ArtPrize animation with GVSU ties on display in Holland

With more than 1,000 entries spread across more than 170 venues in Grand Rapids, it can be challenging for ArtPrize entries to cut through the noise and gain attention during the annual art festival. Luckily for a collaborative project involving multiple Grand Valley faculty members and students, the group is getting another chance to showcase their work.

“Animated Collaboration,” which was voted into the top 25 of the time-based art category at ArtPrize under the name “Animation Collaboration,” will be on display through February 28 at the Holland Area Arts Council during the venue’s fourth annual RePrize exhibit. RePrize features 17 pieces from 20 artists who entered their work in ArtPrize’s 2014 installment.

Deanna Morse, animator and Grand Valley emerita professor of film and video said “Animated Collaboration” celebrates children’s animation from around the world.

“It’s an intergenerational collaboration between artists, educators, students and both local and international organizations,” Morse said.

Along with Morse, Suzanne Zack, Grand Valley film and video professor; Maggie Annerino, Grand Valley media studies professor; Gretchen Vinnedge, Community Media Center (CMC) education director; and Lynn McKeown, CMC Education project coordinator, as well as multiple Grand Valley students, were also a part of the local team behind creating “Animated Collaboration.” A new addition to the piece is a custom soundtrack produced by Dan Rickabus, ’10, current drummer for the local indie-folk band The Crane Wives.

The video is a byproduct of 19 animation workshops held around the world each year by the Association International du film d’Animation (ASIFA) in 15 countries, including Belgium, China, Croatia, France, Japan and Ukraine. During these workshops young people build animations to a common theme. The short films are then compiled and premiered at international animation festivals.

The local ASIFA workshop, facilitated by Morse and Vinnedge, included students from Grand Rapids Public School’s North Park Montessori, the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth, Jubilee Jobs GR, Grand Valley and multiple CMC interns.

The Holland Area Arts Council is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

For more information about this piece, visit www.deanimations.com.