the stories. For reasons of security, names have been changed.

Bullying and Stress Management…

Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind

ArtPrize Eight (2016) Artist

Coloring with Kindness
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
September 21 to October 9, 2016
Vote 62626
(Located outside on the museum plaza)

Tell Us Your Story. #ColorMeKind

Watch the Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind video…

Kindness Matters

From the Heart

Because of Tracy’s physical defect, the other middle school students would taunt: “Don’t go near her. She’s got some sort of disease. Stay away or you’ll get it too.” The shunning pained her.

A couple of years later during high school, Tracy noticed Rick, another student sitting on the bus by himself. So Tracy asked Rick if she could sit next to him. The next day she sat next to him again. Soon Tracy and Rick sat together every day.

Ten months later, Rick finally confided, “The day I met you, I was going to clear out my locker and end it all with suicide. But when you sat next to me, I changed my mind. You gave me hope.”

Tracy had no idea that Rick was struggling. But because of her own difficulties in middle school, Tracy had learned to be kind and focus on others. In doing this, she saved Rick’s life. The power of kindness rewrote his life.

For reasons of security, names have been changed.

Stand up against bullying…

Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind

ArtPrize Eight (2016) Artist

Coloring with Kindness
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
September 21 to October 9, 2016
Vote 62626
(Located outside on the museum plaza)

Tell Us Your Story. #ColorMeKind

Watch the Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind video…