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mosaic feet

mosaic feet

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also by Janet Tyson

Rusty, by Michigan artist Ritch Branstrom, was an example of the sort of work media critics said did not deserve to be among the Top Ten picks. But this year's 10 finalists were no worse than those of previous years. A more likely explanation? Commentators, perhaps impatiently, expected viewers to be making better-informed decisions, what with the competition being in its third year. Photo credit: Janet Tyson Austin artist Rino Pizzi stands in the midst of his installation, The Mona Lisa Project (2011), which incorporates photographic portraits of several Austin-area women involved in visual art. Pizzi was among the 32 artists invited to present at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, where works on view tended to be lyrically beautiful, generally thoughtful and occasionally provocative. Pizzi was overall impressed with the scope of the event, but wanted to see juried awards that offer cash value equal to those determined by popular vote. That's going to have to happen for the competition to maintain credibility. And, who knows, one of these times, the popular and professional votes may choose the same work? Photo credit: Janet Tyson

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