Send us Fan Mail

Coleman Brook Sr is in his first years as the Deputy Director of ArtPrize. In this episode we discuss his background, what drives his passion for ArtPrize and what he thinks the event needs to succeed.

Send us Fan Mail

Chris LaPorte won ArtPrize 2010 with his piece Cavalry, American Officers, 1921.
He also placed in 10th in 2012 with City Band. Both are giant pencil drawings that stir the imagination and make the viewer marvel at the time and effort it took to complete and master.

Chris is an Associate Professor of Art at Aquinas College. He is modest and introspective and a passionate supporter of ArtPrize. Though 14 years had passed since we last sat down for an interview, it felt like two old friends reconnecting.

Special thanks to WOOD TV 8 for allowing us to use file video from the stations archives for this episode.

Send us Fan Mail

Since August of 2021 Al Vanderberg has served as the County Administrator/Controller for Kent County MI.

Al is a firm believer in the power of collaboration to accomplish goals across both private and public sectors. Like ArtPrize Executive Director, Tyler Loftis, Al believes that there is a spirit of cooperation and experimentation that make things possible.

Kent County is a title sponsor of ArtPrize. Al talks about why it is important for the County to show this level of support and what the event of ArtPrize has meant for the people who live work and play in Kent County Mi.

Send us Fan Mail

As a Grand Rapids native and full-time New York-based artist, Tyler Loftis brings a strong passion to his new role of Executive Director of ArtPrize.

Loftis may be new to this position but he is not an ArtPrize rookie.
"There's been a lot of different iterations," Loftis said in a recent interview with local media. "I was on the board, I've sponsored it, I've been an artist in it, and now, I am the executive Director."

Loftis believe that ArtPrize could only exist in Grand Rapids and he sees the city becoming an important destination for artists and art lovers, year round.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode you will hear from Rosalyn Bliss. Bliss was serving as a GR 2nd Ward Commissioner when Rick DeVos first presented the idea of ArtPrize at City Hall. She subsequently served two terms as Mayor of Grand Rapids and has been a champion for ArtPrize since the day she first heard about it.

You will hear how the history of ArtPrize now intertwines with the history of Grand Rapids and how she sees the future of the event.

Send us Fan Mail

Stephen Halko serves as Dean of the Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University. In addition to holding a BFA and an MFA, he has been in Grand Rapids for every ArtPrize since it began.
Halko also serves on the ArtPrize steering committee. That experience, and the time he has spent in Grand Rapids gives him a unique perspective on the event as an insider who came from the outside.

Halko is fond of saying, "I am not from Grand Rapids but I got here as soon as I could."

His artist statement on his personal website says:

No one can be certain of too many things.
I am certain my work means something.
I am equally certain I do not know what it is.

Much of that sentiment is reflected in this conversation.

Send us Fan Mail

Mark Washington is the City Manager for the City of Grand Rapids. Mark is also a former ArtPrize artist and in his previous role as Assistant City Manager in Austin Texas he was heavily involved in the organization of South By Southwest.

Mark explains the role of the City of GR as well as the need to support artists. This is a fascinating conversation with one of the biggest ArtPrize champions you are likely to hear from.

Send us Fan Mail

Birgit Klohs is the former CEO of the Right Place. She has served on numerous boards and committees. She has "been in the room" for almost every major event or decision that has impacted Grand Rapids in the last 20 plus years.

Now that she has "rewired, not retired," Birgit remains one of the most influential faces of the business community in the West Michigan Region. Her new role as the co-founder and executive chair of the New Community Transformation Fund is already making waves in the Grand Rapids business community.

Here is what a lot of people do not know about Birgit, though. She is a huge fan of art and combined with her business background she make perhaps the ultimate source on the economic impact of ArtPrize.