I’ve dedicated most of 2018 to creating an exhibit for ArtPrize10, an art competition that takes over Grand Rapids from September 19 - October 7, 2018. My exhibit, which can be seen at the gastropub, Rockwell Republic, was a real labor of love. My artist statement describes it best.
License Plate Guitar Art in ArtPrize Artist Statement
I used approximately 1320 license plates to create 50 3-D sculptures, which are exact replicas of iconic guitar shapes. Each represents a musician or band from their home state. This exhibit highlights the many similarities between license plates and the music artists. They travel endlessly; they are colorful in character and style. The reflective qualities of the license plates are used to tell their music story. My collection also transcends generations and genres. Like music, it brings people together in celebration. A Michigan tag is included in each of the 50 sculptures in tribute to the people of Grand Rapids and ArtPrize10.
You can read the details about every guitar in the collection. Try to find the Michigan tag in each. If you can’t, I’ve detailed where to find it on each guitar.
License Plate Guitars at Rockwell Republic
While I was creating the license plate guitars for ArtPrize10, I could only envision how the collection would look. It took a full day and more than 100 climbs up and down my ladder to install the 50 guitar sculptures, but I love how they turned out. While the brick is a perfect backdrop for the colorful license plate art, I think it would look just as good on any large wall. The light shining through the restaurant windows picks up the reflective qualities of the license plates perfectly.
Publicity for My License Plate Guitars in Grand Rapids
I knew I’d hit some adversity along the way, but I wasn’t prepared to cross paths with a hurricane. The day I left Cary, Hurricane Florence was predicted to slam into the North Carolina coast. My daughters were evacuated from Wilmington, and I left my wife to hold down the fort. Fortunately for us, Raleigh wasn’t in the hurricane’s path. But that didn’t stop the local media from being interested in talking to a North Carolina artist who drove half-way across the country to be part of this amazing art show. My story was featured by the Grand Rapids Press. Take a look.
Their photographer also took some amazing pictures of my artwork. You can view them and read the story here. Here’s sneak peak at one.
WZZM13 (ABC) also did a piece on my journey to ArtPrize10.
View My License Plate Guitars at Rockwell Republic
My journey has only just begun. Now the fun begins. ArtPrize10 starts September 19 and runs through October 7, 2018. I hope people come see my artwork at Rockwell Republic, and use the ArtPrize app to vote for me. It would be a tremendous honor to win this year. My vote code is 67365. I will be in Grand Rapids hoping to meet some of you.
You can also see me talking about the license plate guitar sculpture exhibit at Rockwell Republic on the Fox17 morning show.