SmartArt Competition Winner From Grand Rapids Public Schools is Announced

ArtPrize has just announced the top 20 in the public voting for the top prizes in 2015, however an art winner has already been announced in another art competition.

A Grand Rapids Public Schools junior’s painting depicting the benefits and beauty of energy efficiency has earned her a $1,000 college scholarship and prominent display of her winning creation in downtown Grand Rapids as ArtPrize heads into its final week.

Zoe Bultman’s piece, “Flower Power,” was chosen by three professional judges as the top winner of the third annual SmartArt competition among Grand Rapids Public Schools’ high school students, sponsored by Consumers Energy.
Bultman, who attends City High School, was first among the Top 10 finalists in the SmartArt (Students Making Art with a Renewable Theme) competition. The winners were announced Sunday at Rosa Parks Circle during ArtPrize’s Final 20 announcement of the top publicly voted entries, sponsored by Consumers Energy. The company has been an ArtPrize sponsor since 2011.

In her artist statement, Bultman explained having the energy efficient light bulbs, which form flower petals, being powered by “a natural light source,” solar energy, creates a connection between nature and manufacturing.
“The flower formed from natural and electrical elements illustrates the relationship between man and Earth has the potential for beautiful things,” she wrote. “The cord that trails off of the piece is symbolic of what this partnership could lead to.”

Since the beginning of ArtPrize more than 10 days ago, a large banner with the Top 10 SmartArt finalists has been on display along the side of Consumers Energy’s Ellsworth Substation at Fulton and Market streets. Bultman’s entry will be noted on the banner as the first place winner.

In addition, for the first time, ArtPrize has put the Top 20 SmartArt entries on display. They are on the second floor of the Access Art Lounge at 50 Monroe, the Huntington Bank Building where our Townsquare Media studios are located, in downtown Grand Rapids.

In May, GRPS officials selected the Top 20 entries from among 40 submitted pieces.
The Top 20 were then judged by a panel of experts from Kendall College of Art & Design at Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University. About two weeks ago, Consumers Energy and GRPS hosted the Top 20 students and their teachers at the district’s headquarters to announce the Top 10 finalists and to celebrate everyone’s achievements. The remaining top finalists received a variety of prizes; all 20 students received a special T-shirt with all of their names included on the back and a rendering of the Top 10 banner on the front.