QUICK TAKES - Sept. 16, 2009

As the first ArtPrize art competition is set to begin next week in Grand Rapids, Mich., works of every imaginable size, shape, color and medium are popping up at 159 venues throughout the downtown area. More than 1,200 artists from two dozen countries are competing for a total of $449,000, including $250,000 for first place -- one of the world’s largest awards for an art competition.

People who register for the event will determine the top 10 artworks, including the winner, by voting at ArtPrize’s website, www.artprize.org, or through text messaging or an iPhone application. Prizes will be awarded Oct. 8.

“The point of ArtPrize is the conversation,” said Rick DeVos, 27, who created the competition.

“That’s why it’s a public vote . . . to give a reason for people to talk to each other about what they like, what they don’t like, why you should like this, why you shouldn’t like that.”