Tag Archives: Grand Rapids City Hall

Kentwood ArtPrize artist embraces diversity, looks to make impact at ArtPrize 10

By Micah Cho

WKTV Intern

 

You can find 2018 ArtPrize artist Meochia Thompson giving hugs at church events, retirement homes, or around the community. Now you can find her downtown embracing strangers during ArtPrize for her entry HUG, a campaign that stands for “help uplift goodness” 

 

Standing 10 feet tall, Thompson is building a hug stage, a safe place located at Grand Rapids City Hall where strangers can gather to embrace each other.  An entry that is based on volunteer hugger groups of five or more can rent out the stage to give hugs. 

 

Meochia Thompson with some friends in an earlier Hugs campaign.

“I just love hugging people.” Thompson said. “I know how it feels to be alone…So I decided to create a hug campaign. I prayed about it and I’m like ‘okay God what do I do with this.’”  

 

Thompson’s campaign started four years ago in her hometown of Chicago. Money from her first campaign went to caregivers, people who bear the stress of taking care of other peoples loved ones.  

 

“I was able to raise $5,000 and I just started giving it out to caregiving organizations” Thompson said. “They’re not around people all of the time. They’re dying for a hug, they’re dying to be around the regular public.” 

 

Talking about hugging strangers, Thompson said there’s nothing weird about it. Showing compassion and love to people you don’t know is what Thompson said this whole campaign is about. 

 

A mock-up of the Hugs stage which is located at Grand Rapids City Hall.

“Every time that you hug somebody, it doesn’t matter what they did in their past. It doesn’t matter who they are now or how much money they have. When you hug somebody it’s not about any of that. It’s just about at that moment showing love for mankind.” Thompson said about hugging.  

 

Although winning ArtPrize would be a great accomplishment for a first time ArtPrize artist, Thompson has something bigger in mind.  

 

“My goal is to make Grand Rapids hug city; the place to be for a good hug”. 

 

If you would like to learn more about Thompson’s entry or would like to get involved yourself, visit her website mylifechats.com/hug.

 

Festival of the Arts to reveal 2018 poster this Thursday

Festival of the Arts will reveal its 2018 poster artist at a meet-and-greet and poster reveal event Thursday, Jan. 25, at 9 a.m. at Grand Rapids City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW.
The 2018 Festival Co-Chairs Melissa Bush and Jessi Nix Gould said the event is open to public with friends and volunteers of Festival encouraged to stop by and meet this year’s artist and check out the 2018 poster.
Always held the first full weekend of June, this year’s event will run June 1, 2 and 3 in downtown Grand Rapids. This year marks the 49th annual Festival of the Arts, making it one of the longest running festivals in the state of Michigan.
Posters from previous years are all on display at City Hall and will be available for photos and video at the event.
 Visit http://festivalgr.org/ for more information.