2018 Festival of the Arts Poster Created by ArtPrize Winner

A cold winter day has brought a sure sign of summer to Grand Rapids this morning.

The official poster of 2018 Festival of the Arts was unveiled today and fans of ArtPrize will be very familiar with the artist who created the poster.

Chris LaPorte is the artist behind this year's poster. LaPorte won ArtPrize 2010 with his work “Calvary, American Officers, 1921.” He has taught drawing at GVSU, GRCC, Kendall College of Art and Design, and Aquinas College.

Jessi Nix Gould, 2018 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair, said LaPorte's work "perfectly embodies the event’s theme by representing the beautiful Grand Rapids city skyline, the movement of dancers in front of La Grande Vitesse and fun, playful colors indicating the spirit of festival.”

This will be the 49th year for Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids. The festival started with two stages, some artwork and a few food booths.

2018 Festival of the Arts will be held June 1, 2 and 3 in downtown Grand Rapids.