tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48717741846386956882024-03-13T08:33:49.925-04:00DeVos Place & DeVos Performance HallSMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-81170479195747959622016-04-07T09:16:00.003-04:002016-04-07T09:19:34.628-04:00Alton Brown Road Eats 2016: Calling All Fans for Recommendations!<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve been following Alton Brown online, than I’m sure
you’ve noticed the dozens of doughnuts, hot dogs and hamburgers he’s eaten on
the road during his last adventure, The Edible Inevitable Tour. Well he’s about
to do it again, this time for his all-new show called Eat Your Science, which
will be coming to DeVos Performance Hall on May 4<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since fan recommendations were spot on last time, Mr. Brown
is asking fans once again: Where should he eat? In each city for his tour, he’s
looking for coffee shops, restaurants, late-night snacks and sandwiches
available in the area. He prefers to keep it local and simple…nothing fancy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you know of a must-visit eatery or coffee shop in a Grand
Rapids, Michigan, tell Alton Brown on his Facebook or Twitter. Make sure you
use the hashtag #ABRoadEatsGR.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQyxYl_VSAdu_-qSweL5SIaKBzb-ctFIjGInmRGdB6GHfeEqKdNpZV0mrQs3lwj7acClJf4F9FETenVRqOTlCr-aXg25DIL1BIKTVq_e9ceGkVjgfC1kJFpXDM4CezGjiUd1pZr8RCM9r/s1600/ABL-EYS_Social_TwitterCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQyxYl_VSAdu_-qSweL5SIaKBzb-ctFIjGInmRGdB6GHfeEqKdNpZV0mrQs3lwj7acClJf4F9FETenVRqOTlCr-aXg25DIL1BIKTVq_e9ceGkVjgfC1kJFpXDM4CezGjiUd1pZr8RCM9r/s320/ABL-EYS_Social_TwitterCover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-15925138821956503092016-03-08T11:40:00.000-05:002016-03-08T14:46:03.922-05:00Brit Floyd: Meet the Band<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBESg0bcZ0lVILo3FtVMVHAI5ZnAtkUnCH4WZkBT-udK8ShwAiGdTBmJaAgAA3JY0RNgre6xLGbZDPKYMl_iiJjuxYUpB9JBnxLAlHaZHBFlwrv6oN_dw2YfYz3slutN_PN_8Bxos2UQyL/s1600/Brit+Floyd+Live_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBESg0bcZ0lVILo3FtVMVHAI5ZnAtkUnCH4WZkBT-udK8ShwAiGdTBmJaAgAA3JY0RNgre6xLGbZDPKYMl_iiJjuxYUpB9JBnxLAlHaZHBFlwrv6oN_dw2YfYz3slutN_PN_8Bxos2UQyL/s320/Brit+Floyd+Live_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Damian Darlington – Musical Director</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Born:</b> Middlesbrough, Teesside in the 1960’s</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Member since:</b> 2011</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Instruments:</b> Guitar, lap steel, vocals</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Previous projects:</b> joined the Australian Pink Floyd Show at the beginning of 1994 and over a period of almost 17 years I went on to play close to 1,300 shows all over the world in theatres, halls and arenas such as The Albert Hall, Wembley & O2 arenas in London, the Bell Centre in Montreal and the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, to name a few. </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Over the last 10 years I’ve became increasingly interested in the visual production aspects of staging a rock concert and, working with Bryan Kolupski, have helped produce and direct all the video content for TAPFS shows. Working with my brother Gareth Darlington I also directed all the soundscape programming for the Aussie show. I acted as director for both TAPFS DVD releases and in 2007 I had the privilege of directing John Martyn’s Live at the Round House DVD.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Interesting fact:</b> had the amazing experience of performing Comfortably Numb alongside Rick Wright at David Gilmour's 50th birthday party.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Rob Stringer</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Born:</b> Worcester, November 1978.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Member since:</b> 2011</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Instruments:</b> Keyboards, vocals</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Previous projects:</b> Played keyboards on 2 previous Aussie Floyd US/Canadian tours. Have also recently performed in a Beatles theatre show. I was in Liverpool band Edgar Jones and The Joneses, touring Japan twice and performing on Mark Lamarr and Jonathan Ross BBC Radio 2 shows. Have done various live and recording session work over the years, performed on Later with Jools Holland with Candie Payne, we played after Joanna Newsom who played solo harp and before Nick Cave who just shouted down the mic with a load of white noise. </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">I have also worked as a jazz pianist on the North West UK scene, playing in various groups and now have my own group, The Bobby Swing Trio in which I sing (or croon...) and play piano.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Interesting fact:</b> I once performed piano in front of an audience where in the front row, sitting next to each other were Sir Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Sir George Martin, Olivia Harrison and Sir Peter Blake. I didn't know they were there and when I saw them all I nearly fell off the keyboard stool and my hands were shaking. Took a week to recover...</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Ian Cattell</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Born:</b> July, 1969 in upstate NY.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Member since:</b> 2011</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Instruments:</b> Bass guitar, vocals</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Previous projects:</b> In late 1994 I joined Crazy Diamond - The Real Reflections of Pink Floyd, and spent the next 2 years touring North America coast to coast, followed by another 2 years with P.U.L.S.E - The Pink Floyd Show (co-founded by Tom Chick and myself). In late 1997 I was a featured vocalist along with Tom Chick in an evening of Symphonic Pink Floyd with the Virginia Symphony. </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">In 2002 I co-founded Childhood's End - a Tribute to Pink Floyd with Steve Schad, Eric Garboushian, and Gregory John. In 2005, I then took the opportunity to tour the world when I was tapped by The Australian Pink Floyd Show. They're still doing shows in New York State and beyond. I usually don't miss a chance to go see them myself. </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">After over 500 shows in over 5 years with TAPFS, I'm excited to be working with Damian, Carl, Bobby, Rob, Arran, Emily, Jacquie, Ola, Gareth, Bryan, our fantastic crew, Chas Cole and all the hard working staff at CMP to bring Brit Floyd to PF fans around the world.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Interesting fact:</b> As a member of the chorus, I performed Beethoven's 9th symphony in Carnegie Hall in New York City. I take my tea without milk... Sorry, my two interesting facts are: Carnegie Hall gig, tea no milk, and an almost fanatical devotion to Pink Flo... My THREE... no... Amongst… I'll come in again.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Edo Scordo</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Born:</b> Milan, in 1984</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Member since:</b> 2015</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Instruments:</b> Guitar, vocals</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Previous projects:</b> I was previously singer and guitarist for Brit Floyd's sister show, The Classic Rock Show. Before that I was with the Italian Pink Floyd tribute band “Euphonia”, and I work with Federico Cammarata and the "Pianeta Zero” band as well. </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">I started to work as session musician at the age of 25, with Serena Antonelli, for who I recorded all the lead guitars in her album RESET, and played live for the Relative Italian tour. </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">I have been lead singer and guitarist for another Pink Floyd tribute project, "Division Bell”. </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Another very interesting project which I was involved in was the “Quattroetreotto” band, one of the funniest band I’ve ever had; a great project leaded by an amazing crooner, Paolo Bianca (Notre Dame De Paris, "La Divina Commedia”: L’opera, Domenica In ). </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Actually I’m the director of the Lizard Music School of Pisa.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Interesting fact:</b> One day … I’ll be a Doctor!!</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Arran Ahmun</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Born:</b> Cardiff Docks, 1956</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Member since:</b> 2011</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Instruments:</b> Drums</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Previous projects:</b> I also performed regularly on the Jools Holland 'Happening' series. In ‘87 I recorded with Clannad and did two world tours with the band. Around this time I joined Julia Fordham, recording and touring her album Porcelain. During the late 80's I toured with Andy Summers in the USA followed by a spell touring and recording with Gerry Rafferty. In ‘86 I began a long and continuing association with John Martyn, joining his band for the 'Piece by Piece' tour. I’ve played on almost everything John has recorded since then. Throughout the 90's I continued extensive touring and recording with artists such as Alison Moyet, Linda Lewis, The Proclaimers (including two No. 1 hits), Robbie Robertson and the Jools Holland Big Band. I’ve also worked with Rhian Benson and Angie Stone. I continued to work with John Martyn until his death in January 2009.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Backing Vocals</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">This amazing group of talented woman consists of Ola Bienkowska, Angela Cervantes, Roberta Freeman, Emily Jollands, and Jacquie Williams. Bienkowska, Jollands, and Willams are the three oldest members and have been with the group since 2011, while Cervantes joined in 2013 and Freeman in 2014. Pink Floyd has been a large impact for many of these professional lives. Freeman has performed with the band, and even caused for the launch of her international career. Singers Cervantes and Jollands have also both performed in other Pink Floyd tribute bands in the past besides Brit Floyd.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Plan a trip to DeVos Performance Hall for a performance you don't want to miss. Tickets can be purchased <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/brit-floyd-grand-rapids-michigan-03-09-2016/event/08004F87CBAB33D8?artistid=1585698&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=52&brand=devos&camefrom=CFC_VANANDEL_WEB" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-51040325338323885602016-01-15T15:32:00.000-05:002016-01-15T15:33:43.777-05:005 Reasons you’ll fall in love with Tommy Emmanuel<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSBeT3Z1o1C86AI99H7Q-KP1AA6K0OMZzWg5cLrR1yKKqq8HkU9gwH5Xhx62t6j6tW6wOkr78QtW_0rn6fUkdRPOkJXTXuaZT72RPalWdgTXQU-TkyuWyb0eLuSuUyoM5Hhttz2BeitLz/s1600/TommyEmmanuel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSBeT3Z1o1C86AI99H7Q-KP1AA6K0OMZzWg5cLrR1yKKqq8HkU9gwH5Xhx62t6j6tW6wOkr78QtW_0rn6fUkdRPOkJXTXuaZT72RPalWdgTXQU-TkyuWyb0eLuSuUyoM5Hhttz2BeitLz/s320/TommyEmmanuel.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>1.)</strong> He’s a
family man. Emmanuel’s love of music started at the age of four, on his
birthday, when his mother bought him a guitar to learn how to play after noticing
him playing with the strings on hers. Then by the age of six, he started
working to be a professional musician with his brother and father. Their father
sold the house and they began going on tour in a family band. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>2.)</strong> He has a
few tricks up his sleeve. During the Summer Olympics of 2000, Emmanuel and his
brother, Phil, performed for the closing ceremony. During a few songs in this
performance, the brothers shared a guitar that each played with one hand at the
same time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>3.)</strong> He can be
spontaneous. At the age of 16, Emmanuel once tried to sell his electric guitar
and land a job working on cars in a garage. This only lasted a month, though, until
a show came to town and Emmanuel found himself playing with the band that night
and joining them on the road the next morning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>4.)</strong> He has
compassion. Back in 2010, Emmanuel auctioned off his guitars for UNICEF, to
help raise funds for the children of Haiti after the devastating earthquakes
struck. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>5.)</strong> He’s a
timeless character. During an episode in season 10 of “American Dad,”
Emmanuel’s rendition of “Classical Gas” by Mason Williams was played by Roger
Smith in a coffee shop battle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plan a trip
to DeVos Performance Hall this Valentine’s Day and fall in love with Tommy
Emmanuel! Tickets can be purchased <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/tommy-emmanuel-its-never-too-grand-rapids-michigan-02-14-2016/event/08004EFBCEC347FF?artistid=736952&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=4&brand=devos&camefrom=CFC_VANANDEL_WEB" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSBeT3Z1o1C86AI99H7Q-KP1AA6K0OMZzWg5cLrR1yKKqq8HkU9gwH5Xhx62t6j6tW6wOkr78QtW_0rn6fUkdRPOkJXTXuaZT72RPalWdgTXQU-TkyuWyb0eLuSuUyoM5Hhttz2BeitLz/s1600/TommyEmmanuel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-70722373538691016482015-10-07T11:14:00.000-04:002015-10-07T11:16:16.026-04:00ArtPrize 7: DeVos Place houses four Top 20 finalists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>DeVos Place ®</b> is home to four finalists in <b>ArtPrize 7</b>, the international art competition that began on September 23 and ends October 11. Of the Top 20 public vote finalists, four installments are located in and outside of the <b>Grand Gallery</b> and cover a variety of platforms. <br />
<br />
<br />
Here are the four finalists that you can find at DeVos Place: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO2lEfHgIIsiPMl2y1p9-cwPye6YJPYIaHyPidbTZYjtrf_BFz-d63SqjzZp1QCVUp_5SJ1xlpUfFwH1ehKaQFce56_JUeQB0JRIvh8Tw9dXGAfg317I2UqSSONt8-nXh2omMZWNs7b1u/s1600/117-IMG_1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO2lEfHgIIsiPMl2y1p9-cwPye6YJPYIaHyPidbTZYjtrf_BFz-d63SqjzZp1QCVUp_5SJ1xlpUfFwH1ehKaQFce56_JUeQB0JRIvh8Tw9dXGAfg317I2UqSSONt8-nXh2omMZWNs7b1u/s200/117-IMG_1920.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>Kurt Swanson, <a href="http://www.artprize.org/kurt-swanson/2015/the-race">“The Race”</a></b><br />
Kurt Swanson’s piece is a three-dimensional installment located inside of convention center. The piece includes three bicycles made entirely of wood with a portrait of the artist riding his bike into the “future.” <br />
<br />
According to the artist, a variety of woods were used in creating the piece, including oak, mahogany, maple, bamboo, and aspen. This artwork is located on the skywalk level of the Grand Gallery. <br />
<br />
Kurt has worked as a craftsman for over 25 years and owns Always August Designs, a wooden furniture company based in Grand Rapids. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Randall Libby, <a href="http://www.artprize.org/randall-libby/2015/michigan-petoskey-stone">“Michigan Petoskey Stone”</a></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyx8czMYXcuAWZXmVDmvfMP2MUQZXl6FUcv-MBZI64ImYwSk_0BNkARGxo5pxWE8wjKjyHf4NBCziygV8T8q7JCUO6OzmUFxPZ7I6bNPOsRkRILihv5wAr45PxQltuykNmBdO1SSJqt3r/s1600/008-IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyx8czMYXcuAWZXmVDmvfMP2MUQZXl6FUcv-MBZI64ImYwSk_0BNkARGxo5pxWE8wjKjyHf4NBCziygV8T8q7JCUO6OzmUFxPZ7I6bNPOsRkRILihv5wAr45PxQltuykNmBdO1SSJqt3r/s200/008-IMG_0022.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
Boasting the title of “World’s Largest Petoskey Stone Display,” this piece by Randall Libby represents the beautiful state of Michigan with Petoskey stones and fossil. The two-dimensional piece can be seen in front of the entrance to the Grand Gallery. <br />
<br />
The piece portrays all 83 counties in the state of Michigan. Randall Libby creates unique Petoskey Stone and Fossil artwork through <a href="http://petoskeystoneart.com/about-us">The Petoskey Art Studio</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMayclOi0MQCvKDhtbSLBomcno5a41oLG1uBkPXcZj4BKHI0D-sdUCUvMACsAr6Tn3etkMUCEl1HqVbkfkTMKBJUYPB6Q0Z0u8jjVc5bZO-FIm6z8C4NC6ct1hGSgFTvPqxvkjsUcoReG/s1600/ShawnMichaelWarren-6-Edit-900x601%2528pp_w860_h574%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMayclOi0MQCvKDhtbSLBomcno5a41oLG1uBkPXcZj4BKHI0D-sdUCUvMACsAr6Tn3etkMUCEl1HqVbkfkTMKBJUYPB6Q0Z0u8jjVc5bZO-FIm6z8C4NC6ct1hGSgFTvPqxvkjsUcoReG/s200/ShawnMichaelWarren-6-Edit-900x601%2528pp_w860_h574%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Shawn Michael Warren, <a href="http://www.artprize.org/shawn-michael-warren/2015/in-a-promised-land">“In a Promised Land…”</a></b><br />
<br />
Shawn Michael Warren’s “In a Promised Land…” recreates the chaos after the Tulsa race riot of 1921 that left affluent black communities in ruins. Shawn Michael Warren strives to create awareness of the often omitted event and bring attention to historically one of the most devastating moments of racial violence. <br />
<br />
You can find this artwork on the skywalk level of the Grand Gallery. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Breakthrough Team, <a href="http://www.artprize.org/breakthrough-team/2015/breakthrough">“BREAKTHROUGH”</a></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvE_EHUmnid-3Y_TN60IY4U6ZN8ebWrduzuHRs6zh-Zmq1mr64qiObMFGtQFObxXylDWVTdeOxLG8J_CLuUKia0HdRsrmMk91JjqYmUu7h_2Pc9m4Z7QLs3zFBSdkM7PK5rO_2MYbHPLl/s1600/006-IMG_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvE_EHUmnid-3Y_TN60IY4U6ZN8ebWrduzuHRs6zh-Zmq1mr64qiObMFGtQFObxXylDWVTdeOxLG8J_CLuUKia0HdRsrmMk91JjqYmUu7h_2Pc9m4Z7QLs3zFBSdkM7PK5rO_2MYbHPLl/s200/006-IMG_0021.JPG" width="200" /></a>This piece, located outside of the Grand Gallery main entrance, is creating awareness and fighting stigma surrounding mental health wellness and empowerment. The artwork is comprised of broken pieces of ceramic and formed into the shape of a phoenix rising amidst fire. <br />
<br />
The community is welcome to join in on the creation of art by attending the “breaking studio” in which they are able to break ceramics in a symbolic gesture of acceptance and leaving behind judgments or shame. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The final day to vote is October 8 and the winner will be revealed at the <b>ArtPrize Awards</b> October 9. Check out these finalists at DeVos Place through October 11.
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/10/artprize-7-devos-place-houses-four-top.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-59116668025965028502015-07-28T16:30:00.000-04:002015-07-28T16:31:46.423-04:00Five Reasons to be excited for Grand Rapids Comic-Con 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHB04lFlWRMCYEOrBftavrkYokan64IEsK0pbKnw-im9FcxC4fCNnFn3LDPw60LpTpvRF01D0lkusmpTZPItrndMNeT5TKJgx6XIq-JuBnz-pw4t3TjwzDvy2XyjNn0W-_An4bf9hq3sM/s1600/960x250-2015-Web-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHB04lFlWRMCYEOrBftavrkYokan64IEsK0pbKnw-im9FcxC4fCNnFn3LDPw60LpTpvRF01D0lkusmpTZPItrndMNeT5TKJgx6XIq-JuBnz-pw4t3TjwzDvy2XyjNn0W-_An4bf9hq3sM/s400/960x250-2015-Web-banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
With the second annual<b> Grand Rapids Comic-Con</b> being held at <b>DeVos Place </b>in <b>October</b>, spectators can expect a fun-filled experience during the three day event. With <b>costume </b>contests, <b>celebrities</b> and vendors galore, attendees can expect to be entertained <b>October 16th – 18th</b>. Here are five reasons to be excited for Grand Rapids Comic-Con:<br />
<br />
<b>#1: Hall of Heroes Comic Book Historical Display </b><br />
<br />
Comic book fans will rejoice at Comic-Con this year! Courtesy of the <a href="http://hallofheroesmuseum.com/">Hall of Heroes Museum</a> located in Elkhart, Indiana, the Hall of Heroes Comic Book Historical Display will be in Grand Rapids! The Display has a variety of comic books and memorabilia for all the comic book lovers out there. Hall of Heroes is the only superhero and comic book museum in the entire world, and with items from DC and Marvel, this exhibit isn’t one you want to miss!<br />
<br />
<b>#2: A list full of Comic-Con V.I.P.s! </b><br />
<br />
Whether you like comic book art, film, TV or Cosplay, you’ll be entertained with special guests from all realms. With an exclusive list, such as comic book artists from both DC Comics and Marvel, you’ll get to experience an up-close look into what it takes to make it in the industry. There will also be Hollywood guests from shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stargate SG-1, and many more! Be sure to check the full list <a href="http://www.grcomiccon.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>#3: Represent your Fandom here!</b><br />
<br />
Are you a Jedi? A Trekker? A Whovian? Whatever <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fandom">fandom</a> you belong to, Comic-Con will boast tons of memorabilia from Star Wars, Star Trek, DC/Marvel, Transformers, Doctor Who, Homestruck and so much more! From a life size replica of the Hulkbuster from The Avengers 2: Age of Ultron to a fully functioning Dalek from Doctor Who, be sure to represent your fandom and interact with your favorite groups at Grand Rapids Comic-Con! <br />
<br />
<b>#4: And the best costume award goes to… YOU!</b><br />
<br />
Do you have what it takes to make the best costume? With a Best Costume contest in four different categories, you have a chance to get creative, show off your best garb, and win prize packs for each category! So stitch together your favorite character’s look and dress to impress. Show off you craftsmanship with the next best costume! <br />
<br />
<b>#5: Family Fun at DeVos Place!</b><br />
<br />
Invite the little ones! Comic-Con can be a family affair! There will be family friendly exhibits, events and speakers that everyone can enjoy. Dress your family as your favorite superhero (or villain) troupe or sit in on a panel discussion about your favorite TV show or video game. For children, there will be a costume contest, face painting, and other activities. Parents are advised to stay with their children to monitor appropriately. <br />
<br />
To get your tickets, please visit <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/65952/2097181">here</a>! Haven’t been to a Comic-Con in the past and not sure what to expect? Check out Grand Rapids Comic-Con’s <a href="http://www.grcomiccon.com/first-timers/">handbook for first time Comic-Con attendees</a>. See you there!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SAsV1T0h3dQ" width="545"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/07/inspirational-chorus-coming-to-grand.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-28683222972449740092015-07-24T09:53:00.000-04:002015-07-28T16:31:13.890-04:00Inspirational Chorus coming to Grand Rapids<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkovru_qDaScnqGxyjuGsUe9bwtfUYCa7gx0Zd7cYD_LEtljSQjqeJSYL8P5GdBgEs2tOfZTwgJB75tktcDJn6Gl-eVdFxZjdkwyfSyZxgMHv41wqNTOkn06ow08kv4kalOIL8e7yJuxL/s1600/034%25C2%25A92013Lucienne_v_d_Mijle_Young_%2540_Heart_2013_05_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkovru_qDaScnqGxyjuGsUe9bwtfUYCa7gx0Zd7cYD_LEtljSQjqeJSYL8P5GdBgEs2tOfZTwgJB75tktcDJn6Gl-eVdFxZjdkwyfSyZxgMHv41wqNTOkn06ow08kv4kalOIL8e7yJuxL/s400/034%25C2%25A92013Lucienne_v_d_Mijle_Young_%2540_Heart_2013_05_26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>Young@Heart</b> is a twist-n’-shout group of energetic and talented singers who will be gracing the <b>DeVos Performance Hall </b>stage on <b>August 11th</b>. With a long history of entertaining audiences of all ages, Young@Heart has brought their unique sound and inspiring story to a variety of venues for the past few decades.<br />
<br />
<br />
The chorus covers a variety of genres in their music, with performances including classic rock to modern day pop hits. Young@Heart have also toured around the world and even gave a touching <a href="https://youtu.be/2ouyC24IFlo">performance</a> for prison inmates. This versatile group of compelling performers has always put on a show and brings fun for music lovers of all ages. <br />
<br />
<br />
Organized in 1982, the original members of the chorus came from an elderly housing project in <b>Northampton, Massachusetts.</b> From there, years of stellar productions and an award-winning documentary titled Young@Heart won the hearts of millions across the globe. With members aged between 72-93, these entertainers show the world that they’ve “still got it.”<br />
<br />
<br />
The documentary, which was released in 2007, followed the 22 members of the chorus as they prepared for a concert in their hometown. Since the release of the film, the chorus has been featured on a variety of television shows such as <i>The Daily Show,</i> <i>The Tonight Show with Jay Leno</i> and many more!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G-e8LGMPTtE" width="545"></iframe>
<br />
Don’t miss out! Buy your tickets to the Young@Heart Chorus presented by<a href="http://www.porterhills.org/"> Porter Hills</a>, live at DeVos Performance Hall <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/youngheart-still-got-it-grand-rapids-michigan-08-11-2015/event/08004D82A9BE3692?artistid=1424911&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1&tm_link=venue_msg-0_08004D82A9BE3692">here</a>.
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/07/five-reasons-to-be-excited-for-grand.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-62185148182655877362015-06-12T09:23:00.000-04:002015-07-24T09:56:56.726-04:00DeVos Place & Grand Rapids: 10 Years Strong-Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3nLroUgwGu6tiBF9PAssoOymV3TocH5ehvUFRhIg-q7ZEjv9LLk0UD4NsjSWMoT-NwW3Nh7BWg5pT0HKRMGBV99FbAmCgWQ0pITCW_M48_l8n9gqwLXWabLTppux8ZNB-HLGeSam7PYQ/s1600/DeVos+TBT+4+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3nLroUgwGu6tiBF9PAssoOymV3TocH5ehvUFRhIg-q7ZEjv9LLk0UD4NsjSWMoT-NwW3Nh7BWg5pT0HKRMGBV99FbAmCgWQ0pITCW_M48_l8n9gqwLXWabLTppux8ZNB-HLGeSam7PYQ/s320/DeVos+TBT+4+Picture.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>DeVos Place celebrates 10th Anniversary with Celebration</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Open House, Saturday, June 13th from 10AM - 5PM. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>#FBF: 10 Years of Fun</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DeVos Place</b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">®</span>
wasn't always the grand convention center in the heart of<b> Grand Rapids </b>that it
is now. The ground upon which it was built was once treaded on by Native
Americans, ironmongers, factory workers, retailers and shoppers. With such an
important part in Grand Rapids history, the land and area that DeVos Place is
built upon has a vibrant history all its own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Something New</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In June 1997, Grand Action, a nonprofit organization that
identifies downtown revitalization projects and building, presented information
regarding a convention center expansion on the Grand Center. With Grand Rapids
growing into a cultural hot spot, conventions would bring business and people to
the city. Through a variety of fundraising efforts, the Convention Center
Ceremonial Groundbreaking took place in August 2000. The Convention Center
would be named DeVos Place. In 2003, the <b>Grand Gallery</b> and <b>Meijer</b> Exhibition
Hall were opened with the final addition to the building being completed in
2005 with the opening of the DeVos Place <b>Steelcase</b> Ballroom. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DeVos Place brings
Tourism to Grand Rapids<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the ten years that DeVos Place has brought conventions,
events and culture to the city, it has been the center to a variety of fun and
interesting shows. From bringing a Ferris wheel into the Exhibition Hall for
the Grand Opening, to thousands of rabbits for American Rabbit Breeders
Association and beyond. It has also been the pinnacle of its community with
thousands of people attending events and millions being spent on the city,
bringing forth a true economic impact. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUCD8xaF7pqHKyMcjiyi0Qvska9yzEQV1uKdzSWHQCt6qEEAXRd08ERA0A0taACAH26g1CjuUBGzWmVI4VJgbJ8F5C00fKoXBQuOnDVYtmkOmWCfFaboK8a7bkot0TzyTAjrcR21OsehD/s1600/DV10thAnn_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUCD8xaF7pqHKyMcjiyi0Qvska9yzEQV1uKdzSWHQCt6qEEAXRd08ERA0A0taACAH26g1CjuUBGzWmVI4VJgbJ8F5C00fKoXBQuOnDVYtmkOmWCfFaboK8a7bkot0TzyTAjrcR21OsehD/s200/DV10thAnn_2.png" width="162" /></a></div>
<b>Celebrating 10 Years
in Style<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DeVos Place is celebrating with an Open House on <b>Saturday, June 13<sup>th</sup> from 10AM-5PM</b>!<b> </b>There will be free
parking, free hot dog and Pepsi<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">®</span>
for the first 10,000 people, Ferris wheel and much more!
Community organizations such as the Kent District Library, Grand Rapids Police
Department, the Harbor Humane Society, and many more will be
present with a variety of activities for all ages. There will also be two
entertainment stages with performances such as Jump with Jill, The Diemakers,
Pacific Island Dancers, Bangarang Circus and much more! For a full list of
performances, and more information
about the DeVos Place 10<sup>th</sup> Anniversary Open House, please visit our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/984882954855386/">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://devosplace.org/schedule/devos-place-10th-anniversary-open-house-celebration">website!</a></div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/07/inspirational-chorus-coming-to-grand.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-38554198876808699422015-06-04T16:24:00.001-04:002015-06-04T16:26:20.342-04:00DeVos Place & Grand Rapids: 10 Years Strong-Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs2gH_-O4tpHAai0BmWgcB8BAMbv1t0Nqf0R9eDpoY6CnfxyGIdRZGOHNpAJXX28wrVneVZfBobzoxy_rIX3hT-H8KOdM2sz6HLYXJ714svu6cmiKGI7l7aMUUo8b1vBBtEXXqf2-hw7W/s1600/DVP+tbt+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs2gH_-O4tpHAai0BmWgcB8BAMbv1t0Nqf0R9eDpoY6CnfxyGIdRZGOHNpAJXX28wrVneVZfBobzoxy_rIX3hT-H8KOdM2sz6HLYXJ714svu6cmiKGI7l7aMUUo8b1vBBtEXXqf2-hw7W/s320/DVP+tbt+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Before DeVos Place was built, the land was home to the Kent</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i> County Courthouse, </i><i>Hall of Justice and the Grand Rapid Police Department.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>#TBT: A "Grand A-Fair"</b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>DeVos Place®</b> wasn’t always the grand convention center in the heart of <b>Grand Rapids</b> that it is now. The ground upon which it was built was once treaded on by Native Americans, ironmongers, factory workers, retailers and shoppers. With such an important part in Grand Rapids history, the land and area that DeVos Place is built upon has a vibrant history all its own.<br />
<br />
<b>A Home for the Performing Arts</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>When the Great Depression hit Grand Rapids, it hit hard. With a decline in industry, jobs and residents, Grand Rapids was in need of relief, and that is what then City Manager, <b>George Welsh</b>, set out to bring to the city. The <b>Civic Auditorium </b>was constructed in 1932 as a relief project for the city and the people. It created jobs, cultural influence and more importantly, a home for the performing arts. The Civic Auditorium housed dances, films, theater and the<b> Grand Rapids Symphony</b>. It would later be renamed the <b>George Welsh Civic Auditorium</b> (name shortened to Welsh Auditorium over time) in 1974, in memory of George Welsh. In 2003, it would be demolished to make way for the ballroom in the newly expanded DeVos Place convention center, keeping its exterior face intact. <br />
<br />
<b>A Home for Justice</b><br />
<br />
In 1962, the land beside the Welsh Auditorium was cleared for a new kind of facility. No longer in the land of factories and retail buildings, the cleared ground would be the home for the Hall of Justice, Kent County Courthouse, and the Grand Rapids Police Department. These structures were ultimately demolished in 2002 after the facilities were relocated. <br />
<br />
<b>A Grand Reprise</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>After much planning and fundraising, the convention center was built alongside the Welsh Auditorium, and was named the Grand Center. With fundraising efforts led by the DeVos and Blodgett families and the Grand Rapids community, the convention center was completed in the fall of 1980. The first annual “Celebration on the Grand” welcomed the opening of the <b>Grand Center </b>with a week full of events. An expansion of the facility would come years later.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NZDfI996Y8AdsoPRixzIy1Z4skhLowBcf2lGVBMCiZ9oSyAyyJh9k7PKFTdHWdiH8dnUoWLyKp178XnvZm5tb6SItFA7q-SBN8Uqa_t_0OVtHDYmRt63XXcw2Ae5kHSXPmndj4C1c9PD/s1600/DV10thAnn_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NZDfI996Y8AdsoPRixzIy1Z4skhLowBcf2lGVBMCiZ9oSyAyyJh9k7PKFTdHWdiH8dnUoWLyKp178XnvZm5tb6SItFA7q-SBN8Uqa_t_0OVtHDYmRt63XXcw2Ae5kHSXPmndj4C1c9PD/s200/DV10thAnn_2.png" width="162" /></a></div>
<b>Celebrating 10 Years </b><br />
<br />
Celebrate Grand Rapids’ history and DeVos Place at the <b>DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Open House</b> on <b>Saturday, June 13th from 10AM-5PM</b>! It’s free and open to the public. Join us for fun, family-friendly activities, entertainment, prizes, food, and more! <br />
<br />
This is the third of a four part series celebrating the 10th Anniversary of DeVos Place. The series will focus on the history of Grand Rapids and DeVos Place, as well as its impact on the community. Check back next Thursday for Part 4.
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/05/devos-place-grand-rapids-10-years.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-49628531372953783522015-05-28T14:52:00.001-04:002015-05-28T14:54:46.403-04:00DeVos Place & Grand Rapids: 10 Years Strong-Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI3gd1cBCLgTW8EKETQYp5T6Uesr3d8j1YtA2GQU3Wft5rkVyfXQ4bY0Qa-AnCDCBSZIO5q5_GoJ07IinSGb6fc-e9AkgMtCoW1AHML3sEZy1JO31iKPcXW-VKh1_Ft2La6zTC76psbLz/s1600/TBT+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI3gd1cBCLgTW8EKETQYp5T6Uesr3d8j1YtA2GQU3Wft5rkVyfXQ4bY0Qa-AnCDCBSZIO5q5_GoJ07IinSGb6fc-e9AkgMtCoW1AHML3sEZy1JO31iKPcXW-VKh1_Ft2La6zTC76psbLz/s320/TBT+v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Monroe St. was once the home to banks, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>retail stores and factory buildings. </i></div>
<br />
<b>#TBT: Factories along the Grand River</b><br />
<br />
DeVos Place® wasn't always the grand convention center in the heart of Grand Rapids that it is now. The ground upon which it was built was once treaded on by Native Americans, ironmongers, factory workers, retailers and shoppers. With such an important part in Grand Rapids history, the land and area that DeVos Place is built upon has a vibrant history all its own.<br />
<div>
<br />
<b>Furniture City, U.S.A.</b></div>
<div>
<br />
At the turn of the century, a variety of industries existed in the river city. If you were to stand in DeVos Place today, you could be standing in what used to be the Bissell Inc. factory. The land was full of diverse factories and businesses. From the ever-growing lumber industry to powerhouse carpet cleaning company Bissell, another market emerged in Grand Rapids, one that would continue to make strides even today… furniture. After a rough period post World Wars I and II, the furniture industry blossomed and Grand Rapids was the center of it all. Factories once surrounded the land that would eventually become the home for DeVos Place. Through Grand Rapids’ rich history in a variety of industries, the river city became the pinnacle for economic and social growth. <br />
<br />
<b>Along the Grand</b><br />
<br />
The Grand River would prove to be a useful natural feature of Grand Rapids for a variety of reasons. Louis Campau settled his village alongside the Grand River due to the versatile waterway and promising transportation of the river. With a beautiful view from the DeVos Place convention center, it’s no wonder that the area was home to so many previous businesses and factories. When visiting DeVos Place, you can step outside and overlook the river and admire the beauty of Grand Rapids!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>A Change in the Currents</b><br />
<br />
What was once the grounds for factories and production eventually yielded to a more cultural focus. Through a variety of theaters, retail shops, and office buildings, the location next to the Grand River over the years has become a prime location that has been influential to the city of Grand Rapids. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdHOeoglbITMjgC_x8p2uof5_c_DAzS7VLAcX0lFG1Niry7B1NQTBO1WyPQQp0qwCUtjqx1ayF6jXFvIBMbeBNfzFYUFtWoR7KeljmbQXLAPXHdqGADr96F96JprURgfjOh0HF16v_pv5/s1600/DV10thAnn_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdHOeoglbITMjgC_x8p2uof5_c_DAzS7VLAcX0lFG1Niry7B1NQTBO1WyPQQp0qwCUtjqx1ayF6jXFvIBMbeBNfzFYUFtWoR7KeljmbQXLAPXHdqGADr96F96JprURgfjOh0HF16v_pv5/s200/DV10thAnn_2.png" width="162" /></a></div>
<div>
<b>Celebrating 10 Years</b><br />
<br />
Celebrate Grand Rapids’ history and DeVos Place at the DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Open House on Saturday, June 13th from 10AM-5PM! It’s free and open to the public. Join us for fun, family-friendly activities, entertainment, prizes, food, and more!<br />
<br />
This is the second of a four part series celebrating the 10th Anniversary of DeVos Place. The series will focus on the history of Grand Rapids and DeVos Place, as well as its impact on the community. Check back next Thursday for Part 3.</div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/05/devos-place-grand-rapids-10-years.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-36638863190488972202015-05-26T14:23:00.001-04:002015-06-10T16:07:05.502-04:0010 Reasons to be Excited for the DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Celebration Open House <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBH-WJKimAnNGK9l1-LFfHAsjjbgjSh2jTPOmYQDMVIH5P9Nnru0Qfl2CVaycff_p9V9PYMUW4PwFRG3D0lQ_oL7NnThri1R8ESuYkiCAWeIgmiRupM3ji8yeyhWJB8Yi1WPQgjxTX5Nv/s1600/DeVos+10+Reasons+Blog+Graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBH-WJKimAnNGK9l1-LFfHAsjjbgjSh2jTPOmYQDMVIH5P9Nnru0Qfl2CVaycff_p9V9PYMUW4PwFRG3D0lQ_oL7NnThri1R8ESuYkiCAWeIgmiRupM3ji8yeyhWJB8Yi1WPQgjxTX5Nv/s640/DeVos+10+Reasons+Blog+Graphic.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>DeVos Place®</b> is celebrating 10 years since the opening of the convention center. The <b>Open House</b> has a lot of fun activities for you and your family. Here are 10 reasons why you should get ready for <b>Saturday, June 13th from 10 AM - 5PM. </b><br />
<br />
<b>#1: Fun Family Activities! </b><br />
DeVos Place’s Celebration Open House is full of family friendly activities for all ages! There will be entertainment for all with rides, activities and games from local vendors and much more!<br />
<br />
<b>#2: Your favorite community organizations!</b><br />
Your favorite community organizations are joining us at DeVos Place to celebrate 10 great years! Some of these organizations include local favorites The Rapid, Grand Rapids Police and Fire Department, Circle Theatre, Paws with a Cause, the Kent District Library and many more! Come out and see the awesome organizations that are ready to provide a day full of fun for you and the family!
<br />
<br />
<b>#3: Mascots, mascots, mascots!</b><br />
What would a celebration be without mascots? We have a variety of your favorites stopping by the Open House, including West Michigan Whitecaps’ “Crash the River Rascal;” the Grand Rapids Griffin’s “Griff;” and Michigan State University’s “Sparty.” There will also be other characters roaming through the Open House, including Jungle Book characters from Circle Theatre, and many more. Don’t forget to take a picture with New Salem Corn Maze’s Patty the Prize Cow! Come and take a snapshot with your favorite characters at the Open House!<br />
<br />
<b>#4: We ♥ Animals! </b><br />
Come spend your Saturday by petting cute animals from the Critter Barn’s traveling farm. You will also get to meet our fellow K9 friends from the Grand Rapids Police Department and learn how helpful dogs are with Paws with a Cause! Pet Tales Rescue will also be there, with adoptable dogs available to check out all day!
<br />
<br />
<b>#5: Fun for all! </b><br />
Whether you’re here with the family or by yourself, there is an endless amount of fun at the DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Open House! Be sure to check out all of the local community organization booths and vendors. If you want some musical entertainment, check out critically-acclaimed Jump with Jill, entertainment for children that teaches them the importance of eating healthy! The Grand Rapids Children Museum will be hosting an obstacle course and providing a Lego table and the Kent District Library is bringing oversized games, keeping children and adults alike entertained!<br />
<br />
<b>#6: Free food!</b><br />
If you’re a fan of a cold Pepsi® and a hot dog, be one of the first 10,000 people to show up to the Open House and you’ll receive them for free!<br />
<br />
<b>#7: A fun filled entertainment stage!</b><br />
For this special 10th Anniversary, DeVos Place has an awesome line-up of talented performers to keep you busy on our entertainment stage. Performances include Alysha Sha from the DDA Buskers, Freehand Band, The Diemakers, and many more! Be sure to check out the stage with fun entertainment for all ages!*
*Entertainers are subject to change.<br />
<br />
<b>#8: Be a Part of Grand Rapids History! </b><br />
DeVos Place and Performance Hall play a large part in Grand Rapids history. From being right in the heart of Grand Rapids and being right in the epicenter of arts and culture, DeVos Place has a vibrant history of its own. Be a part of that history and celebrate 10 years of a great partnership: Grand Rapids and DeVos Place!<br />
<br />
<b>#9: Prizes!</b><br />
Do you like getting free stuff? So do we! A variety of organizations are giving away prizes such as tickets to local events, venues and much more! Be present at the Open House to enter and you may have a chance to win something cool!<br />
<br />
<b>#10: Celebrate!</b><br />
DeVos Place finalized the convention center and opened its doors to the Grand Rapids community 10 years ago and it’s time to celebrate that! Come join us on <b>Saturday, June 13th from 10 AM - 5PM</b>! See you there!
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/05/devos-place-grand-rapids-10-years.html" data-numposts="10">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-54520401920659314602015-05-21T14:51:00.000-04:002015-05-21T14:52:44.219-04:00DeVos Place & Grand Rapids: 10 Years Strong-Part 1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3ttl2NEXjJB47rNWjyHBGdcuohai6eWu4S31qKMG83MibBuovi5vV3iPLq5QmjJVfZ8Lj3jaFuZC3o47Rl46RspK3Qd8-YcgMZKYRM4cA-y2Kl4MywtcP2hfKKhKDx6pNH8UZk1dosBy/s1600/DVP+TBT+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3ttl2NEXjJB47rNWjyHBGdcuohai6eWu4S31qKMG83MibBuovi5vV3iPLq5QmjJVfZ8Lj3jaFuZC3o47Rl46RspK3Qd8-YcgMZKYRM4cA-y2Kl4MywtcP2hfKKhKDx6pNH8UZk1dosBy/s400/DVP+TBT+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>The grounds on which DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall are currently</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>located was the home of an assortment of Grand Rapids factories. </i></div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>#TBT: the 1800’s</b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://devosplace.org/" target="_blank">DeVos Place®</a> </b>wasn’t always the grand convention center in the heart of Grand Rapids like it is now. The ground upon which it was built was once treaded on by Native Americans, ironmongers, factory workers, retailers, and shoppers. The land and area in which DeVos Place currently stands had a crucial role in the beginnings of the city of Grand Rapids and has a vibrant history all its own. <br />
<br />
<b>Grand Rapids roots</b><br />
<br />
When French fur trader <b>Louis Campau</b>, nicknamed “the Fox” by the natives living in the area, bought his land on what is now the grounds for DeVos Place, he would become the “father of Grand Rapids.” The Campau trading post would be the pinnacle for city development. Campau laid out his village streets in the spoke style, an imitation of the ones used in France. The boundaries of his village were along the Grand River, Fulton Street, Division Avenue, and what is now Michigan Street, the heart of city today. Campau named his main street after President James Monroe, who had died in 1831. <br />
<br />
<b>The Fox vs. the Lyon</b><br />
<br />
When<b> Lucius Lyon</b>, a land surveyor from New York, saw the value of the land next to the <b>Grand River</b>, he bought a large chunk of land just north of Campau’s. Lyon set his land with streets in the standard grid format, using compass directions instead of the radial setting that Campau used. The two settlers feuded over the name of the city, Campau insisting on keeping the name “Grand Rapids” versus Lyon, who wanted to rename the city “Kent.” With settlers attracted to the land, Lyon wanted to reconcile with Campau and connect their two settlements through Pearl Street. <br />
<br />
<b>Grand Rapids Business District</b><br />
<br />
Canal Street through Pearl created an intricate intersection, with Monroe and Canal not meeting perfectly due to a variety of buildings that stood in the way. Ultimately, the buildings either burned down or were demolished, creating a public square that would be known as <b>Campau Square</b>, and today is known as <b>Rosa Parks Circle</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hbnNFgkKmLPs9-jhI5hG1YzKXArPEW7MZoDZ47jAr165NEAJK8PWn9ai4jI4bRDgCcOntIBAhqv0aJeUco8HXcSxsHV_qTbvPLQDuLhaxFUNRb005rOM42TIPi6wEXsxoqVJ0tNV6WXv/s1600/DV10thAnn_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hbnNFgkKmLPs9-jhI5hG1YzKXArPEW7MZoDZ47jAr165NEAJK8PWn9ai4jI4bRDgCcOntIBAhqv0aJeUco8HXcSxsHV_qTbvPLQDuLhaxFUNRb005rOM42TIPi6wEXsxoqVJ0tNV6WXv/s200/DV10thAnn_2.png" width="162" /></a></div>
<b>Celebrating 10 Years</b><br />
<br />
Celebrate Grand Rapids history and DeVos Place at the<a href="https://devosplace.org/schedule/devos-place-10th-anniversary-open-house-celebration" target="_blank"> DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Open House</a> on Saturday, June 13th from 10AM-5PM! It’s free and open to the public. Join us for fun, family-friendly activities, entertainment, prizes, food, and more!<br />
<br />
<i>This is the first of a four part series celebrating the 10th Anniversary of DeVos Place. The series will focus on the history of Grand Rapids and DeVos Place, as well its impact on the community. Check back next Thursday for Part 2.</i>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2015/05/devos-place-grand-rapids-10-years.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-42770085707363644452014-11-13T09:30:00.002-05:002014-11-14T14:08:42.828-05:00SMG Director of Marketing Lynne Ike Honored with WGVU Engage I HAVE Made a Difference Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHencl-2e9Ml4zRamqtFRyqLDAYx9UC12ytczm133UiS8aZ_0p9qwGl8lFtdHpUmO4lpJEb3oHm56lcFSZ-CrpqZkWc1UOrGv_5rf7bIzHx8RmrU-8KA7OwCQav554NeG5v8FJg7W2ho/s1600/LynneIke_WGVU_2014_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHencl-2e9Ml4zRamqtFRyqLDAYx9UC12ytczm133UiS8aZ_0p9qwGl8lFtdHpUmO4lpJEb3oHm56lcFSZ-CrpqZkWc1UOrGv_5rf7bIzHx8RmrU-8KA7OwCQav554NeG5v8FJg7W2ho/s400/LynneIke_WGVU_2014_crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Lynne Ike</b>, <b>SMG Director of Marketing</b> for <b><a href="http://www.vanandelarena.com/" target="_blank">Van Andel Arena</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.devosplace.org/" target="_blank">DeVos Place</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.devosperformancehall.com/" target="_blank">DeVos Performance Hall</a></b>, was awarded yesterday with the <b>2014 WGVU Engage I HAVE Made a Difference Award</b> as an outstanding individual in the Arts category.<br />
<br />
The WGVU Engage I HAVE Made a Difference Awards are awarded to one individual and one non-profit organization that best exemplifies outcomes in the five WGVU Engage areas of focus and overall excellence in support of our community. The categories include Inclusion, Health, Arts, Veterans, Education, People’s Choice, Non-Profit of the Year and Person of the Year, and are judged by a group of panelists representing the WGVU Engage Committee, WGVU Public Media, and the community.<br />
<br />
Lynne Ike has been chair of the <b>WGVU Engage Arts Committee</b> for two years, and has strived to create opportunities for young people to experience the arts. She facilitated a trip, complete with boxed lunches, to a <b>Grand Rapids Symphony Pops</b> concert for children from <b>D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s Home</b>, and is currently working to bring children from this organization to a Grand Rapids Symphony Holiday Pops concert. Her efforts also enabled local veterans and their families to attend a <b><a href="https://vanandelarena.com/schedule/sesame-street-live-lets-dance" target="_blank">Sesame Street Live</a></b> performance at Van Andel Arena last year.<br />
<br />
Lynne is active with the <b>Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority’s Community Inclusion Group (CIG)</b>, which strives to bring diverse entertainment to Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall. Her efforts with CIG include working with various West Michigan communities to raise awareness of events and to create a welcoming atmosphere at the venues, as well as at other businesses downtown, including restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other establishments.
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Tweet a congratulations message to Lynne: <a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-hashtags="DeVosHall" data-size="large" data-text="Congratulations on your award, Lynne!" data-url="http://bit.ly/1qIMs7h" data-via="DeVosPerfHall" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><br />
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script></div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2014/11/smg-director-of-marketing-lynne-ike.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-88343855528300749662014-09-12T11:14:00.001-04:002014-09-12T11:14:55.852-04:00John Mellencamp Announces “Plain Spoken” 2015 North American Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNtkr4Xuz58X8GjuHvsCtIrqGKTl0W0l9XYSeqPitucFubc3v5EI6RZ99pFIhFcYKOOYCQTvUL60RZUOoVdykXf5N5hRrTDwe8pWa9hpw-HUcPc8oX57HMcRrzLk9e_AH2Ax04-puiI7N/s1600/mellencamp-twitter-generic-435x375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNtkr4Xuz58X8GjuHvsCtIrqGKTl0W0l9XYSeqPitucFubc3v5EI6RZ99pFIhFcYKOOYCQTvUL60RZUOoVdykXf5N5hRrTDwe8pWa9hpw-HUcPc8oX57HMcRrzLk9e_AH2Ax04-puiI7N/s1600/mellencamp-twitter-generic-435x375.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.mellencamp.com/"><b>John Mellencamp</b></a> announced dates for his upcoming <b>Plain Spoken</b> tour beginning in January 2015 throughout the summer. “The Voice of the Heartland” will play 80 shows including a stop in <b>Grand Rapids</b> at <a href="file://grandrapids-dc/SHARE/marketing/Current%20Shows/John%20Mellencamp/Releases/devosperformancehall.com"><b>DeVos Performance Hall</b></a> on <b>Tuesday, June 9 at 7:30 PM</b>. The special guest is <a href="http://www.carlenecarter.net/"><b>Carlene Carter</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Tickets go on sale Friday, September 19th at 10:00AM at the <a href="file://grandrapids-dc/SHARE/marketing/Current%20Shows/John%20Mellencamp/Releases/devosplace.org">DeVos Place®</a> and <a href="file://grandrapids-dc/SHARE/marketing/Current%20Shows/John%20Mellencamp/Releases/vanandelarena.com">Van Andel Arena®</a> box offices, all Ticketmaster <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/retail-outlets">ticket centers</a>, online at <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/john-mellencamp-plain-spoken-tour-grand-rapids-michigan-06-09-2015/event/08004D23D7FD2E55?artistid=770615&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1&brand=devos&camefrom=CFC_VANANDEL_WEB">Ticketmaster.com</a>, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices will be $42, $65, $85, and $119.50. Prices are subject to change and a purchase limit of six tickets will apply. VIP packages will be available online only for $251.50 and include amazing reserved tickets in the first ten rows, limited edition memorabilia and much more!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On September 23rd, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp will release one of the most distinguished records of his career, <i>Plain Spoken</i> on Republic Records. <i>Plain Spoken</i> includes ten stunningly elegant and soul-searching Americana gems.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Concert goers will receive a digital download of the <i>Plain Spoken</i> record with purchase of tickets to the tour. (One download code per ticket for online and phone purchases only; does not apply to box office or outlet ticket purchases.)</div>
<div>
<br />
“The music looks back toward … ‘Blood On The Tracks,’ with strummed guitars, brushes on the drums and neck-rack harmonica, and the words ponder trouble, power, love, God, freedom and mortality,” says THE NEW YORK TIMES. <i>Plain Spoken</i> is set to be hailed as an unparalleled new chapter in Mellencamp’s distinctive songbook.<br />
<br />
Grammy-winning musician John Mellencamp has touched the heart and souls of music listeners and influenced American Culture with enduring songs. He is also one of the most successful live concert performers in the world. A man with a conscience, he used his visibility and influence to advocate an issue that hit close to home and became one of the founding members of Farm Aid, an organization that began in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms. The Farm Aid concerts have raised over $45 million to promote a resilient family farm system of agriculture.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2014, he also signed a historic "lifetime recording contract" with Republic Records for the release of <i>Plain Spoken</i> and all of his albums to follow. Universal Music Enterprises continues to represent the artist's prominent catalog as well. Mercury/UME recently released his latest live album, <i>John Mellencamp Sings Trouble No More Live at Town Hall</i>, this past summer.</div>
</div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2014/09/john-mellencamp-announces-plain-spoken.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-18501045006053442792014-07-21T10:36:00.001-04:002014-07-30T11:06:48.655-04:00Christian Artist TobyMac to Play DeVos Performance Hall in November<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S_taYze09_x7EiPftYREaXPp2B1F4AW9LK3KXd_zxbmTJchyphenhyphenhzKxDLJ8_vFLP2nSj5449TAIB1HQybSzc8B93U-m_TB5ZjT_yz3tOuXpEzReIOgy_dHtLC4Cua8JaoQ2HXZoN0bC8j5F/s1600/Tour+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S_taYze09_x7EiPftYREaXPp2B1F4AW9LK3KXd_zxbmTJchyphenhyphenhzKxDLJ8_vFLP2nSj5449TAIB1HQybSzc8B93U-m_TB5ZjT_yz3tOuXpEzReIOgy_dHtLC4Cua8JaoQ2HXZoN0bC8j5F/s1600/Tour+Art.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
Christian hip-hop/pop artist <b><a href="http://tobymac.com/" target="_blank">TobyMac</a></b> will return to Grand Rapids to play <b><a href="http://devosperformancehall.com/" target="_blank">DeVos Performance Hall</a></b> this fall. The former <b>dc Talk</b> rapper will bring singer/songwriters <b><a href="http://www.mattmahermusic.com/" target="_blank">Matt Maher</a></b> and special guest <b><a href="http://ryanstevensonmusic.com/" target="_blank">Ryan Stevenson</a></b> with him for the <b>Sunday, November 23, 2014</b> show that is slated for a 7:00 PM start. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tickets will cost $20.50, $25.50, $35.50, $45.50 and will go on sale Friday, July 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM. Tickets will be available at the <b><a href="http://devosplace.org/" target="_blank">DeVos Place®</a></b> and <a href="http://vanandelarena.com/" target="_blank"><b>Van Andel Arena®</b></a> box offices, Ticketmaster <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/retail-outlets" target="_blank">ticket centers</a>, online at <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/tobymac-grand-rapids-michigan-11-23-2014/event/08004CE79F0D1B61?artistid=867069&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=50&brand=devos&camefrom=CFC_VANANDEL_WEB">Ticketmaster.com</a>, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From his early days in influential group dc Talk to his very first solo album, <i>Momentum</i>, Toby has worked hard to inspire his audience with words of conviction, hope, empowerment and the redemption found in his faith in God. He furthers that vision on his latest release, the thrilling <i>Eye On It</i>, produced by Toby, Christopher Stevens, David Garcia and Jamie Moore.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Toby has clearly been taking all the right steps, moving through the often prideful music business with a sense of humility that belies his success. With over 11 million units in career sales, TobyMac continues to take his career to new levels. <i>Eye On It</i> gained him the <b>GRAMMY® Award</b> for <b>Best Contemporary Christian Music Album</b> and the highest chart debut of his solo career landing at No. 1 on the <b>Billboard Top 200</b> and topping the <b>iTunes® Overall</b> and <b>Christian</b> sales charts. The project made TobyMac one of only four artists to ever debut atop the Billboard Top 200 with a Christian music album.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His previous four solo projects have received <b>RIAA Gold certification</b>. His 2009 album <i>Tonight </i>received GRAMMY® nods for <b>Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album</b> and <b>Best Contemporary Christian Song</b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In all, TobyMac has received five GRAMMY® awards, two Billboard Music Awards for Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album, an American Music Award for Favorite Artist in the Contemporary/Inspirational category, Dove Awards for "Artist of the Year," "Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year," "Recorded Music Packaging of the Year," "Short Form Video of the Year," KLOVE Music Awards for “Artist of the Year” and swept the 2013 Australian Music Awards. </div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2014/07/christian-artist-tobymac-to-play-devos.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-55635168489285388502014-07-10T15:58:00.000-04:002014-07-30T11:06:42.412-04:00Special Invitation from Community Inclusion Group<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlo_NMD0yalBSA3_XTNRV0nnan9_rQo6eUILSWwqLI29-8zvykD-l6HzECEhDVhmfbPgMuJPYfObJRz_p4X7RtYl-79PZ6bLHAsXwWvUGrSNyOtSBFk-dvXalW-Zie-DwwvhiHzuChFyr/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlo_NMD0yalBSA3_XTNRV0nnan9_rQo6eUILSWwqLI29-8zvykD-l6HzECEhDVhmfbPgMuJPYfObJRz_p4X7RtYl-79PZ6bLHAsXwWvUGrSNyOtSBFk-dvXalW-Zie-DwwvhiHzuChFyr/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" height="366" width="525" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>*Keith Sweat on August 2nd has been cancelled. If you purchased tickets at our box office, refunds have been processed automatically. Otherwise, refunds are available at the point of sale.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The <b>Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena
Authority’s (CAA) Community Inclusion Group (CIG)</b> would like to invite you
to join our VIP List. By joining our VIP List, you will have
information about events and attractions delivered right to your inbox. Simply <a href="http://bit.ly/CIGVIP" target="_blank"><b>click here</b></a> to join and see a full list of events and
attractions coming to YOUR community venues. If social media is more your
speed, we invite you to connect with us: <br />
<br />
<b>Facebook</b><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/VanAndelArenaFanPage" target="_blank">Van Andel Arena</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVosPlaceFanPage" target="_blank">DeVosPlace/DeVos Performance Hall</a><br />
<br />
<b>Twitter</b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><a href="https://twitter.com/VanAndelArena" target="_blank">@VanAndelArena</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/DeVosPerfHall" target="_blank">@DeVosPerfHall</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/DeVosPlaceMeet" target="_blank">@DeVosPlaceMeet</a><br />
<b><br />Instagram</b><br />
<a href="http://instagram.com/vanandelarenagr" target="_blank">@VanAndelArenaGR</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By way of background, the CAA owns and operates the Van
Andel Arena®, DeVos Place® and DeVos Performance Hall. The CAA’s mission
is to encourage economic development within the West Michigan region, create
jobs and provide facilities for the entertainment, enjoyment and/or benefit of
the citizens in an economical manner by developing and operating convention,
entertainment, and sports facilities within Kent County.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2005, CAA Board Chair Steve Heacock established a
subcommittee to examine the reach of the CAA’s diversity efforts and to prepare
a plan that includes financially viable actions for the CAA to undertake.
Today, this group is known as the CIG. The CIG is a committee comprised
of local community leaders who help identify and ensure that viable diverse
events and programming take place at the venues. With this in mind, we
are committed to making sure that you are in the know about events and
attractions that come to the CAA’s venues and to the greater downtown
area. Please consider joining our e-mail list and feel free to forward
the link along to those who may have an interest, including co-workers,
friends, family, Greek organizations, congregation members, etc.</div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://smg-vanandelarena.blogspot.com/2014/07/special-invitation-from-community.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-46975757610295021062014-04-23T15:50:00.000-04:002014-04-23T16:55:07.416-04:00Jam Band Royalty Bob Weir & RatDog Making Their Way to Grand Rapids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAfgZPHbm1flWawaGkSZGcTx3OkMqDgUvdz2H2kS3YsLP2Viut1LFFJjL5A2R9KrLKRpjZDPyMKcjyItqwyYQHvtICIZha-OiakjU9K_y08SrdJO2oIx-X-M0_KOgFiJn9-KB0C_7OWmE/s1600/ratdog-fbpost-grapids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAfgZPHbm1flWawaGkSZGcTx3OkMqDgUvdz2H2kS3YsLP2Viut1LFFJjL5A2R9KrLKRpjZDPyMKcjyItqwyYQHvtICIZha-OiakjU9K_y08SrdJO2oIx-X-M0_KOgFiJn9-KB0C_7OWmE/s1600/ratdog-fbpost-grapids.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
With a touring history that has made him one of the most traveled road musicians of all time and a restless music personality that has kept him occupied for over 50 years, Weir knows a thing or two about staying fresh and living in the moment. Although best known as one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, adding Dead staples such as “Truckin’,” “Sugar Magnolia,” and “Cassidy” to the band’s catalog, Weir obtained a long and affluent music career that has allowed him to do what he loves and share it with others for nearly his entire life.<br />
<br />
<b>Weir and RatDog will play DeVos Performance Hall on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 7:00 PM</b>. All tickets will be $49.50 and will be available at the DeVos Place convention center and Van Andel Arena box offices, Ticketmaster <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/retail-outlets" target="_blank">ticket centers</a>, online at <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/an-evening-with-bob-weir-grand-rapids-michigan-06-10-2014/event/08004C90D5D380D2?artistid=736431&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1&brand=devos&camefrom=CFC_VANANDEL_WEB">Ticketmaster.com</a>, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. <b>Tickets go on sale Friday, April 25, 2014 at noon.</b><br />
<br />
Born in 1947, Weir was adopted by a wealthy California engineer. As a teen, he secured his spot as one of the youngest members of the burgeoning folk scene that centered on a Palo Alto club called the Tangent—home to such future rock legends as Jerry Garcia, Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and Janis Joplin. In 1964, at the age of 17, Weir spent the majority of his time at a Palo Alto music store where Garcia taught guitar lessons. It wasn’t long before Weir and Garcia, along with Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, formed a blues and folk outfit. Originally called Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions, the band was later renamed The Warlocks—adding Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzman to the lineup—and eventually came to be known as the <a href="http://www.dead.net/" target="_blank">Grateful Dead</a>.<br />
<br />
Weir’s odd rhythm style developed as he played between the sweet articulated lead of Garcia and the avant-garde bass lines of Lesh. His songwriting developed as well, taking off particularly in the 1970s when he crossed paths with former pal John Perry Barlow. The two began producing songs in Weir’s own distinct style, spurring a songwriting partnership that would last for years to come.<br />
<br />
Even with the Dead playing close to 100 shows a year, Weir needed other musical outlets. 1972 brought the release of his first solo album, Ace, on which the rest of the Dead backed him. Throughout the rest of the 1970s Weir toured and recorded with a number of different groups, the first of which was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingfish_%28band%29" target="_blank">Kingfish</a>. After releasing an album with the band in 1976, Weir began a solo project with producer Keith Olsen called Heaven Help the Fool. A brief tour to support the album resulted in collaborations with various session players, including Brent Mydland (who would join the Dead in 1979), Bobby Cochran, Alphonso Johnson and Billy Cobham. Weir also briefly toured with a group as Bobby and the Midnites, producing two albums.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjyd0zf4C2_E0g3bm91STIlUWOmuqAykSzVgarrI9gjHoJ76sAzSiOAbPMmO5HpBnlZOAT4Uez7-gwdABcXfNdkxIV5DdvVc9nd36TWBE9PBrvhKrZ8VvE7hqG3IMT5bspeGAJwELjcQG/s1600/IMG_2660a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjyd0zf4C2_E0g3bm91STIlUWOmuqAykSzVgarrI9gjHoJ76sAzSiOAbPMmO5HpBnlZOAT4Uez7-gwdABcXfNdkxIV5DdvVc9nd36TWBE9PBrvhKrZ8VvE7hqG3IMT5bspeGAJwELjcQG/s1600/IMG_2660a.jpg" height="344" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
Throughout the late 1980s and during the first half of the 1990s, the Dead remained Weir’s primary gig. Touring incessantly while all the while building up a community of “Deadheads,” the band finally found commercial success with their 1987 album, In the Dark. When Garcia died in 1995, Weir had just recently formed <a href="http://www.rat-dog.com/" target="_blank">RatDog</a> with Rob Wasserman, a bassist he had been playing duo shows with since the late 1980s. After Garcia’s death, former Primus drummer Jay Lane and ex-Kingfish harmonica/guitar player Matthew Kelly were added into the mix. With a revolving lineup, the group toured relentlessly, building a name for themselves while performing a mix of new Weir compositions and older, reworked Dead songs.<br />
<br />
In 1998, Weir reunited with several former Dead bandmates to tour as The Other Ones, releasing a live album in 1999 and hitting the road again in 2000. The same year, RatDog released their first album, Evening Moods. In 2009, original Grateful Dead members Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart teamed up with guitarist Warren Haynes and RatDog keyboardist Chimenti to tour as the Dead. The results, however, were erratic, leaving Weir feeling like the road trip was more work than fun and Lesh saying the music didn’t seem to be moving forward. Besides stirring up some commotion, the ’09 Dead tour reminded Weir and Lesh of the chemistry the two had as bandmates. This led to the creation of Furthur—arguably one of the most successful Dead projects Weir has participated in to date.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n4nV0FtlecmvkXeQ1pUaMDEMqGMasuWEv-PRGsdZkQiTThrkVvv33CPYEI6aH2BqZMU7P3IYF9yNHeL7XAF5Vt5udR3AKerrGIH78YYDF6I187fBBZ5FO1aTU65a-N7iHDPXSriHAv-c/s1600/ratdog-bob-weir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n4nV0FtlecmvkXeQ1pUaMDEMqGMasuWEv-PRGsdZkQiTThrkVvv33CPYEI6aH2BqZMU7P3IYF9yNHeL7XAF5Vt5udR3AKerrGIH78YYDF6I187fBBZ5FO1aTU65a-N7iHDPXSriHAv-c/s1600/ratdog-bob-weir.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Currently, Weir is married to the former Natascha Muenter, with whom he has two young daughters, Monet and Chloe. While not consumed by music, Weir spends a great deal of time as a social activist. He has done work as an environmental activist with several organizations, such as Greenpeace, and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for theRainforest Action Network and for Seva Foundation. He works with both the Rex Foundation, an organization started by the Dead in 1984, and the Furthur Foundation. Most recently, Weir is on the Board of Directors for Headcount, a nonprofit that registers voters and inspires participation in democracy through the power of music.<br />
<br />
A long, strange, very creative trip—and not remotely over. Keep up with Bob on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/robert.weir#%21/pages/Bob-Weir/150534874959818?ref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or follow him on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BobWeir" target="_blank">@BobWeirRatDog</a>.
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<br />
<div class="fb-comments" data-colorscheme="light" data-href="http://devosperformancehall.blogspot.com/2014/04/jam-band-royalty-bob-weir-ratdog-making.html" data-numposts="5">
</div>SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-27136306962423166942013-04-11T16:03:00.001-04:002013-04-12T09:29:28.813-04:00David Sedaris Has Followed a Long Road to Success and DeVos Performance Hall<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://devosperformancehall.com/schedule/michigan-radio-presents-evening-david-sedaris" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiJxAP8aDi8Gpiw2axNvQAWObQkA5cSIlkGoZ16yNst5kk30TPoNbSgfE-Oz6VZhGZDiDavjTK_-AbcXLMkwbLpS2YY08WexSfQNNUI2WUNtCA_BK9FEnQvDYYsfzEgHYo25RWsOGJY1r/s400/Sedaris_crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
David Sedaris has been described as one of the top American humor writers of his generation. He has topped the New York Times Best Sellers list on multiple occasions. He has over seven million copies of his books in print, and they have been translated into 25 different languages. He was named “Humorist of the Year” by <i>Time</i> magazine in 2001.<br />
<br />
One of Sedaris’ short stories has been adapted into a full-length film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. To say his satirical and witty writing style has been a smashing success would be an understatement at this point. However, this kind of mainstream success isn’t something David has always been familiar with.<br />
<br />
Before becoming a best-selling author, Sedaris jumped around from place to place and odd-job to odd-job. He briefly worked for a moving company in North Carolina, and he has spent countless mornings working as a maid in New York, scrubbing toilets and cleaning cat litter boxes for $10 an hour.<br />
<br />
He attempted to earn a degree from two different universities before finally graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After he finally earned a degree in 1987, he began reading from his personal diary at a small club in Chicago. It was at this club that he would be “discovered” by radio personality, Ira Glass.<br />
<br />
Keeping a personal diary proved to be a habit that would serve him well as Glass eventually asked Sedaris to come on his show to share some excerpts. After a little success on the show, Sedaris read his essay “SantaLand Diaries” on NPR in December of 1992 and was quickly dubbed a “minor phenomenon” when the New York Times put him on their unofficial watch-list.<br />
<br />
He began recording a monthly segment for NPR in which he read other stories and essays from his diary, and he quickly wound up with a book deal. After being flooded with offers from TV shows and soap operas, he chose to stick with the diary instead. About a year and a half after “Santaland Diaries,” Sedaris released his first book, <i>Barrel Fever</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0800494986C931F3" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6kMrd2uNULjfyzJTlqHyt7UGQqs3oJGWeFch1vyfiqrLT2nFgwKwin8Yk7Q9-RssV8xpwE7J5JQWprL6J88JUsX-EwXondpaYzOzALPy_7SJdJ7QPgjhhkD0dW8-JyWZCa7w-8iGz9p4/s320/Owls.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sedaris, who has been nominated for multiple Grammy awards, will bring his humor and story-telling to DeVos Performance Hall. Set to release his ninth collection of stories and essays, <i>Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls</i>, a live reading with David Sedaris carries much more fanfare than it did before he first appeared on NPR a little over 20 years ago.<br />
<br />
From stories of his various odd jobs to anecdotes about family members, Sedaris
amuses and delights his audience with his humorous essays, observations about
life, and excerpts from his personal diaries that haven’t quite made it into a
publication yet. <br />
<br />
<i>Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls<b> </b></i>will be released on April 23,
2013, only nine days after his appearance at DeVos Performance Hall on April 14th.
Michigan Radio presents An Evening with
David Sedaris will begin at 7:00 PM, and is sure to provide quite a few laughs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-5992409075195385762013-03-25T15:57:00.000-04:002013-12-16T10:42:26.779-05:00What You Need to Know About Paperless Ticketing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reported several years ago, a company in Texas was found
managing over 100 computers with their own software programs. That sounds
perfectly fine at first glance since computers can be found virtually at every
company across the globe. The problem here was that these computers in
particular, had been programmed to purchase tickets to shows in bulk the
instant they became available. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After tickets to numerous events and shows had been
purchased, a ticket broker—who’d prearranged to purchase those tickets from the
company—ultimately aimed to sell them back to the public. Sometimes, a ticket
broker has their own computers. Tickets can change hands two to three times
with every one of them looking to gain profit. So regardless of the process,
the objective is the same—drive up the price.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those darn scalpers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reality is
people have been scalping for a long time—modifying their approach to modernize
the way they make profits. <span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span>The latest technologies provide faster and faster ways to get
tickets. One method is automated computer software programs such as the one in
Texas<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Often
seen as a victim-less crime, those profits do pay a price. And that price falls
on true fans. Once the broker has tickets,
prices skyrocket. The broker sometimes can make it practically impossible for
the average Joe to get a seat to his favorite band when prices are marked up to over 200%.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another problem this poses is the uncertain validity of
tickets purchased on the secondary market. Sure, you may be able to fork over a
couple extra hundred bucks to take your girlfriend or boyfriend to the Kid Rock
show or take your spouse and kids to the spectacular “Wicked” Broadway show
coming into town, but how do you know they are legit?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is where paperless tickets come into play. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paperless ticketing is an alternative method of purchasing
tickets and continuing to gain access to the shows you want to attend. Instead of
receiving your tickets ahead of the event, the credit card used to make the
purchase will serve as your ticket. All you need to attend the show is the
credit card you used to purchase the ticket and a valid, government-issued ID
(such as a driver's license, state ID or passport).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Promoters are employing the use of paperless tickets more
and more successfully
at some of the largest venues throughout the world, by many of the most popular
artists including the likes of Kid Rock and more. Simply put, this measure best ensures that fans can buy tickets at the price they initially set for the
event all the while enjoying the added convenience of not having to risk losing
or misplacing paper stubs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When
patrons arrive at the venue, just go directly to the gate and/or ticket-taker
and present the credit card used to purchase the tickets along with a government-issued
ID. Upon scanning your credit card to validate your order, a seat locator slip
for each ticket ordered will be printed off for each seat purchased in your
order.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But
say you’re purchasing tickets for others and don’t intend on attending the show?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If
you buy tickets for friends or family, sometimes you only have to go to the gate, not through the gate. Simply accompany them to the
venue and show your credit card and ID to get them in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If
you happen to lose your credit card after your purchase was made, simply bring
a print out of your confirmation email or online order history from
Ticketmaster with your government-issued ID to the box office. The box office
will then verify the order and make sure the names match. If they do not match,
entry will not be permitted. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paperless tickets
take the ease out of a ticket process that has for too long been manipulated at
the cost of the artist all the way down to the common fan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/paperless">Click here</a> to learn more about paperless ticketing. <o:p></o:p></div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-54817755922178333122012-11-14T13:26:00.002-05:002012-11-14T13:27:15.706-05:00Kendall College of Art & Design Juried Print, Drawing and Painting Exhibition Adornd DeVos Place SkywalkThe juried exhibition of Master of Fine Arts students from Kendall College of Art and Design opened on Monday, November 5, 2012 and is currently visible in the Skywalk of DeVos Place Convention Center at 303 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; (616) 742-6503.<br />
<br />
Eddie Tadlock, Assistant General Manager of De Vos Place worked closely with the Curator of this exhibition, Kendall College of Art and Design Professor Margaret Vega, to showcase these Graduate students. Tadlock states, “DeVos Place is proud and excited to partner with Kendall College of Art and Design in presenting this juried show of graduate students. DeVos Place Convention Center is uniquely situated to showcase art in a public venue in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. We anticipate an audience of over 30,000 visitors will be afforded the opportunity to see this important exhibition of emerging artists. This exhibition will certainly add a new art destination for the cultural calendar in the region.”<br />
<br />
Nineteen 2011-2012 Print, Drawing and Painting Graduate Students were chosen from their digital submission based both on craft and content. The final selection was made from the original work. The artists exhibiting are: <br />
<br />
Megan Klco<br />
Cody Erickson <br />
Aneka Ingold<br />
Mellissa Redman <br />
Salvador Jimenez <br />
Katie Moore<br />
Linda Manguiat-Herzog <br />
Taylor Overbay <br />
Laura Hunt <br />
Kari Friestad <br />
Gabriela Amaya-Baron <br />
Elizabeth Hubler-Torrey <br />
Tatsuki Hakoyama <br />
Dustin Rogers <br />
Shannon McDonell <br />
Marvin Dabideen <br />
Steven Vinson <br />
Sarah Knill <br />
Lydia Larson<br />
<br />
Megan Klco, MFA thesis Painting student, assisted in hanging the show and placing the work within the space. She is exhibiting her work in galleries and ArtPrize. The MFA Program at Kendall College of Art and Design is a rigorous experience involving studio and thesis level courses, Art History and seminars in philosophy and contemporary issues. <br />
<br />
“This juried exhibition represents the commitment and dedication of our graduate students at Kendall. Students arrive to our MFA program with passion, expectations and expertise. They graduate with refinement and depth in their chosen field, combined with direction and preparedness for the challenging life of an artist. These artists will go on to teach, exhibit and share their work all over the world. It is an inspiration and privilege to work with these students,” said MFA Painting Professor Margaret Vega. <br />
"Guided by skill and imagination and having only their courage and the media of the artist to accompany them, the Kendall graduate students set out into uncharted territories. They explore universes of experience, opening up new worlds from old ones and moving agilely away from the anesthetic of routine. As a viewer I find the works emotionally resonant, even as they produce the tension, challenge, and sometimes discomfort of changed perceptions and understandings. I come away from experiencing those works with my intellect excited, my emotions churned, and my whole being refreshed by what can only described as a visit to a new place. And when I come back to my old place from that new one, I feel immense gratitude for that journey and pride in the Kendall students. They are doing work that matters," stated Dr. David Rosen, President, Kendall College of Art and Design.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeM8IihSuTIWrFkM_zXLiJRaODzoJ94I6WNjd6iK0JMxaDkomMfYdGGNqf92CpviIZBjBqfBQpdQ_mgbwR2-Pg0ouP1bgQDJNld0WL-Y9Wx00Cdgf9Hv4T_NelEJ5nEOISNdZ_Twi-0AS/s1600/Megan_klco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeM8IihSuTIWrFkM_zXLiJRaODzoJ94I6WNjd6iK0JMxaDkomMfYdGGNqf92CpviIZBjBqfBQpdQ_mgbwR2-Pg0ouP1bgQDJNld0WL-Y9Wx00Cdgf9Hv4T_NelEJ5nEOISNdZ_Twi-0AS/s400/Megan_klco.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Megan Klco</div>
SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-10464356794877865012012-10-26T11:07:00.003-04:002012-10-26T11:14:29.061-04:00ArtPrize '12 Recap: DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena Collaborate With Community While Talented Artists' Make Top 100With another ArtPrize competition well done and over with, we at DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena would like to take a quick look back at the amazing artist accomplishments for which the entries at DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena were able to receive along with some of the great collaborations we were able to participate in. <br />
<br />
<br />
With over 900 applicants desiring to display their work at one of ArtPrize’s premier venues year in and year out, only 58 were chosen to exhibit at DeVos Place with another two entries down the road outside our sister venue, Van Andel Arena, which is also where we kicked off our participation in this year’s contest.<br />
<br />
Coincidentally, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Fully Charged circus was coming into town for their annual fall run of shows at the arena while ArtPrize was also ready to kick off. Combining the two occasions, Van Andel Arena was able to host a <em><strong>Pachyderm Painting Palooza</strong></em> on September 19th with special guest, Asia the elephant. Van Andel Arena also worked with the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority’s Community Inclusion Group to bring in a dozen children from local schools to paint with Asia, herself...using their "trunks", of course.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFojlROCGtr_wxXTqPh6KxeQkZ_IcYTgM3LlluNsicalUvJ4h3rbOFFgJHwsxRu_WU_0fhMu6PTRLopfUIW79go7eXoBluINY2lpfQQpUvZJUs0KdywexHpAQqv59EzKf60iwuQUD2Vi6M/s1600/PPPblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFojlROCGtr_wxXTqPh6KxeQkZ_IcYTgM3LlluNsicalUvJ4h3rbOFFgJHwsxRu_WU_0fhMu6PTRLopfUIW79go7eXoBluINY2lpfQQpUvZJUs0KdywexHpAQqv59EzKf60iwuQUD2Vi6M/s320/PPPblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But Van Andel Arena wasn’t the only venue having all the fun that day. Over at DeVos Place, hundreds of the public browsed through the venue at DeVos Place's ArtPrize Grand Reception, where they were able to meet and speak with many of the artists themselves. The preview event was part of the Arena District’s preview series, involving many of downtown’s bars, restaurants and venues. <br />
<br />
During ArtPrize, local teenagers from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Youth Grant Committee used the area in front of Van Andel Arena on September 29th for one of their annual volunteer projects. Using hundreds of canvas event bags that were supplied by DeVos Place, the Youth Grant Committee offered people walking downtown the opportunity to help children in need feel uplifted and inspired. By asking people downtown to simply decorate a lunch bag that was given to a child through Kids’ Food Basket’s sack supper program, all parties involved were able to utilize their resources for the benefit of the community.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIrRrTJb4h7deQLqv9O25lcJMp6RaKESTSQVAHvRDxn1vSgNC62vgryBdfwK7Im0zq-qBw45nRq94Hiik3zSC3CYrpGo2wtUhXwJEn8x8gRuHsW3ZqMd8A3zGFs7IHPgcWdWKlDPJCB-J/s1600/GRCFkfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIrRrTJb4h7deQLqv9O25lcJMp6RaKESTSQVAHvRDxn1vSgNC62vgryBdfwK7Im0zq-qBw45nRq94Hiik3zSC3CYrpGo2wtUhXwJEn8x8gRuHsW3ZqMd8A3zGFs7IHPgcWdWKlDPJCB-J/s320/GRCFkfb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As for the competition itself, DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena were happy to have 13 artists in the top 100 out of 1517 entries. <br />
<br />
Cristina Fournier’s <strong>From Coast to Coast</strong>, Greg Rawls’ <strong>Sea Glass</strong>, Lis Bokt’s <strong>Earth</strong>, Scott William Bye’s <strong>Rush Docks</strong>, Tom Sheerin’s <strong>Bird Feeder</strong> and Kent Ambler’s <strong>Running Dogs</strong> all made the top 100. Cracking the top 50 were Peter Halasz’s <strong>rainscape from east broadway and canal</strong>, Read Lockhart’s <strong>The Allegory of the Cave</strong>, Clark Art Studio’s <strong>Verdigris</strong>, Kim Marie Rudolph’s <strong>Black Swan</strong> and Jody Williams’ <strong>Legacy</strong>.<br />
<br />
Finally, a round of applause goes to Jessica Bohus’ <strong>Running on Air</strong> and Jack Nixon’s <strong>Studies In Light and Form—The Chicago Seven and Michigan Avenue Bridge Sculptures</strong> for making the top 25. Just the latest DeVos Place displays to make the top 25, DeVos Place has been well represented in the top 25 every year since ArtPrize started. <br />
<br />
Congratulations to these great artists for making the top 100 and beyond. Lastly, thanks to all the artists that displayed their terrific work at DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena. Next year, we anticipate more great entries and look forward to collaborating with and for the community. See you next year!SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-35157270233571808342012-09-21T16:08:00.002-04:002012-09-21T16:12:20.331-04:00Michigan ArtPrize Artists Well Represented Amongst International Artists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKxIiT2_veTOQdv4jvB8EuxF7Ts6_6Y3pCOsBZf_lt7qLsS3PLWtqjy32ZVNZZIQSCvf4AJxjQ7n0m4XkqhOyNGNTeXZ2-eT72IdPE5GA1YzBRqpumjSd5NIaMKkkt_2gQt0JqKoGonRp/s1600/luce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKxIiT2_veTOQdv4jvB8EuxF7Ts6_6Y3pCOsBZf_lt7qLsS3PLWtqjy32ZVNZZIQSCvf4AJxjQ7n0m4XkqhOyNGNTeXZ2-eT72IdPE5GA1YzBRqpumjSd5NIaMKkkt_2gQt0JqKoGonRp/s320/luce.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
ArtPrize 2012 is officially underway and <a href="http://devosplace.org/artprize-0" target="_blank">DeVos Place</a> is once again hosting some terrific art ranging from pin-point drawings to flamboyant paintings to enticing sculptures. On Wednesday evening, hundreds of people showed up to our opening reception where a few of the artists were on hand to greet, meet and discuss. Last week, we highlighted just 11 of those artists and their work. Fifty-eight artists are displaying their work at DeVos Place out of 900 applicants. Just as the art ranges in style and topic, the artists themselves come from all over the world and range in background and motivation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Scott Luce’s “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/scott-luce/2012/grand-illumination" target="_blank">Grand Illumination</a>” (pictured above) stands nearly 7 feet tall and is constructed of an estimated 800 pounds of granite, stainless steel and antique glass. The body of the sculpture is literally carved from one of the granite steps of the city’s historic Civic Auditorium. The lanterns are made from the Italian glass ceiling lights which were also part of the former auditorium. “These building materials were meant to remind us of the grandeur of days gone by, while it’s clean and modern design mirror many of the design elements of our modern-day Convention Center,” Luce said. Luce grew up in Grand Rapids, receiving a BS degree from Central Michigan University. He also attended Kendall College of Art and Design. In ArtPrize 2010, Luce submitted a trilogy of three abstract sculptures. <br />
<br />
<br />
Kim M. Rudolph came in the top 25 at ArtPrize 2011 with her sculpture “Lady of Dance.” This year, her entry is titled “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/kim-marie-rudolph/2012/black-swan" target="_blank">Black Swan</a>,” a life-size sculpture made from wall plaster. Rudolph’s work is done painstakingly by hand with no forms, models or casting used in the creation of “Black Swan.” From start to finish, Rudolph says an art piece like ‘Black Swan” can often take years to produce. Kim began her career in fine art doing painting, drawing, designing and carving, particularly enjoying creating art that’s realistic in form and styling. Her art shows a love for detail. Sculpting came later in life, landing in her lap accidentally. The passion she felt in this artistic medium was unsurpassed as it ignited a flame in her. As an artist she often feels like she’s walking a tightrope ever so gently combining 2D and 3D artistry in one, blending them effortlessly.<br />
<br />
<br />
West Michigan artist Jessica Bohus had work in ArtPrize 2010 at the Douglas J Aveda Institute. But this year, Bohus is hoping that her spot on a DeVos Place wall will give her piece “some fabulous shadows.” The contrast between the two venues demonstrates something she likes about participating in ArtPrize, which led her to enter “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/jessica-bohus/2012/running-on-air" target="_blank">Running on Air</a>,” in this year’s competition. “The work I do is sculptural installation so the venue changes the viewer’s experience of the art and dictates how the horses appear or disappear” she said. Originally from the south side of Chicago and a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bohus now lives near Fennville where she operates Blue Roan Studio. The Studio is in a two room schoolhouse built in 1889. She also works and has work on view at Good Goods Gallery in Saugatuck.<br />
<br />
<br />
Artist and Grand Ledge-native, Mary Ann Southworth is displaying “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/mary-ann-southworth/2012/personal-medicine" target="_blank">Personal Medicine</a>,” an acrylic and colored pencil on wood panel painting that’s a “warm reflection of the transformation and inner peace that happens when you grow comfortable with who you are.” Her paintings, sculptures and collages have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions, including those at the Grand Rapids Public Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Mars Gallery in Chicago, Illinois; Jacqueline Burke Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Jayne Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri; Joan Cawley Gallery in Lenexa, Kansas; Synapse Gallery in Benton Harbor, Michigan; and Shibui Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Southworth attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago Illinois, and received a B.F.A. in 1989.<br />
<br />
<br />
Photography is Nicholas Gregory’s calling, if you asked him. “Five years ago I set out with a simple goal—get to know the most misunderstood city in America. Detroit feeds my curiosity as an artist and learner.” The images in this compelling photo essay, “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/nicholas-gregory/2012/split" target="_blank">Split</a>,” captures the sometimes forgotten stories so ingrained in this city’s roots–including the lingering scars of housing segregation and the construction of the Chrysler Freeway (I-75) through the onetime culturally rich black neighborhood known as Paradise Valley. The neighborhood, a vibrant entertainment center turned ghetto, was located in the heart of Motown and was home to thousands of Black families before it was buried by concrete. His work ranges from photojournalism in the streets of Barcelona to capturing majestic Pacific Northwest landscapes and portraits. But he aims to bring awareness back to one city. “I bring awareness to Detroit's history and the current challenges so we can make Detroit better."<br />
<br />
<br />
Cristina Fournier’s watercolor and oil paintings are widely acclaimed internationally and in her native Costa Rica. Her many awards include the National Aquielo Echeverria Award, the prestigious Ancora Award and Honorable Mention at the International Show in Juivissy, Paris. Cristina is an enthusiastic artist-diplomat. Her vibrant paintings of native flora and fauna have long been favored by Costa Rican government officials as gifts for visiting dignitaries. One of her paintings was officially presented at the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations. Cristina is a dedicated and prolific artist. She has traveled extensively throughout the Americas and Europe, captivating the “feelings” of each region with her versatile, impressionistic brush. “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/cristina-fournier/2012/from-coast-to-coast" target="_blank">From Coast to Coast</a>” is a labor of love. Begun more than ten years ago, this enormous watercolor is an ambitious portrayal of the luscious and extremely variable flora of Costa Rica, from its Caribbean Coastal tropics to the dry forests of the Pacific.<br />
<br />
<br />
Holland resident and Hopkins High School art teacher, Cassie Jo Krause Atallah’s ArtPrize entry is called “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/cassie-jo-krause-atallah/2012/fruit-of-the-mind-and-work-of-human-hands" target="_blank">Fruit of the Mind and Work of Human Hands</a>.” The work is a series of 12 wooden frames displaying hand casts doing a variety of everyday tasks, but for what could be very different characters. “It is an optimistic view of the job market and a tribute to all of the people who work hard every day.” The Hope College graduate chose the title as a commentary on how our jobs (past, present, and future) become parts of our identities and affect our lives in ways both subtle and profound. “As a teacher, I hope that my students will have the opportunity to work in careers that they truly enjoy,” she said, and “as a friend and family member, I am constantly in awe of the variety of things that the people in my life do on a daily basis. I appreciate people whose work has a positive effect on their communities. This project is a tribute to all of you.” <br />
<br />
<br />
Yet Holland is not only represented at DeVos Place by Atallah. Michelle Calkins also resides in Holland and will be competing in her third ArtPrize. Moving from magnets and wood in her previous entries to oil paint and canvas, "<a href="http://www.artprize.org/michelle-calkins/2012/collage-color-study-64" target="_blank">Collage Color Study 64</a>" is a study of color and texture and how they relate to each other. She says each little painting is inspired by unique color combinations and the nature around her. "Having been a professional picture framer since 1990, the presentation aspect of the art world is always on my mind. A great frame can do wonders. Owning Four Corners Framing Company in Holland, Michigan has afforded me a front row seat to many types & styles of art. It has been a great & constant inspiration and keeps me on my art toes." Michelle's media of choice are oil painting, sculpture and photography. "It's all about color," she says. "Lately I’ve been borrowing from one discipline to give to another which I think makes each one stronger." She feels she has come full circle with her piece for Artprize 2012. <br />
<br />
<br /><br />
For Kirstie Conklin, the decision to enter ArtPrize wasn’t simply about winning a competition. It was about paying tribute to her husband, who died of cancer on September 19, 2011—exactly one year before this year’s event began. Conklin recalls visiting ArtPrize in its first year with her husband, dreaming of someday entering the competition herself. But as a busy mother of a toddler with a full-time job, she didn’t think she had time. The following fall, life shifted gears. After a new baby and as her husband’s battle with cancer came to an end, she dug deep to find herself as she continued to raise her two children, work full time, and maintain a home. “Being a widow was a resentful fact of life, and the term ‘single mom’ never really resonated with me,” Conklin said. “But after a while I realized there were many ways to draw closure from the death of my husband. One was to fulfill my promise to take him to Italy. The other was to participate in ArtPrize.” She decided to create a painting from an image she photographed as a young art student—a scene of Perugia, Italy. Rendered almost as tight as a photograph, her 24”x36” oil on board painting is titled, “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/kirstie-van-dyke-conklin/2012/my-little-italy" target="_blank">My Little Italy</a>.” “My hope is that it will show others that even in the darkest of times, it is only from within we can draw our strength,” Conklin said.<br />
<br />
<br />
Rebecca Zeiss studied painting and drawing at Delta College and then the University of Michigan School of Art and Design. During her time in Ann Arbor, she changed the focus of her work from painting to photography. She received her MFA in photography in 2005 from Central Michigan University and is now teaching photography and design at the University of Michigan-Flint, Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University. Her work embraces the crossover between photography and the tactile components of painting and drawing. Recently, her work in national and local exhibitions has been recognized by Bernice Steinbaum (pioneer for women artists), Joy Hakanson Colby (eminent retired art critic for the Detroit News), Deborah Willis (honored educator at the Society for Photographic Education), and Joseph Thompson, director of Mass MoCA, which he spearheaded to be the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the US. The oversize images of “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/rebecca-zeiss/2012/resonance-of-the-machinist" target="_blank">Resonance of the Machinist</a>.” which are printed on brushed aluminum, play with the viewer as the optical planes shift through what is revealed and/or what is concealed, creating perceptual illusions and allusions. <br />
<br />
<br /><br />
This is just a small portion of the artists exhibiting their entries at DeVos Place. Stay tuned for information on more artists. Please find a listing of all entries being shown at DeVos Place <a href="http://devosplace.org/artprize-0" target="_blank">here</a>. SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-9051364578394468862012-09-17T14:49:00.001-04:002012-09-17T14:53:09.175-04:00More ArtPrize Artists Come From All Over to Grace DeVos Place With A Diverse Range of Entries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_tLFpCBjMg8fhYynKGomMYLhseFxK58zljXtlAikO0uqkKi3-Np_vo9ayhLT5e8NbbmWR6c2Z9l971gNEjQKB31hzt_BdKAIg64iQVAzDGjZpIRKx3BCwvyz5sH_UYHpKdj5UQc3wBb2/s1600/artprize_venueseal+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_tLFpCBjMg8fhYynKGomMYLhseFxK58zljXtlAikO0uqkKi3-Np_vo9ayhLT5e8NbbmWR6c2Z9l971gNEjQKB31hzt_BdKAIg64iQVAzDGjZpIRKx3BCwvyz5sH_UYHpKdj5UQc3wBb2/s200/artprize_venueseal+%25282%2529.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As the Arena District recently kicked off their second annual ArtPrize Preview in 24 different venues, DeVos Place is once again proud to host some more terrific and intriguing entries. This year, <a href="http://devosplace.org/artprize-0" target="_blank">DeVos Place</a> will play host to 58 different pieces shown throughout the venue. Just as the art ranges in style and topic, the artists themselves come from all over the world and range in background and motivation.<br />
<br />
<br />
The motivation for artist Kent Ambler is a noteworthy one. A full-time artist since 1997, Ambler is pledging to donate $10,000 to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) should he win the 2012 ArtPrize top prize for his installation piece. “Dogs have added so much to my life that I feel a need to help. I donate work for auctions to benefit animal groups probably five or six times a year. I always wish I could help animal shelters more than I do,” says Kent. His work is a testament to his admiration for the four-legged friends who often appear as the main subject in his art. His ArtPrize piece “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/kent-ambler/2012/running-dogs" target="_blank">Running Dogs</a>” is a massive expression of this adoration. With more than 100 painted, cut-out dogs captured in different forms of running, the piece spans the whole wall—eight feet high and sixty feet long. Out of South Carolina, Ambler received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ball State University and has appeared in art shows, festivals and galleries throughout the United States. <br />
<br />
<br />
“<a href="http://www.artprize.org/tom-nakashima/2012/the-brothers-karamazov" target="_blank">Brothers Karamazov</a>” is a piece created by Seattle-born Tom Nakashima during a reading of the novel by the same name. Nakashima is Emeritus Proffessor at The Catholic U. of America and Morris Eminent Scholar Emeritus at Augusta State University. His work is in the permanent collections of over 50 public collections, which includes the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His work has been reviewed or written about in international art magazines and news publications while being reproduced in The Paris Review, Elle, Southern Living, and House Beautiful. As with all of Nakashima’s work, the painting uses recycled paper which relates to his continuing commentary on deforestation of the planet.<br />
<br />
<br />
“It all began with an invitation to my high school reunion, which they scheduled to coincide with an event called ArtPrize,” explains Jody Cramer, who grew up in Grand Rapids and is currently an artist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jody’s artwork, entitled “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/jody-cramer/2012/tulip-mania-connecting-the-dots" target="_blank">Tulip Mania Connecting the Dots</a>,” consists of nine 2’ x 2’ individual wooden panels in a diamond configuration comprising nearly 3,000 three-dimensional dots of vibrant acrylic color and a holographic medium, which unite to convey form in a Gestalt of optical illusion. Jody developed her unique style over 30 years ago while completing her Master’s Degree at Indiana University. Her interest in art began at a young age, evolving from childhood classes at the Grand Rapids Art Museum into the pursuit of art as a career. Fond memories of enjoying the Holland Tulip Festival as a child also helped inspire her ArtPrize entry. “ArtPrize is such an innovative format and platform for artists, it will be exciting to participate and see my hometown again,” said Cramer, who will be here for the event.<br />
<br />
<br />
From Beaufort, South Carolina, Greg Rawls has been creating kiln-formed (fused) glass for the past twelve years, studying extensively with many accomplished glass artists and developing techniques for taking kiln-formed glass in new directions, as with “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/greg-rawls/2012/sea-glass" target="_blank">Sea Glass</a>.” For his direction, Rawls has won numerous awards, such as the Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition, while also appearing in several galleries within his state. Rawls’ artist statement states glass is an eternal medium that has been worked, in one form or another, for several thousand years. Fused glass art was found in ancient Egyptian excavations and was a revered art form. The technique was lost and rediscovered about 50 years ago. “I want my work to be simple and expressive, yet convey a sense of color and light in harmony. I have always been inspired by the colors of the Lowcountry. The marsh, ocean and incredible sunsets form my palette.” He pursues glass art full time with his company, specializing in kiln-formed glass for art and architecture. <br />
<br />
<br />
Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa is a contemporary artist who specializes in cross-cultural paintings. Born in Taiwan, Kostrzewa studied at National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei before moving to the United States. She utilizes many techniques from both the eastern and western art to enrich her work. Now residing in Michigan, her artwork has been exhibited in Ukraine, Jordan, Taiwan, Austria, Canada, Greece, Italy and many states in the US. Her formal education includes MFA degree in Modern painting, MA degree in Computer Graphics, BFA degree in Chinese Art and Art Education teaching certificate. Lily has taught painting, design and workshops in colleges, public schools and community art centers, including Lake Forest College, IL, Central Michigan University, MI and Marywood University, PA. “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/lily-lihting-li-kostrzewa/2012/dont-wait-for-tomorrow" target="_blank">Don’t Wait For Tomorrow</a>” has been shown in NYC’s Time Square and has been chosen to be published by Chicago Art Magazine, Open Studio Magazine (Boston) and Review Magazine (Saginaw). <br />
<br />
<br />
Emmy-nominated filmmaker, artist, author and explorer of the PBS Documentary “In the footsteps of Marco Polo “, New York-bred Francis ODonnell says he was inspired by the Nazi Holocaust and “mankind’s refusal to learn from the past, which has led to other monstrous acts of genocide around the world since the end of WWII.” ODonnell’s piece “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/francis-odonnell/2012/guernica-redux-2012-the-end-of-times-or-holocaust-of-the-innocents" target="_blank">Guernica Redux—Holocaust of the Innocents</a>” pays homage to (though he insists is not a copy of) Picasso’s famous antiwar masterpiece, “Guernica.” “I've painted it bold and simply, reminiscent of the propaganda posters of the 1930s/40s. To some extent, this softens the terrible images. To further remove us from reality, I've restricted my palette to the use of three colors—red, white and black with the exception of an old man who sits on his hands on a light blue military helmet. He represents the world and the helmet represents the United Nations knowing [of these acts] but unwilling act,” ODonnell describes.<br />
<br />
<br />
Christopher Weed grew up in Philadelphia, PA, receiving a BFA degree from the University of Maryland, studied in Europe for several years, and has created over 20 public art commissions since 1998. Participating in last year’s ArtPrize, Weed is now introducing “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/christopher-weed/2012/spores" target="_blank">Spores</a>” to downtown Grand Rapids. Spores simultaneously suggests something playful yet threatening, natural yet out-scaled, organic yet industrial. Accordingly, the forms at-once appear as seed spores, tumbleweeds, thistles, and nautical mines. The sculptures are constructed of powder coated steel spheres with 400, to 475 solid half inch steel stems welded to each sphere. Weed’s entry form last year, “Portal” recently won first place in the 2012 Art on the Streets in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He’s also completed projects in Denver, Aurora, Boulder, Fort Collins, Lafayette, Colorado Springs and Superior to name a few. He is represented at A New Leaf Gallery in San Francisco, CA, and Shidoni Foundry, Gallery and Sculpture Gardens in Santa Fe, NM.<br />
<br />
<br />
Though Haiti is the theme of his Artprize photo exhibit called “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/phil-niekerk/2012/the-least-of-these" target="_blank">The Least of These</a>,” Phil Niekerk is based a little closer to the area. Niekerk, local pastor and photographer from Ada, Michigan is displaying a series of 34 black and white photos surrounded in three frames of steel and metal grating. “Going on mission trips around the world has been one of the highlights of being a pastor. I always take my camera equipment no matter the circumstances. Photography is how I journal what I’m seeing and feeling when I’m in a new place like Haiti,” he says. “I always look for a theme to capture with my camera—something more than the typical vacation shots. It became obvious during my first couple of days in Haiti that faces were [the] theme. My camera gravitated to these beautiful faces I encountered. I think my photos capture a wide continuum of these human emotions; from joy to despair, from anger to contentment, from beauty to brokenness. ”<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Ellen (Messner) Rogers, former wildlife veterinarian in Africa and star of Animal Planet’s docu-drama TV show Great African Wildlife Rescue, presents her animal-inspired artwork, “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/ellen-rogers/2012/darwin-called-it-evolution" target="_blank">Darwin Called It Evolution</a>,” for ArtPrize. She is a 2012 MFA graduate from Visual Studies Department at the University at Buffalo, as well as an alumnus of Harvard and Tufts University. She earned her BFA at the Maine College of Art, in Portland, Maine. Through her art practice, Rogers examines ideas about humans, animals, and Nature. Rogers spent years working in Africa hands-on with some of the most endangered, and dangerous wild animals on the planet. Based on her experiences working in wildlife conservation in Africa, Dr. Rogers uses art to explore how humans interact with and understand Nature. She seeks innovative visual methods to ask if people are a part of (or apart from) Nature. Her current artwork embodies hybrids of people and animals, asking how do people affect other beings? How do animals affect people? And ultimately, how do humans affect themselves through the environment? Rogers uses her sculptures to question the human/nature dichotomy. <br />
<br />
<br />
Artist Read Lockhart is continuing in the visual arts tradition of his father and grandfather. With “<a href="http://www.artprize.org/read-lockhart/2012/the-allegory-of-the-cave" target="_blank">The Allegory of the Cave</a>,” Read Lockhart continues to dive into his paintings and drawings layering oils on canvas and graphite on paper to reveal undeniably compelling images. Although the visual arts were far from his mind during his undergraduate career at St. John's College, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Illinois-native soon discovered his love of drawing closer to home at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Lockhart has also studied drawing at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy before his apprenticeship back in the US assisting some of New York’s most established painters. To conclude Lockhart’s studies in New York, he received the Alma Schipiro travel grant and spent seven months making his way through Western Europe entranced by the works of the great masters. After Europe, Lockhart's wealth of experience and knowledge backed by years of study drew him back to New Mexico where he settled in Taos.<br />
<br />
<br />
In the 2011 installment for ArtPrize, artist Dominic Sansone had a great response to his entry, winning his venue's Best in Show Award from the Michigan ACLU and finishing in the Top 25 in Hillside voting. This year with his piece "<a href="http://www.artprize.org/dominic-sansone/2012/just-short-of-the-shore" target="_blank">Just Short of the Shore</a>,” Dominic is looking to reach a wider audience. Dominic is a native of Chicago and in 1997 received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in sculpture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before spending two years working for an aerospace company producing fabrication and assembly drawings for satellites, military aircraft, and mobile artillery units. He’s also worked in the tradeshow industry and has overseen worldwide exhibition programs for major multinational corporations. Since receiving a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis in 2010, Dominic has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions around the United States. He is represented by Fulton Market Gallery in Chicago and teaches at the Evanston Art Center.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is just a small portion of the artists exhibiting their entries at DeVos Place. Stay tuned for information on more artists. Please find a listing of all entries being shown at DeVos Place <a href="http://devosplace.org/artprize-0" target="_blank">here</a>.SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-16405944294470591992012-08-17T12:00:00.000-04:002012-08-17T12:11:48.224-04:00DeVos Place Nominated For 'Downtown Award', Committed To Sustainability<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/devosplace/7754783260/" title="Recycle! by DeVos Place, on Flickr"><img alt="Recycle!" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7754783260_44130d3cdd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
In 2007, an article in Tradeshow Week reviewed how “the tradeshow business [could] no longer turn a blind eye to its impact on the environment.” This came in response to statistical data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which showed then that tradeshows and conventions accounted for the second most wasteful industry in the US. <br />
Since then, venues (and even whole cities) have increasingly jumped on the green movement bandwagon with many becoming proactive in their approach to sustainability and green efforts. Grand Rapids and SMG-managed <a href="http://devosplace.org/environmental-sustainability-initiatives-0" target="_blank">DeVos Place</a> have been no exceptions. <br />
<br />
Nominated by the Downtown Alliance for a 2012 <a href="http://www.downtowngr.org/awards-ballot.php" target="_blank">Downtown Award</a> in the ‘Sustainability’ category, the 253,000 square-foot DeVos Place Convention Center has been committed to the effort of caring for our environment by developing methods to reduce, reuse and recycle in our everyday routines. So what are those methods and how’d they come about? <br />
<br />
Soon after that article was written, the City of Grand Rapids thrust itself into Consumer Energy’s Green Generation Program, Michigan’s first voluntary renewable energy program, which earned the city induction into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Leadership Club in December 2008. Along with DeVos Place, Grand Rapids put an emphasis on limiting the amount of waste that was produced while looking into making these entities more efficient. <br />
<br />
Promptly in 2009, Grand Rapids was named the Green Generation Customer of the Year by Consumers Energy. "The action today on renewable energy is found in cities," Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell said then. "I'm proud that Grand Rapids has taken a lead in this field...”<br />
<br />
A leader amongst venues, DeVos Place emphasizes reduce, reuse and <a href="http://devosplace.org/environmental-sustainability-initiatives-0" target="_blank">recycle practices</a> to become as energy efficient as possible. We have adopted the latest methodologies in sustainability into practice, such as automated faucets and flushing systems, as well as a membrane style roof that is light in color to help reflect heat away from the building, thereby reducing energy costs. To help minimize power usage, the building also uses a computer controlled lighting and HVAC system. The system is designed to control lights, heating and cooling during peak event activities. Here are some more ways DeVos Place has engaged in green practices:<br />
<br />
<br />
REDUCE<br />
<br />
• Recycled paper products in restrooms to minimize waste<br />
• Low-flow toilets in DeVos Place<br />
• Energy efficient HVAC system in DeVos Place Convention Center<br />
• Employee energy conservation awareness program<br />
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs in public areas<br />
• Switching over to Environmentally green housekeeping products<br />
• Energy Management Programming in building support systems<br />
• Centralized off site use of heating and cooling services to reduce cost and impact to Grand Rapids<br />
• Encouraging staff to use alternative modes of transportation and car pooling to decrease air pollutants<br />
• Reserve office paper for only necessary use<br />
<br />
<br />
REUSE<br />
<br />
• Reuse recycled bond paper for non-essential DeVos Place Convention Center documents<br />
• Disposable and biodegradable food and beverage containers<br />
• Participate with local businesses in a city-wide composting program<br />
• Provide DeVos Place Convention Center employees with reusable vessels for beverages while on break<br />
• Donate computers to charity after office updates <br />
<br />
<br />
RECYCLE<br />
<br />
• Purchase recycled paper products for office use<br />
• Promote an employee recycling program<br />
• Recycle toner cartridges<br />
• Participate in Grand Rapids’ surplus programs to reduce landfill use<br />
• Continually research green practices relating to public venues to implement<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Additionally, just this summer, DeVos Place introduced two electric vehicle charging stations inside the underground parking lot. Two CT2003 charging stations now adorn the northwest wall of the building’s basement level parking garage near the Michigan Street exit. The stations will provide power for the increasing amount of electrical vehicles from existing power panels. Parking signs, indicating and differentiating the spaces, are also installed.<br />
<br />
So along with the city, DeVos Place Convention Center takes the environmental impact of meetings very seriously. Green/Sustainable meetings are about increasing economic and environmental efficiency by minimizing the use of resources and reducing the amount of waste produced from meeting activities. Trimming waste curbs costs, whether it is through the use of energy efficiency programs or recycling.<br />
In July 2010, the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority was presented with a Green Venues Certification Plaque for DeVos Place by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://devosplace.org/environmental-sustainability-initiatives-0" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="228" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7Q9aX8LiPlxhGVCuiOVsleGkaBZjDosdiIQinCqVhQHsjp2ilCYPwHxt6sTAp-pWYw3AwskzC1cbVp2jZSqLXNruSybBsnzGNqAkXo6GAybYJCESPg8g9nIuzhEtO_MzMs-oLM45XzzP/s320/Award+presentation+July+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"This accreditation is the mark of environmental responsibility of venues which are committed to ‘green’ business practices that make environmental and economic goals their top priority,” said DELEG Director Stanley “Skip” Pruss. “Green Venues Michigan is also helping to ensure the viability of our venues and the thousands of jobs related to Michigan’s hospitality industry."<br />
<br />
The public can vote for DeVos Place and all other categories <a href="http://www.downtowngr.org/awards-ballot.php" target="_blank">here</a> and can place their votes through August. SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-84514017696480924692012-08-09T09:47:00.002-04:002012-08-09T09:47:54.120-04:00American Quilter's Society Show & Contest To Display New Exhibit From Japan Right Here at DeVos PlaceDon’t miss the new exhibition, “Japanese Color and Form: New Works by Fifty Japanese Artists” at the first-ever AQS Quilt Show & Contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 22-25, 2012. Curated by Kokusai Art of Yokohama, Japan, this exhibit shares the unique artistry of Japanese traditional quilt design with modern flair.<br />
<br />
You won’t want to miss this special exhibit at the AQS Quilt Show and Contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 22-25, it’s called “Japanese Color and Form – New Works by Fifty Japanese Artists.” We’ll be showing you dozens of spectacular quilts from Japan, and you can only see them if you attend the show!<br />
<br />
Japanese quiltmaking has evolved extensively over the past forty years. What was once influenced by Western and antique designs, many Japanese quilt techniques and designs are becoming a model for quilters across the globe. Entries in international quilt contests from Japan now include art quilts made with Japanese kimono fabrics and Japanese designs; others reflect uchikake costume shape or use traditional Japanese patterns. Quilters quickly grew to love these works reflecting Japanese culture in new, innovative ways.<br />
<br />
The American Quilter’s Society mission is to provide a means for today’s quilters to expand their horizons in quilt-making, design, self-expression, and quilt collecting. Our magazines, books, products, shows, contests, and workshops all strive to inspire, instruct, and nurture the art and skill of quilt-making. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://devosplace.org/schedule/2012-american-quilters-society-aqs" target="_blank"><img border="0" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T5M3aJgG-9vpTv-9BmteiX2nI8QWuOghyphenhyphen5SogGe1gfOcsWBN8P5DVkWuw0Wjn2hhWzNrvuG0XswI0IwDwkTjYQ0lALSGaOSx6me1RrC9GpPBYvqhpLqlGWorWBCwkcUvfZpOjsUxz7db/s1600/aqs.bmp" /></a></div>SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871774184638695688.post-76764038622025866932012-04-18T09:31:00.001-04:002012-04-18T09:33:38.273-04:00DeVos Place Leading Continued Green Efforts with Electric Vehicle Charging StationsDeVos Place is expanding on their leading efforts to make the venue as ‘green’ as can be with the installation of two charging stations for electronic vehicles inside the venue’s basement parking lot.<br /><br />DeVos Place has installed two CT2003 charging stations on the northwest wall of the building’s basement level parking garage near the Michigan Street exit. The stations will provide power for the increasing amount of electrical vehicles from existing power panels. Parking signs, indicating<br />and differentiating the spaces, are also installed.<br /><br />We’re genuinely excited about having charging stations here,” Eddie Tadlock, Assistant General Manager said. “In keeping with the goals of our Sustainability Initiatives, we want to encourage cleaner transportation options for our patrons. Helping add to a nationwide network of charging stations in DeVos Place Convention Center is one way of doing that. We are taking progressive strides to expand our sustainability efforts and partnering with ChargePoint America was the next logical step. The City of Grand Rapids was instrumental in the brokering the grant application and continues to be a catalyst for a number of green projects in West Michigan. ”<br /><br />ChargePoint America is a program sponsored by Coulomb Technologies to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure to nine selected regions in the United States. This made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the Department of Energy and the objective is to accelerate the<br />development and production of electric vehicles to substantially reduce petroleum consumption, reduce greenhouse gas production, and create jobs.<br /><br />This past January, Mayor Heartwell announced the availability of five (5) other Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) charging stations at various parking ramps and on Ottawa Street in downtown Grand Rapids. Mayor Heartwell stated, “This is a great step for the community. Providing the<br />necessary infrastructure will encourage and support those choosing to own electric vehicles and support the auto industry and supporting industries both in the City and throughout Michigan.”SMG Grand Rapidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09566755629250316091noreply@blogger.com