So far, I feel like our time on the river has been divided into 3 parts, before, during and after ArtPrize. The first few weeks of studio were more hectic than most as ArtPrize snuck up on us so quickly. Once ArtPrize was over, I think we all wound down a little bit, since the craziness had ended.

Although ArtPrize may seem that it came at an unfortunate time, we did have the opportunity to get a general idea of what we are doing out to the public. I’ve had some interesting conversations with passerby so far, including a conversation with one woman that wanted nothing to do with our project. Even though she refused to take a card, we talked in-depth about the Summer Olympics. She was adamant that Grand Rapids should be the next to host.

I still have thoughts about ArtPrize that I am trying to clarify. I think it is a great way to get the public, and especially kids, interested in art and make them feel as though they have input in what is good/bad art. I volunteered at the UICA for their School Day and it was great getting to see so many kids excited about art and being there.

Despite the good, I also hold the view that it all came down to the money, who had it and who didn’t. If certain Top 10 artists hadn’t spent the money they did advertising would they really have made it to the Top 10? This also goes for the table and chairs and Nessie projects. Did they get to the Top 10, because the public really thought they were good, or did they get to the Top 10, because that is what was seen the most?

Okay, straying off the topic of ArtPrize, I feel like we have spent our most valuable time at the river (with exceptions of our walk to Punk Island) towards the beginning. For those who made it out to the river clean up, I found this experience very valuable to my relationship with the river. I am a water person. I love the water. I love harbor towns. I love hearing it. You get the picture.

Due to this, I find the city’s relationship with the water extremely interesting. If you look on my studio page, you’ll find more of my ideas regarding the pollution of the river, but overall, I am saddened by the amount of pollution that remains on the river, even after the citywide river clean up. I am annoyed when we go on our derives or to work on assignments, because I feel like my time on the river is being interrupted by the amount of trash.

I am also interested in the public’s relationship with the river, not just regarding its cleanliness, but also the people who spend time on it, whether they are runners, bikers, skateboarders, fisherman, etc.

In the first couple of weeks of class, it was warm enough to really spend time on the river (or want to spend time on it) and as the weather turns colder, I feel like we are disengaging a bit from our project and focusing more on getting warm. This also goes along with our Internet availability. If students are given the choice between facing the cold and actually spending time on the river vs. sitting in a heated pod with Internet, what are most people going to choose? I know which one sounds better to me, even though I know we should be out in the world!

I’m not sure if there’s a better way to organize this, whether we should make a point to spend more time out on the river, or organizing as a class to do our discussions on the river, or simply making a point to do our Internet work outside of class. Either way, I think we need to spend more time on the river, because right now, I feel a little bit like a fraud.

I’m starting to ramble, so I’ll sum up here. I think the most valuable experiences we’ve had so far is our direct experiences with the river-derives, our walk to Punk Island and the river clean-up. From this point, I think as a whole, we need to spend more time having more of these direct experiences, and then find ways to go from there.
-Lindsay

It is important to reflect on our current work and think of ways to transcribe it into the winter season. I am interested to see how, and if, our work processes change with the temperature changes.

I come from an area with plentiful bodies of fresh healthy water, and initially Grand River seemed a disappointment for me. I had no real attachment to it. In fact, I considered it polluted and a shame how it has been manipulated so much by humans. During research however, I have come to see how the River is actually coming back, and it’s much healthier than it was before. I think through this project I have become more attached to Grand Rapids than I have in the past 2 years of living here. I think by understanding the history of the area I live in I have gained a greater appreciation for it.

Anyway, this experience for me so far has been interesting, frustrating, exciting, disappointing (the bike-pump), and enjoyable - but not boring!

My relationship to The Grand, as well as Grand Rapids, throughout freshman year had always been an intense love/hate (based on an assortment of awkward brief experiences). I think what I really needed to do - and was forced to in this case - was to narrow down my focus, take a little more time, and admire/understand just a piece. The experience has been interesting/rewarding to say the least but I still feel it’s incomplete.

When I think about the conditions that define the site, sadly our little Civic Pods are what jump to my mind fist. It’s pretty much a given, since I was unfamiliar with the bridge till this fall; we built a home, and now that home is my only definition. Of coarse there has been some venturing down the banks, but only to return to our place of security. In reflection, I see my ‘ventures’ as being the some of the richest experiences I’ve had on the river.

I have no advice to offer for that observation - we’re still in school, and taking a risk already as is, I understand why we shouldn’t/can’t run free all over the city, but maybe as we become more comfortable (and I think many of us have) we could venture just a bit more. Another suggestion would be to tackle more topics such as the Grand River Raft Race - that was something that helped break free of my ‘pods=interurban’ mindset a bit.

Something curious about the interurban that continues to linger in my mind is the concept of vulnerability. We have had a few different conversations of how the bridge is usually a straight shot for most, given the lack of shade/shelter. The fact that we have switched things up a bit by slowing the crowd, providing shelter, and inviting the community to see the bridge as something more than a means of crossing the river has been fascinating to watch the effects of; but I think we should push the limits a bit more.

Although it’s important to keep in mind that we have space restraints/rules to respect, this is all the more reason to get creative. We’ve got our manufactured pods, but how else can we lessen the vulnerability/’straight shot’ structure the bridge gives. Or maybe we could contrast and experiment by doing just the opposite and emphasizing it? Either way, I think it’s a thought worth playing with. x

It seems like now since we have wifi we all feel we need to be online on a blog or wiki at all times to get the most out of it. Those are great tools and all, but I would rather have studio time for working together as a group discussing, exploring, creating, etc.

“civic life is plastic; to be formed.” I don’t see how we can form anything while sitting in a POD on a laptop with a space heater at our feet…

While at the studio we should be out in the area engaging in public space, and then later go online and reflect. It seems like since we now have power it is the opposite, which isn’t nearly as effective. From my observations, we have been isolating ourselves more and more with the electricity.

First we got wifi (everyone has heads down eyes glued to screens) then, we get space heaters (eyes down on screens, feet to heaters) then, we close the doors half way (eyes on screens, heated feet, closed doors). Pretty soon we’ll have the PODS all insulated, space heaters, blankets, hot cocoa, warm laptops, doors closed, and no conversation…

I’ve lived in Grand Rapids all of my life and I’ve always considered the Grand River to be disgusting and dirty place because of the large amounts of pollution contaminating it. I still somewhat think these negative thoughts about the river (sorry Christie, but I will never put my bare feet in the river for your assignment.) My view is slowly changing from observing how many people actually come and spend their time walking around and enjoying the area near the river. For example, the fish ladder is extremely polluted from trash and other dead animals that build up along the walls, yet it’s so entertaining and a bit addicting to watch the fish attempt to climb the wall. I found myself getting sucked into this one day while exploring.

So maybe the river is not that bad of a place after all. It has its pros and it has its cons. During class I’ve enjoyed collecting sounds and photographing the different areas of the river. The history of the river and what it used to look like is interesting to me as well. The pictures and maps Carl had, as well as the photos in the book “Grand Rapids, Then and Now,” really help to see how much the city and river has changed over the years. I’d like to maybe find some more photos on this.

I find it curious how the river can cause for traditions to occur but it’s all fun and games until someone jumps off of a bridge– no more tradition. I also find curiosity in the rapids themselves and the removal of them. What would happen to the river if people could take boats all the way down the river? I suppose I need to know more about how a river actually works and runs. What would happen to the river level if we allowed the rapids to flow? Would it effect it?

In conjunction with the river level I find it rather humorous how the city has built the riverfront area. What’s up with a post office right along the river? If the river is such a beautiful place it seems as if they would want to allow people to view it instead of placing buildings along it. I do not know much about city planning or structuring but I am interested and curious about it. I would like to hear what a city planner, possibly not from GR, has to say about the Grand Rapids River Front.

Just like art the river brings people together. This may be by cleaning it, watching it, fishing, checking out the fish ladder, or to canoe/kayak it. I don’t know if it is simply because of the class or not, but it seems as if the river allows for dialogue between people who may not have ever interacted before.

Just like art the more you research and understand the past of the river the more you appreciate it and understand it. I am curious of all the different parallels art has with a river and the Grand River, I suppose with that I am in the right class, huh?