Art.Downtown: Artists Take Over (Thankfully)

While ArtPrize seems to attract more and more outsiders to their Fall event, I am a huge fan of Art.Downtown. With each debut, it gives our local arts community a chance to showcase the stuff we are made of and what has been slowly growing over decades as a result of artists hosting and taking control of large scale events. To say I really loved the “Artists Take Over” stickers popping up all over town is an understatement.

It is with much excitement that Art.Downtown debuts in a tiny arts district that is sure to overflow with patrons of the arts as the free trolley service shuttles them about. Perhaps those partiers on Ionia Ave. might actually crawl off that well-worn party street to see what the buzz is all about on Friday night.

This year, a total of 32 venues hosting more than 300 artists will entertain and enchant the more than 3,000 people expected to dominate the downtown of Grand Rapids for this one-night-only affair.  

It is advisable that you prep for a big night, stopping only long enough to recharge your stomach at one of the many venues and eateries offering quick eats as you attempt to see as much work as humanly possible.

If you are looking to plot your course, all of the venues will have maps or you can secure one of many different formatted maps at the Art.Downtown website.

Be sure to catch some of the new debuts and unique aspects of the night, including: the
Debut of Gallery 303’s God’s Kitchen gift shop now selling soup bowls year round; Calvin College’s art gallery where a show, Monster Sightings, is creating great advance buzz for these photo-based works; a stop at one of the two GVSU spaces including 52 GVSU art students showing from four different emphasis areas — graphic design, drawing, visual studies and papermaking.

Also from GVSU will be Paul Wittenbraker’s Curatorial Studio Visual Studies students who have curated an exhibition of works from the University of Iowa’s MFA program in Intermedia. These curators have been working over long distances with the visiting artists from the Iowa program. You will not want to miss this cross-country exhibition hosted on Division Ave. at Fulton Street (across from the former JA Building).

Also arriving on Friday along Division Ave. (and for one night only) will be SiTE:LAB at the old Harris Furniture Building and former home of the society called the “Knights of Pythias.”

SiTE:LAB curator Paul Amenta is teaming up with playwright and GVSU professor Austin Bunn (Rust) to transform the building into the setting for a unique performance piece being written by Bunn. There will be two performances at this space (7 & 9 p.m.). The event seeks to bring together music, furniture making, 3-D, painting and time based works from various artists and educational institutions, as well as theatre, all under one roof (and three floors). When a performance is not in play, patrons are free to roam the space and explore. You will need to become a member to enter the third floor, which is limited access and requires a special access key you have to see to believe.

It is my hope that people will understand the need to move about and not land at just one location. Hundreds of hours go into producing this one night and it would be a shame to not see as much as possible. Here’s a challenge: try and see as much as you can, and then let’s all gather at Pub 43 to talk smack after the event wraps at 11 p.m..


Admission: Free