People look at "The Living History Project: Stories Told by Michigan's Oldest Old" during the first week of ArtPrize at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids. Photo courtesy of Bob Gould
Although ArtPrize takes place in Grand Rapids and features creative work from individuals around the world, two projects from MSU faculty are on display in the competition.
Advertising and public relations professor Henry Brimmer and journalism professor Geri Zeldes each had their respective pieces named to two of ArtPrizes’ shortlist of potential winners.
Zeldes’ piece made the public’s list of the top-25 best time-based artwork, while Brimmer’s unique piece was named one of the five best 2014 installation entries by official 2014 ArtPrize jurors.
Zeldes entered ArtPrize for the first time this year. She and a group of MSU students created four short videos documenting the hardships and experiences from the lives of the elderly. The project, titled “The Living History Project: Stories Told by Michigan’s Oldest Old,” spotlights four subjects whose ages range from the late 80s to a 105 year old.
One of the Zeldes’ interviewees is a Holocaust survivor. Another grew up during the Great Depression, and another served overseas in World War II.
“We wanted to interview these people about what historical event has impacted their life the most,” Zeldes said. “These are windows into historical moments that our generations have not been exposed to.”
One of Zeldes’ assistants on the project, sophomore neuroscience and journalism double major Bhavya Thamman, said that while the video features elderly subjects, the purpose of the piece was to communicate the miracle of life to people of all ages.
“The theme throughout all of the stories of the four people highlighted is how much they appreciate their lives,” Thamman said. “That is such an important thing for people of my generation to see because it makes me wonder if we will be that grateful and that content with our lives when we get to that age.”
The exhibit is located in the DeVos Place, about a half mile north of Van Andel Arena. Accompanying the video is an old-fashioned short dress made completely of vintage photographs from one subject’s life — 94-year-old Ronnie Fagin.
Brimmer, a four-time ArtPrize participant, has received attention for his piece titled “There’s something happening here.” The work features nine separate black silhouette statues, some armed with fake weapons, standing atop the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in downtown Grand Rapids.
This is not the first time Brimmer has found himself on ArtPrize’s shortlist of top projects. His 2012 creation “Gravity matters little,” which also featured art from atop the Grand Rapids skyline, was recognized as one of the festival’s best.
Despite developing a reputation as one of ArtPrize’s best year-to-year entrants, Brimmer doesn’t like to call himself an artist.
“I dabble in the arts, I enjoy the freedom that it enables me, and like that I can do whatever I want, or whatever I can afford, or whatever I can dream up and concoct,” he said.
As for the meaning behind Brimmer’s ominous 2014 submission, he’d prefer to leave that up to those who view his work.
“It’s hard, but I try to not make (the submission) mine,” Brimmer said. “Now it’s public, and everybody should invent their own narrative; everybody should see whatever they feel they want to see.”
Public voting for ArtPrize ended Sunday, and attendees must be within the Grand Rapids city limits to cast their ballot online. 2014 ArtPrize winners will be announced at The Grand Rapids Civic Center on Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
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