Grand Rapids, $449K, and WTF Is That?

by Art Fag City on October 2, 2009 · 11 comments Newswire

POST BY MARINA GALPERINA

Jason HackenwerthEcstasy of the Scarlett Empress at ArtPrize, 2009

1,262 artists participated, the public voted, and there you have it — ten meh-inspiring artworks by Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize Finalists. Competing for the grand prize of $250K, contestant work includes a stone Nessie, a picture of water, a moose, and an oversized, pun-titled table. According to the Detroit Free Press, the ten “splashy, attention-getting works” are contending for a “total purse of $449,000, the richest of any contemporary art competition in the world.” Really. Of all these democratically-chosen tacky wonders, I chose the tackiest and most wondrous one of them all – NYC artist Jackson Hackenwerth’s thousand-balloon monster, Ecstasy of the Scarlett Empress. It would make a hell of a costume for the Deitch Art Parade, as would a t-shirt with an image of the work and the message “I Went to Grand Rapids Dressed Like This and All I Got Was $250K.”

{ 11 comments }

Giovanni October 2, 2009 at 5:23 pm

The downside of democracy… Also, Sarah Palin’s autobiography shot to #1 on Barnes and Noble’s list http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/30/palins-book-shoots-to-no-1/

Giovanni October 2, 2009 at 5:23 pm

The downside of democracy… Also, Sarah Palin’s autobiography shot to #1 on Barnes and Noble’s list http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/30/palins-book-shoots-to-no-1/

Giovanni October 2, 2009 at 1:23 pm

The downside of democracy… Also, Sarah Palin’s autobiography shot to #1 on Barnes and Noble’s list http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/30/palins-book-shoots-to-no-1/

Rondell Jenkins October 2, 2009 at 8:18 pm

Is that a big ole skrimp or something?

Rondell Jenkins October 2, 2009 at 4:18 pm

Is that a big ole skrimp or something?

Gregg October 3, 2009 at 12:35 pm

a lot of hot air….

Gregg October 3, 2009 at 8:35 am

a lot of hot air….

Willie Vinton October 3, 2009 at 4:04 pm

AFC’s barbed wit should stand a bit closer to *The Ecstasy of the Scarlett Empress*.

Willie Vinton October 3, 2009 at 12:04 pm

AFC’s barbed wit should stand a bit closer to *The Ecstasy of the Scarlett Empress*.

nemastoma October 5, 2009 at 12:55 pm

It’s a hybrid between a marine polychaete worm and a sea cucumber.

nemastoma October 5, 2009 at 8:55 am

It’s a hybrid between a marine polychaete worm and a sea cucumber.

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