Related: Prettiest sky in the country? Friday night, it belonged to Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Thousands of participants and spectators gathered near the Grand River at Ah-Nab-Awen Park and Gillett Bridge to help Mark Carpenter and Dan Johnson realize their vision for ArtPrize.

It is called Lights in the Night GR and was one of the most buzzed about pieces this year.

The concept was simple: Release thousands of lighted Chinese lanterns into the night sky.

Tonight's weather was ideal after last week's schedule launch was scratched due to poor weather conditions.

I spoke to Johnson after the successful launch earlier this evening.

"It was epic," Johnson said. "It was a fantastic sight that you had to experience in person to understand."

Johnson added, "It couldn’t have been more perfect - clear skies, full moon. When you could see the lanterns reflecting off of the river and hotels, you just don’t get a picture like that unless you go out and make it happen and we did.”

I asked him what the city should take away from the event and Johnson commented that they should feel proud.

"This city will come together for very cool events, they always have," he said. "It's a very supportive community.”

Johnson concluded by commenting on what he saw on the faces of the people taking part in his and Carpenter's event.

"I saw people crying, hugging each other, dedicating lanterns," Johnson said. "They all had a story to tell as they released their lantern into the night sky.”

In an previous interview with Carpenter on MLive's ArtPrize webcast, he said they were looking for something "big and impactful" to bring to the art competition.

The meaning behind it is both community wide and individualistic.

"The hopes of the individual would be associated with their lantern and they would release it into the night sky," Carpenter said.

"We wanted to do this in a way that really brings the community together."

Carpenter added: "It's like art imitating life. If you want to accomplish something in your life...other people are going to have get involved. Each one of these wishes and dreams being lifted by each individual lantern is actually being lifted by those around them and the entire community as well."

You can watch the MLive ArtPrize webcast video in its entirety on the right along with a photo gallery.

Plus, watch the exclusive video I shot from the 30th floor of the Riverhouse Condos overlooking Ah-Nab-Awen Park and see the launch from an entirely different perspective.

Were you there? What did your lantern mean to you? What did you think of the event?

Check out the comments section below and add your thoughts.

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