FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Aaron Heideman, 541-973-5650
‘The Man in a Van Project’ Visits California State Capitol, Invites Residents to Economic Expression
National touring art exhibit will visit Sacramento today. Aaron Heideman is traveling the country collecting stories from people affected by the recession. Californians are invited to write their opinions and feelings on a giant scroll that will go on exhibit in September at Artprize, the world’s largest art prize competition, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Medford, Oregon July 8, 2009 – On Thursday July 9th, Sacramento residents are invited to contribute to a nationwide collaborative art project in front of the State Capitol at the entrance of L Street and 11th Street. From 10am to 2pm, residents are invited to express how the recession has affected their lives by writing their story on a 50-yard scroll.
‘The Man in a Van Project’ is a traveling artifact that is touring the United States prior to competing at Artprize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the world’s largest art prize contest. The project was displayed at Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival over the 4th of July Weekend, and will travel to California’s State Capitol on Thursday.
“I heard so many incredible stories in Oregon this past week,” said Aaron Heideman, creator of The Man in a Van Project. “I’m sure I’ll hear a lot more today in Sacramento.”
Heideman says this is a chance for America to create a memorial, to put the recession behind us, mentally, physically, and spiritually. He says the piece is an attempt to capture the American spirit through collective expression. “I love that I’m able to collaborate with the entire country to create this piece. I can’t wait to see what happens.”
Heideman is also selling ‘The Man in a Van Project’ T-shirts online to raise money for the project, and 100% of profits after project expenses will go to charities that support economic development and self-sufficiency, such as United Way and The St. Vincent De Paul Society, among others. Heideman is coincidently traveling the country with minimal funds, and has not yet secured sponsorship.
“I’m really hoping I don’t run out of gas money, especially somewhere that’s hot. I only paid $350 for my van, so I’m sure there will be problems.”
Heideman was planning to gather film footage to make a documentary from the stories he collects, but negotiations with independent filmmakers have failed thus far. He is currently searching for solutions to make a documentary.
Heideman will continue traveling throughout the United States until mid-September, when his work will be prepared for installation at the Artprize International Art Competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Heideman plans to live in the van during the art exhibit, which is running from September 23 – October 10, 2009 throughout the city of Grand Rapids. The competition will be determined by public vote.
About Aaron Heideman:
Aaron Heideman has been immersed in the arts since the age of five, when he won his first national art contest. By the age of 18, Heideman was awarded two art scholarships to attend the Art Institute of Seattle, and he has displayed work at the Seattle Art Museum’s Rental Gallery, and at the Art Institute of Seattle’s gallery. Additionally, Heideman was the yongest artist ever to display and sell in the Northwest’s oldest gallery, at the Woodside/Braseth Gallery’s 42nd Annual Group Art Show in 2003. Heideman has also displayed in smaller exhibits, including solo and group art shows in Oregon and Washington.
For more information about The Man in a Van Project, contact:
Aaron Heideman, 541-973-5650
www.flickr.com/photos/40085382@N03/
www.artprize.org/artist/id/535
www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090708/NEWS/907080328
For more information about Artprize, visit:
****The Man in a Van Project Kicks Off National Tour in Portland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Artprize contestant Aaron Heideman will visit Portland this Thursday with the widely acclaimed ‘The Man in a Van Project’ conceptual art piece. Heideman is offering local residents the chance to express their opinions and feelings toward the economic crisis through written expression. The finished collection will compete for Artprize, the world’s largest art prize competition.
Grants Pass, Oregon June 29, 2009 – On Thursday July 2nd, local Portland residents are invited to contribute to a nationwide collaborative art project and express how they have been affected by the U.S. economic recession. ‘The Man in a Van Project’ is a traveling performance artifact that is touring the United States prior to competing at Artprize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the world’s largest art prize contest.
‘The Man in a Van Project’ will travel through Portland on Thursday, July 2nd, from 1pm to 4pm. Aaron Heideman, the project’s creator, is also seeking an organization to host the project during this time. “All I really need is a place to park, and a place for people to come and participate,” says Heideman. “It might not be the most flattering art piece to put on display, but that’s not really the point, is it?”
Portland residents are encouraged to write their story of the recession on a roll of Tyvek paper, and the artist will select certain stories to be written on the van itself. These artifacts will be installed at Artprize in September.
“I hope to achieve a national dialogue with Americans from all walks of life. I want to hear the stories that people like Tom Brokaw don’t have access to. I want people to be candid and honest, and I want The Man in a Van Project to act as a memorial, so we can put this recession behind us, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I love that I’m able to collaborate with the entire country to create this piece. I can’t wait to see what happens.”
Heideman is also selling ‘The Man in a Van Project’ T-shirts online to raise money for the project, and 95% of profits will go to charities that support economic development and self-sufficiency, such as United Way, Habitat For Humanity and The St. Vincent De Paul Society, among others. Heideman is coincidently traveling the country with minimal funds, and will most likely panhandle if he fails to sell enough T-shirts.
“I’m really hoping I don’t have to panhandle. I’m especially hoping I don’t break down in Death Valley or somewhere that’s hot. I only paid $350 for my van, so I’m sure there will be problems. It doesn’t even have air conditioning. I hope to God that I make it to Michigan.”
Heideman was planning to gather film footage to make a documentary from the stories he collects, but negotiations with independent filmmakers have failed thus far. He is currently seeking sponsorship to obtain camera equipment so he can gather footage himself.
Heideman will continue traveling throughout the United States until mid-September, when his work will be prepared for installation at the Artprize International Art Competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Heideman plans to live in the van during the exhibit, which is running from September 23 – October 10, 2009 throughout the city of Grand Rapids. The competition will be determined by public vote.
About Aaron Heideman:
Aaron Heideman has been immersed in the arts since the age of five, when he won his first national art contest. By the age of 18, Heideman was awarded two art scholarships to attend the Art Institute of Seattle, and he has displayed work at the Seattle Art Museum’s Rental Gallery, and at the Art Institute of Seattle’s gallery. Additionally, Heideman was the youngest artist ever to display and sell in the Northwest’s oldest gallery, at the Woodside/Braseth Gallery’s 42nd Annual Group Art Show in 2003. Heideman has also displayed in smaller exhibits, including solo and group shows in Oregon and Washington.
For more information about The Man in a Van Project, visit:
www.themaninavanproject.com
www.artprize.org/artist/id/535
www.twitter.com/man_in_a_van
About Artprize:
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OFFERS WORLD’S LARGEST ARTPRIZE
Public invited to use text votes, decide winners
Grand Rapids, Mich. – April 23, 2009 – ArtPrize invites artists of all kinds from around the world to participate in an unprecedented competition that will award nearly one-half million dollars to prize winners, including $250,000 to the artist who receives the most public votes.
Details of ArtPrize, which will run from Sept. 23 through Oct. 10, were announced today from the competition’s host city of Grand Rapids, Mich. ArtPrize will have no formal jury, curator or judge. The public will decide who wins the prizes by voting, using mobile devices and the web.
“It’s time to reboot the conversation between artists and the public. ArtPrize will be a celebration of art, design, and innovation that will bring artists and the public together like never before,” said ArtPrize creator Rick DeVos.
The city of Grand Rapids will become art gallery. ArtPrize art works and performances, professional and amateur, will be exhibited at hundreds of venues, all within a three-square mile area in Grand Rapids’ downtown riverfront district. The city has offered up parks and bridges for outdoor venue displays. Scores of businesses will convert lobbies and public space for displays.
“Our family sees ArtPrize as a new and innovative way to engage and support the arts for the future,” said Betsy DeVos. The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is underwriting ArtPrize. “Dick and I share our son’s vision for encouraging everyone to explore the arts in a truly democratic way.”
Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000 amidst a metropolis of more than a million people, has an impressive cultural urban core and a rich history of supporting public art. It is home to Alexander Calder’s “La Grand Vitesse,” the first community sculpture project funded through the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as major works by Mark di Suvero, Robert Morris and Maya Lin.
“It is increasingly important to find new ways to engage people, especially young people, in the arts,” said Michael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. “ArtPrize is a dynamic and creative way to use technology to engage people of all ages.”
ArtPrize is expected to draw thousands of entries, and art enthusiasts from across the globe are expected to attend. The ArtPrize team directly communicated with about 10,000 artists, design schools, art schools, museums and galleries worldwide as part of today’s launch. “This is a bit of an art revolution,” said Jeff Speck, former director of design for the National Endowment for the Arts and author of Suburban Nation. “It will be exciting to see a city use its downtown area as an art gallery to share with the world.”
“I’m astounded by the potential for social networking, community involvement, and the expanded view of the role of art,” said Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. “ArtPrize will excite the world, and the world will look at our city differently because of it.”
Grand Rapids is internationally recognized as home of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, which showcases one of the world’s foremost collections of modern and contemporary sculptures, including pieces from well-known artists such as Moore, Oldenberg, Goldsworthy, Plensa and many more. In 2006, the city hosted a large-scale exhibit by Tom Otterness, considered one of the premier public artists attracted more than 750,000 visitors. The city recently built and opened the world’s first LEED gold certified art museum.
For more information about ArtPrize, go to artprize.org. ###
