Tags
art, artprize, dragon, grand rapids, Grand Rapids Michigan, negative, Nick Jakubiak, opinion, Painting, Potential, prize, Sculpture, technology, top ten
As I talked about last week, it is amazing how much technology has grown and become a part of everything we do. Much like the revealed Epic Events iPhone app, there is so much potential ArtPrize has in terms of technology. Taking a look at the pieces themselves, and how just the use of new techniques, materials, and show-worthy movements reign in more than just a local crowd.
Through observation, the success of a piece is based solely on location and more obviously, the visual appearance. The entries in ArtPrize steer away from the stereotypical classic portraits, paintings, and sculptures and take on a more modern twist utilizing any sort of interesting science.
Let’s zoom in to what has become the most popular location, The B.O.B. More in particular, the sculpture Tired Pandas by Nick Jakubiak has managed to sneak its way into the top 10 pieces this year (2013). Although ArtPrize is an ever-changing example of advances in technology, the voters demonstrate that their support directs towards overused, or in less harsh terms, “old-fashioned” techniques. It basically goes against what I said in the last paragraph. With MLive revealing the current top 10 entries, they all include paintings and sculptures (2013).
It seems tired out (no pun intended) that Tired Pandas (pun intended) is a sculpture that uses recycled materials such as tires (okay, now this is getting ridiculous); a path of art that has been seen year after year. So, what is so different about this one? My guess is the cuteness factor. The comments on the MLive article show that they can’t believe it has received as much publicity as it has. So are these fans hiding from the fact that they just want something fuzzy and adorable winning the big bucks rather than the abstract, deep, and confusing?
The point of this article is that there is such a thing as being too popular. Even though attractions such as a fire breathing dragon complete with places to climb, a tail to control, and a dog to pet, it becomes to large to be considered a possible winner in my opinion, even though it found it’s way into the top 25, much like the rest of the entries outside the B.O.B. See? Location. (2013). It all sounds ridiculous, but the artists who stand proudly with their painting in a corner in a quiet room can receive more attention than the loud and large. Since ArtPrize brings in more than the pondering artist to be, the votes reflect the general public rather than the opinion of a professional critic. Hard work is hard work, but it’s all public appeal. The thing with the potential in technology and ArtPrize is that sometimes the potential doesn’t break out into a form of success. There will always be potential for new technology, but actually going through with the bigger, badder, and more electronic does not point automatically to “better”.
References:
ArtPrize.org. (2013). Tired Pandas. Retrieved from: http://www.artprize.org/nick-jakubiak/2013/tired-pandas
Kaczmarczyk, Jeffrey. (2013). ArtPrize 2013: Top 10 most popular entries revealed. Retrieved from: http://www.mlive.com/artprize/index.ssf/2013/09/artprize_2013_top_10_most_popular_entries_revealed.html
Staff myfoxDetroit.com. (2013). Detroit dragon ‘Gon KiRin’ voted Top 25 in Grand Rapids ArtPrize. Retrieved from: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/23520372/detroit-dragon-gon-kirin-voted-top-25-in-grand-rapids-artprize