Sisters share a unique bond. From childhood through adult years, the relationship develops as we come to a deeper appreciation of both our similarities and our differences. We can learn a lot from each other, and at times help broaden each other’s perspectives, especially when in the context of that trusted familial environment.
It’s no secret that we have a love affair with water in West Michigan. We choose to live in a state that, while the four seasons are beautiful, the winters can make less-hardy people question our sanity. But we know how much sweeter that makes the sunsets at Lake Michigan in the summer, how clear blue is the water and how soft the sand that makes zipping noises as you walk barefoot through it.
Contemporary art at its best surprises you. It offers you something you haven’t seen before and often alters your perspective. Wired & Wrapped: Sculpture by Seungmo Park, opening Dec. 20 at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA), promises to do just that.
ignoring most venues and social graces for two straight days, my trusty photographer and I excitedly combined our favorite annual art contest with our favorite not-so-annual contest of drinking too much. We accomplished very little of our original intents, but saw anything worth seeing — according to us.
Artful Exploration of the Practical MindA cultural study of the Midwest reveals an interesting trajectory. InThe Middle West: Its Meaning in American Culture, geographer James R. Shortridge notes around the turn of the last century, the Midwest enjoyed a prosperous time and was revered in the national consciousness as the most “American” part of the nation. The self-reliance of the inhabitants secured the region’s identity as the ideal America. There was a strong commitment to progressivism, with an emphasis on education, women’s rights and temperance.
Artists often take inspiration from their environment. Georgia O’Keeffe moved to New Mexico for the light and landscape. Andy Warhol thrived on the constant buzz of New York’s social scene. Many a muse was found at the ballet for Edgar Degas.
Q&A with Vicki Wright from the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts on its 90th anniversary and exhibition celebrating both KIA’s collection and local artists it inspires.
Con Artist Crew, an eclectic group of West Michigan artists, is giving audiences universal accessibility to shows. The group has developed ArtLustr, an interactive electronic still program that can be used anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.
Picture this: you just bought the latest release from your favorite band. You can’t wait to listen to it from start to finish, to really let it unfold, to go back and give it another go after the first run through. Now imagine, would you do this on your tiny little laptop in a crowded space with lots of noise all around?
What makes ArtPrize successful is its ability to polarize the community. Is it legitimate art if anyone can enter? Just because the public likes the piece the most, does it actually make it the best? And why are there so many big-ass pieces of art? Like any big event, there are the hits, the misses and the things that just make you laugh out loud. We've found some of the best.
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