MISSING PEOPLE

VISUALIZE THOUGHTS

This piece is titled 'Missing People', and below I have provided a picture of the artists' statement. I chose this piece to review and evaluate because I think it speaks volumes. The outside shell of this structure is made up of different panhandler signs from around Grand Rapids. When considering the amount of talent it took to physically make this, it doesn't appear to be a lot. However, the intention behind this piece is what I believe to have taken much thought and consideration. It is the shape of a giant beer bottle, which is no mistake because GR is known as Beer City, USA. Correspondingly, there is an undeniable thread of contradictory that presents itself here. The City is pouring money into its Beer industry, yet the amount of people struggling to make ends meat is staggering. In my opinion this piece of art acts as a wake up call to GR and its citizens.

When evaluating this piece, I want to make it clear just how I am scoring it. I believe a 3 to be the highest level of literal and physical creativity. Meaning the amount if unique design, thought process, and skill that went into actually creating said art. I believe it safe to assume that with a panhandler on almost ever major corner in GR, the idea for this piece was basically inevitable. With that, I would evaluate the overall creativity as a 2.5 out of a 3 point scale. While I strongly agree with the message and can appreciate the thought-proccess behind it, I also believe this piece is possible to make, no matter the artistic ability one has. It's not to say that this piece isn't artistic, but as I check out all the different Art throughout ArtPrize, I am surely not blind to the intensive hand-eye coordination it takes to create some pieces. I am scoring this piece more on the creative thoughts/intentions/ideas behind it as oppose to the actual artistic skill it physically took to make it.

If this piece were to take on a more complex, unique appearance, I would most likely give it a 3 out of 3. However, it is basically a large cardboard-maché structure...And to be frank, maché-ing is something I learned how to do in art class in elementary school. As stated above, the only reason this piece is receiving such a high score, is because I genuinely am moved by the thought process behind it. The thought process is what I am ranking so high in this situation. Again, while the literal appearance of this art isn't the most creative looking, I firmly believe the message behind it is what attracted me to it, and ultimately helped it to earn its high score. I think what would make this a 3 out of 3 is if it incorporated some type of skill, or appearance that would make my eyes fixated and my brain baffled as to how it was built. This piece doesn't make me wonder how it was built, but makes me wonder how the inspiration for this piece came about. THAT is what I appreciate, and what I am scoring this on.