GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) -- Ottawa Hills High School Art Teacher Stephen Smith is one of over 20 talented artists behind the powerful TRAUMA PROJECT, which earned the $50,000 Juried Grand Prize at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids.
The TRAUMA PROJECT is a time-based entry on display at 106 Gallery during ArtPrize. It was created and curated by Scoob the artist.
Here is the artist statement:
The TRAUMA PROJECT is a large-scale collaboration that brought together over 20 different Grand Rapids artists to create an exhibition that would typically be difficult to experience, and turned it into something beautiful. The TRAUMA PROJECT not only sparks conversation, it helps us address our trauma, face pain in our lives, and realize that we cannot do this battle alone.
The TRAUMA PROJECT is a unique collection of 16 paintings paired with an 18 track album, which is permanently bonded together to take you on a journey of facing your trauma and moving forward in your life. Each track helps the listener to experience a different perspective related to the storyteller's experience.
This was the second win at ArtPrize this year for Ottawa Hills. Nusra Juma, a junior at Ottawa Hills High School who is in Smith's art class, was awarded the top honor at the 2024 SmartArt Awards for her artwork titled “Earth Balance.”
Smith and his wife, Taylor, own Muse GR, a gallery on Leonard St. NW that was also a venue at ArtPrize.
