Grand Rapids, Michigan is in the midst of a great project called "Art Prize" - over 1200 artists have come to compete in a competition voted on by the public.
But THIS entry was just too much fun - a 20 yr old local guy named Rob Bliss orchestrated waves of paper airplanes dropped from the downtown rooftops, as the crowd of 20,000+ people sang and played the song "Olsen Olsen" (played in the background of the video) in the streets of Grand Rapids
The fact that Rob Bliss could get permission to do this, and get the street blocked off, and get SO many people to assist....well, I predict wonderful things for this young man's future!!
We'll find out how well his entry did on October 10th when the competition ends.
Edited to make link clickable
Admin
* This post was
edited 10/01/09 12:29pm by an administrator/moderator *
That there is where the statement, (or variation of), "One Man's art is another Man's trash", comes directly into play.
Lot's of wasted resources, (paper, permits, time, money, law enforcement, local business productivity, traffic congestion, transportation expenses for 20,000, etc.), to pull that one off.
Lot's of wasted resources, (paper, permits, time, money, law enforcement, local business productivity, traffic congestion, transportation expenses for 20,000, etc.), to pull that one off.
While I agree at face value......
Downtown Grand Rapids has been a ghost town - the high unemployment/underemployment rates have kept people at home, getting by on the necessities. So to have an event bring 20,000+ people into GR for one afternoon - people who were having fun taking part in this event (and visiting local stores and restaurants and galleries) was just about the happiest sight I've seen in a long time!! The paper was recycled, by the way :-)
Our local newspaper reported that downtown sales were up 400% while this Art Prize competition has been running - a much-needed financial shot-in-the-arm!! My understanding is that there were a lot of out-of-town city officials visiting - and taking notes on how they could make this work for THEIR home town, too.
..................
Downtown Grand Rapids has been a ghost town - the high unemployment/underemployment rates have kept people at home, getting by on the necessities. So to have an event bring 20,000+ people into GR for one afternoon - people who were having fun taking part in this event (and visiting local stores and restaurants and galleries) was just about the happiest sight I've seen in a long time!! The paper was recycled, by the way :-)
...............................
It looked to me like a lot of people were enjoying themselves and if it took a bunch of paper planes dropped off a building to make it happen then I say good for them!
Cat (Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Our toys:
Sunline Travel Trailer
ProCraft Fish & Ski
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, trust in those Who cherish you.
It looked to me like a lot of people were enjoying themselves and if it took a bunch of paper planes dropped off a building to make it happen then I say good for them!
Beacher wrote: Lot's of wasted resources, (paper, permits, time, money, law enforcement, local business productivity, traffic congestion, transportation expenses for 20,000, etc.), to pull that one off.
Some would say the same about camping...spending money for gas, wood, parking spot not to mention the environmental impact just to sit out in the woods....but I think I'll keep doing it...
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
I thought it was cool. Of course there is always going to be the negitive people who are not going to like it.Bet if it was there idea, they would change there tune real fast.
I didn't see anyone get shot or beaten there!!!!!!!
Life is what happens to you, while you are busy making other plans. "John Lennon"
Summer
2009 36RD5S Cedar Creek
2006 310RBDS Pilgrim
2005 Dodge 3500 CTD 4X4
Scottie 1962 Model (looking for good trade)
Austin 16
Coondog Moonshine
Wiener Beagle Candie
Wiener Beagle Pebbles
Wiener Beagle Wiggles - Arrival 12.05.09 Our newest furkid!!!
emzee wrote: i didn't see any mess when they left. they all enjoyed it and took their recycled airplanes with them.
Yep!! Rob Bliss - the guy who organized the whole event had asked people to pick up the planes and either keep them or recycle them into special bins provided - and everyone did!
Sadly - he didn't make it into the Top Ten contestants for Art Prize :-(
But this amazing and humble young man who can make crowds appear for fun, family-friendly events (he also sponsored a pillow fight, a Halloween "Zombie Walk", and a sidewalk chalk art event that thousands turned out for!) has a great future ahead of him, I predict!
Offline
