Update: ArtPrize 2011 Top 10 has plenty of familiar faces (photos, video)

GRAND RAPIDS – ArtPrize 2011's top 10 finalists include four former top 10 finalists among eight past participants from the first two ArtPrize contests.

Mia Tavonatti, Paul Baliker and Bill Secunda, who finished in second, fourth and seventh place in ArtPrize 2010, respectively, were returned to the ranks of finalists in this evening's announcement at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Tracy Van Duinen, the second-place winner in the inaugural ArtPrize 2009, is the fourth who will share in nearly $450,000 in prize money.

Four past ArtPrize participants -- Ritch Brandstrom, Sunti Pichetchaiyakul, Robert Shangle and Llew “Doc” Tilma -- enter the ranks of finalists for the first time.

Two newcomers to ArtPrize, Laura Alexander, of Columbus, Ohio, and Lynda Cole, of Ann Arbor, round out the ranks of the 10 finalists.

ArtPrize unveiled its 10 finalists at 6 p.m. today following nine days of voting with just over 370,000 votes cast by nearly 27,700 activated voters.

Voting begins at 7 p.m. tonight for the 10 finalists who will share in $449,000 in cash prizes with $250,000 going to first place, $100,000 for second place and $50,000 for third place.

Finalists who finish fourth through 10th place each will receive a $7,000 cash prize at the Winner's Announcement on Oct. 6 in DeVos Performance Hall.

In the second round of voting, each registered and activated voter has just one “up” vote to cast for one of the 10 finalists up until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 5. Voters, however, can change their minds and their vote until the deadline.

Viewers who haven't registered to vote still can sign up and vote in the second round. Register online at artprize.org or go to one of ArtPrize's eight exhibition centers of The Hub, ArtPrize's headquarters, at 41 Sheldon Blvd. SE.

The final full day of voting Wednesday was hampered when ArtPrize's website and servers crashed in the morning, and ArtPrize officials decided to extend voting from the 11:59 p.m. deadline yesterday until 4 p.m. this afternoon.

While some votes were recorded Wednesday, full voting ability wasn't restored until early this morning with a basic “quick vote” function by 2 a.m. Full functionality was restored about 4 a.m.

The final count in the first round was 370,309 votes cast by 27,711 activated voters.

The delay may have diminished the overall first-round vote. Last year, ArtPrize 2010 ended its first round of voting with 448,633 votes cast by 31,014 registered voters, some 40 percent more than the inaugural ArtPrize.

See photos of the Top 10 ArtPrize entries

ARTPRIZE 2011: TOP 10

"Rain", Lynda Cole

"Metaphorest", Tracy Van Duinen

"The Tempest II", Laura Alexander

"Under Construction," Robert Shangle

"President Gerald Ford Visits ArtPrize", Sunti Pichetchaiyakul

ARTPRIZE 2011 CRITICAL DISCOURSE

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Ladies Literary Club, 61 Sheldon Blvd. SE

More info: Go to artprize.org

"Ocean Exodus", Paul Baliker

"Crucifixion", Mia Tavonatti

"Rusty" (A sense of direction/self portrait), Ritch Branstrom

"Grizzlies on the Ford", Llew (Doc) Tilma

"Mantis Dreaming", Bill Secunda

E-mail Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk: jkaczmarczyk@grpress.com