ArtPrize Gets Kick Off Help From a Painting Pachyderm

ArtPrize 2012 is almost here.  Art works are being installed all over the city now, and excitement is building to see what is in store for this year.  There are always new additions and something fresh and exciting each year.

This year, it's kicking off in a BIG way. Asia, The Greatest Show on Earth’s Elephant Artist in Ringling, along with a dozen children from the Community Inclusion Group of the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) will get it started.

Wednesday, September 19th, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Asia will take her unique painting style to Fulton Street, in front of the VanAndel Arena.  There, she'll offer a special lesson to the group, who will then get to try the trunk-to-canvas technique for themselves, as they wear special elephant trunks equipped with paint brushes.

Then, following Asia’s painting lesson, everyone in the crowd  there can get in on the art, and take a moment to paint on the canvas that Asia started, joining some of Ringling’s great clowns.

Now that's the way to kick off an event, ArtPrize, the greatest Art Show on earth, with the Greatest SHOW on Earth, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, "Fully Charged."

The circus opens the next day, Thursday, September 20th and runs through Sunday, Septmber 23rd at the VanAndel Arena for seven performances.

For more information on the event, please visit www.vanandelarena.com.

For more information on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® visit www.Ringling.com.