Art Prize - third time visit

Yesterday, Sept. 29, marked my third visit to Art Prize. I wanted to get to the three main venues I hadn't been able to visit last Friday, and catch whatever else I could. I decided to take the car downtown and park at Cathedral Square, the only main venue I hadn't yet visited. Figured (correctly) that there would be some free parking there. Visited all the artwork at the square, then caught the shuttle bus to downtown. Got off at the Grand Rapids Art Museum again as there was one exhibit that I wanted to see that had been temporarily closed last Friday. Stopped first to participate in a photography entry that was taking everyone's pictures. Haven't yet checked out to see what mine looked like! Then to the museum for a visit to the artwork made with salt and clay. Not permanent, it will disappear at the end of the competition.

Then off to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place, the two other venues I really wanted to see. Neat artwork there, of course. Then headed toward the Hub and stopped at Calder Plaza for a few more pieces along the way. The left picture, entitled Roy G. Biv, was at Calder Plaza. Then a visit to the Hub where I bought a few Art Prize souvenirs. One was a bag and I had the clerk put my purchases in the bag rather than a plastic bag. Went around the corner and caught the shuttle back down to Cathedral Square. Once on the bus, I started to look at my purchases. Realized that the clerk hadn't put my pin and pen into the reusable bag. Debated for quite a while and finally decided to get off at Cathedral Square anyway, then try to find a short term meter near the Hub. The shuttle takes about 45 minutes to go all the way around the route so I was looking at a long ride to go all the way back to the Hub on the shuttle, then down to Cathedral Square.

Got my car, drove up to downtown, and had to circle the block(s) a few times, including a turn down a wrong way street, before I found a meter. Went inside and they had realized their mistake almost immediately. They had my missing items set aside and were glad I'd returned. So was I.

Headed home from there, then to Awana. Once I got home, put in my last votes for what I'd seen today, downloaded my pictures, and called it a day. I have probably about 5-6 hundred pictures which means I saw close to half of what was out there. Missed a lot of the little venues which were in restaurants and other businesses. Some weren't open during the weekday until evening.

This has been incredible. This much art right in my own backyard. The top ten are announced this evening, then I can vote for my favorite of the top ten. Winners announced in a week or so, top prize is $250,000.