Farmington Resident's Art, Poetry Showcased at ArtPrize

Farmington resident Maria Blanco's entry in this year's ArtPrize competition, "El Pasaje," is on display at San Chez Bistro & Cafe in Grand Rapids.

The installation combines acrylics, watercolors, markers, oil pastels, metal, ceramics and sand. It's a visual accompaniment to last year as she returned to the U.S. after volunteering as a teacher in the Dominican Republic.

as an art teacher at this year to spend eight months working again with the DREAM (Dominican Republic Education And Mentoring) Project.

Read Blanco's artist statement and more about the piece on her ArtPrize page.

Open to artists from around the world, ArtPrize offers displays at more than 160 venues throughout Grand Rapids, now through Oct. 9. The public votes to determine the top 10 entries and the overall winner, who receives a $250,000 prize. Learn more at artprize.org