by Sonya Hollins, editor
editor@comvoicesonline.com
KALAMAZOO (Mich.)-More than 1,200 artists have submitted their unique art of all kinds for this year’s Art Prize in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo artist Al LaVergne is one of them. The show starts Wednesday, Sept. 22 and runs through Oct. 10. LaVergne presented a lecture on his art on Sept. 25 in Meijer Garden where his work is on display.
Art Prize is unique as it allows the viewers of the art to vote toward a winner. To vote for LaVergne’s work, vote at: http://www.artprize.org/voting/how-to-vote.
The Western Michigan University art professor describes his work as “my latest venture into steel fabrication,” said LaVergne who has been a professor at WMU since 1990. He said “The 3/8″ steel rods allows me to develop concepts with the interior and exterior spaces at the same time and encourages the view to interact by moving in any direction to change the patterns in the form. The process is similar to the patterns which my mother used to make cloths for the family when I was a child.”
He is competing in the event for some of the $449,000 in prize money; $250,000 to the first place winner alone. The top 10 entries receive a prize. The rules for the competition allow for only one piece from an artists to be on display in Grand Rapids at a place of their choosing; preferably downtown.
LaVergne’s work has been displayed throughout the United States. His 7-foot high “Miss Rose’s Bar,” sculpture is a permanent artwork in Lafayette, LA, on the grounds of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The sculpture is made of fabricated steel and depicts a cheerful woman behind a bar pouring a drink for a laughing patron. The sculpture was originally displayed at the World’s Fair in New Orleans in 1984, LaVergne said, and was created while he was teaching art at Southern University.
