Made the paper!

In the Holland Sentinel over the weekend:
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/lifestyle/x1699586162/ArtPrize-inspires-global-competition
Though, a couple of things to clarify:
the PhotoShop stuff is done by someone else (Rob White), and the Hudson is not being chased by birds, rather Bugs!
Still, good press!

How to vote for for Car Chase

Update on ArtPrize -voting for Tj and Car Chase!
During ArtPrize, there will be two ways to vote for Car Chase: Online or by text message.

• To vote online, you can search for Tj Aitken or "Car Chase" and vote right on Tj's profile.
• To vote by text message, send votes to 878787
• To vote on Tj's piece, send in the message: vote24611 (vote up) vote24610 (vote down)
• Note that your 5 digit code (representing Tj's work) must have the word "vote" in front of it when it is sent in the text message.
• Why the up vote and down vote? During Week 1, you can vote an artist up or down. ArtPrize designed voting this way knowing that an artist with the most votes up may be the most popular, but the artist with the most votes up AND down may be the most talked about, thought about and controversial work in the event. Both the popular and controversial works are important to the conversation around ArtPrize.
• See instructions for all the different ways to vote.
• Come to The B.O.B. to enjoy all the art, food, drink, and fun! (Party starts Sept. 23 8pm)

Making Waves For ArtPrize

It is Saturday and, of course, I feel way behind. I Took a few moments to go to the Cruise with the hot rod Lincoln last weekend, and do a little promotion for the Car Chase. The bug on the roof attracted a lot of attention and I worked the beer tent handing out cards and explaining the voting for ArtPrize. But it rained a lot.
The studio this week was all cement, pigments and broken glass as the waves for around the Hudson got set in stone. Next is the cable suspension system for the bugs. That has to go up next weekend. It is a joy to be sculpting but a project of this magnitude is also nerve racking. My studio assistant Skye Hopper shot some pics for me. See you In Grand Rapids at the BOB!

Getting ready to install pieces of Car Chase

Sites for registering to vote in ArtPrize are now posted and it's all FREE! See the ArtPrize website for info.

Keep up with TJ's progress here, on facebook, or his website: www.SculptureByTj.com

Chasing the Car Chase

Jambing on "Car Chase" in the studio to get the big installation done for ArtPrize and sudenly I'm derailed. A material supplier that I depend on for polymer concrete has gone out of business closing down production on my best formula. (Stress...Stresss) I spent a week on the net and phone and a trip to Chicago to find solutions. New trials, samples purchased, lots of blocks in a row with different materials. Man I 'm now a stucko lab. Tests finally yielded a suitable replacement but sheesh, what tension! Now I 'm back to carving and closing in on the forms.

Thanks a lot you bankers who caused our economic state, you just caused me a weeks work.

But the art continues. How do you stone a Hudson? Very carefully, and with polymer modified concrete! Skye Hopper, my studio assistant comes in occassionally to help. More next week as we get ready to stone all the waves.

All the best.

Tj

SculptureByTj.com

ArtPrize update -voting info

ArtPrize update: Voter registration is FREE!!!
Voting Anyone 16 years of age or older who registers in person at the ArtPrize event can vote. You cannot vote without registering at the event. There will be no charge for voter registration.
How to register
Attendees will be required to present a valid government issued ID in person at a registration station
ID can be drivers license, other state ID or passport
Pre-register on artprize.org (coming Sept 14) and save time activating your voter status at the event
There will be voter registration stations throughout the city September 23-October 7

Car Chase is coming to The B.O.B. for ArtPrize!

Car Chase will be installed at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave., Grand Rapids (across from the Van Andel arena) for the Art Prize Competition. It features
figures, flying VW bugs and a Hudson. Tj's flailing, splashing figures seem to have been
impacted by this huge car's momentum. The swarm of suspended bugs harbors a
second threat. Through this moment in time, frozen in stone, Aitken speaks to our current cultural dilemma with the automobile.
Art Prize brings the Holland artist to Grand Rapids as 10 most voter-favored works win prize money. Simple public voter registration will be at select Grand Rapids locations. Voting is online. The city wide competition runs September 23 to October 10.