Law firms continue unwavering support for ArtPrize and artists

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PHOTO ABOVE COURTESY OF VARNUM; ALL OTHER PHOTOS BY CYNTHIA PRICE

by Cynthia Price
Legal News

The legal profession provides venues, funding, and artist support for ArtPrize, and many have been doing it all four years of the “radically open” art competition which transforms downtown Grand Rapids each fall.

Law firms are drawn to the sense of community ArtPrize creates, or they have a strong commitment to supporting art and local artists, or both.

“ArtPrize continues to draw our community together,” said Douglas E. Wagner, managing partner of Warner Norcross and Judd.  “Since 2009 it has been an event that connects people not only to wonderful, thought-provoking art, but also to each other and the city of Grand Rapids itself.”

Warner Norcross, along with Fifth Third Bank, sponsored 24 artists this year, many local but some from as far away as Japan and Quebec.

The two also sponsor the mobile phone app, which allows people (as long as the Maps feature indicates that they are within ArtPrize boundaries) to register, preview art, find venues, and vote.

Varnum played a large and interesting role in ArtPrize 2012, as they sponsored the two-dimensional juried prize.

ArtPrize winners may receive prize money in one of two ways: either by winning a top place in the popular vote as visitors to art venues choose their favorites, or by selection in one of five areas by a highly-qualified judge.

After juror Tyler Green chose the top five entrants in 2-D, ArtPrize staff asked Varnum partners and art experts Dan Molhoek and Dirk Hoffius, who will present the top award to the artist Green chooses at Friday’s ceremony, to participate in a video of them visiting each. They agreed, and went to such venues as Site:Lab, Fountain Street Church, and Pub 43.

Varnum’s long tradition of supporting Michigan-based artists is reflected in the artwork in their offices and their marketing materials. The firm has also worked with Kendall College of Art and Design students for more than 25 years to develop their annual picnic poster. This year student artwork was featured on the invitation to Varnum’s ArtPrize party, which took advantage of the firm’s 17th floor location to view the “Lights in the Night” sky lantern release by artists Mark Carpenter and Dan Johnson.

Miller Johnson featured art on the street in front of their Calder Plaza Building office, and Barnes and Thornburg sponsored a 100%-recycled-material dragon by John Andrews named “Norm.”

Additional “patron” law firms included Dickinson Wright and McGarry Bair. Clark Hill is a “contributor” and Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge is a “friend.”

The red-white-and-blue paint on plywood panel “AmeriCAN,” sponsored by Rhoades McKee, came from the imagination of Grand Rapids native and farmer Charlee Cordes. She says, “Painting the plywood black first... made the bold colors of our American Flag pop.”

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