Avenue for the Arts
Curator Spotlight: Michael Demaagd Rodriguez
by (DwellingPlaceCo...)
Submitted 04-06-2015 under NONPROFITS
“I don’t identify primarily as an artist, but I do consider myself an active part of the "art ecosystem" in roles as a collector, a builder, and most recently, as a curator.” These are the words of Michael DeMaagd...
Art.Downtown. to highlight hundreds of local artists at one night event
by (mackenziebush13)
Submitted 03-31-2015 under LOCAL LIFE
This year's Art.Downtown. event will feature 400 different artists displaying their work in 38 venues across the city. The event looks to highlight local artists and musicians and help build a sustainable creative community in downtown Grand...
DisArt meets Art.Downtown.
by (DwellingPlaceCo...)
Submitted 02-24-2015 under NONPROFITS
Despite the assumption that everyone has the same spectator experience, not everyone “sees” artwork in the same way. A new festival coming to Grand Rapids this spring will serve to change perceptions about Disabled artists, opening an...
First Fridays to return to Division corridor
by (DwellingPlaceCo...)
Submitted 02-03-2015 under NEWS
Avenue for the Arts will host its first First Friday event of the season on Friday, February 6. Pop-up galleries and art venues will be open along Division Ave. between Fulton St. and Wealthy St. from 6-10 p.m. Not only is this the first of the...
Craft House expands programming with "Kitchen Gallery"
by (erictank)
Submitted 01-06-2015 under NEWS
Craft House, a contemporary art gallery on the South Division corridor, is expanding programming by adding six new artists to the live-in end of the studio space aptly named "The Kitchen Gallery:" the work quite literally hangs in the...
Walking a tightrope between race, art in Grand Rapids
by (DwellingPlaceCo...)
Submitted 12-16-2014 under PLACE-MATTERS
Derrick Hollowell drops a stack of large paper bags onto the floor. He turns toward me and says “We’re going to curate this show together.” The bags are full of paintings and sketches composed by Hollowell during his 10 years of...
Portrait: Artists deal with self, identity, culture at Free Radical 2014
by (dinderbeck)
Submitted 11-24-2014 under OPINION
Throughout art history we have seen the common theme of the self-portrait. Whether Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Avadon, Picasso, Warhol or Ai Weiwei, these images have become an important vehicle for artists to explore. These works allow artists to take a...
How I fell in love with a place
by (DwellingPlaceCo...)
Submitted 11-18-2014 under PLACE-MATTERS
Dedicated involvement takes many forms, and over time our relationship to an organization can shift from deeply personal to ancillary and back again. This month, artist and professor Taylor Cole Greenfield reflects on the impact of getting involved...
Imagination Creations Hair & Vintage celebrates decade of success
by (erictank)
Submitted 11-18-2014 under INNOVATION-SPOTLIGHT
Imagination Creations (IC), the vintage boutique and hair salon run by proprietor Heather McGartland, boasts 10 successful years this December. From the early years peddling her hand crafted art goods locally at the Fulton Street Farmers Market or...
Exploring Free Radical 2014: Experiences with two galleries among many
by (DwellingPlaceCo...)
Submitted 11-12-2014 under NONPROFITS
If you made your way along the South Division business district last weekend, it would have been hard not to have absorbed some inspiration from all the temporary gallery spaces showcasing West Michigan's creative scene. With over 20 storefront...