Rain is in the forecast, but that doesn't matter for ArtPrize.

Today (Friday, Oct. 3) is the 10th day of the 19-day public art exhibition, which runs through Oct. 12 in Grand Rapids. It's the midpoint of the sixth annual extravaganza.

ArtPrize's 20 juried finalists are in and the public vote continues with first-round voting running through 11:59 p.m. Saturday.

The current public top 25 in each of ArtPrize's four award categories -- two-dimensional, three-dimensional, time-based and installation -- also have been made available. More than 254,000 votes had been cast as of 8 a.m. today in first-round public voting, according to ArtPrize's vote tabulations. The final 20 announcement is Sunday.

The public voting helps determine a $200,000 grand prize winner, with another $200,000 grand prize selected from the jurors' shortlists.

Today's Big Event

The New York-based New Museum has launched tech incubator NEW INC.

The effort seeks to combine creative communities and empower people working in art, technology and design through programming. That is a mission and approach very similar to ArtPrize's.

A discussion about the New York effort, titled "NEW INC: Incubating Art and Tech," is being held from 7 to 9 p.m. at The ArtPrize Hub's Soundstage, 41 Sheldon Boulevard SE. Taking part in the panel talk are Julia Kaganskiy, executive director of NEW INC; Heather Corcoran, executive director of art and tech blog Rhizome; and artist Adam Harvey, whose work is focused on technology's and surveillance's uneasy relationship.

Grand Rapids-based CWD Real Estate Investment is the presenting sponsor.

Today's Things to Do

There are a couple of things to delve into from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight.

The Heartside ArtPrize Walk is a free guided tour of Grand Rapids' Heartside District.

The tour starts at Heart of West Michigan United Way, 118 Commerce Street SW, and ends at Heartside Ministries, 54 S. Division Ave. Its stops include Heart of West Michigan United Way, including meeting artist Tessa Broek and her exhibition titled "The Living: A Series on Homelessness and Disconnection;" Mel Trotter Ministries, Guiding Light Mission, Bethlehem Church & Hill Child Development Center, Dégagé Ministries, God’s Kitchen and Heartside Ministries.

Alto painter Joshua Risner's piece "Monday Morning Drive" is among 53 entries on exhibit for ArtPrize 2014 at the Women's City Club, 254 E. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids. (Photo: Matt Milhouse/100.5 The River)
Alto painter Joshua Risner's piece "Monday Morning Drive" is among 53 entries on exhibit for ArtPrize 2014 at the Women's City Club, 254 E. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids. (Photo: Matt Milhouse/100.5 The River)
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Participants are asked to register online for the walk. Free parking is available at Heart of West Michigan United Way.

Meanwhile, at Boardwalk Condominiums, 904 Monroe Avenue NW, is Hip Hop Friday Night at The Boardwalk.

Bird Clarkson and associates perform. Also on tap are art demonstrations, temporary tattoos, character drawings and ArtPrize artists with their works.

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