First Bloem Festival Artwork Competition 2024
Tulip Time is pleased to announce the 2024 First Bloem Festival Artwork Competition through which a work of art is selected for the official Tulip Time poster. In addition to the poster, the artwork is used on merchandise to be sold by Tulip Time.
This year, in honor of Tulip Time's 95th anniversary, we are introducing a theme for the 2024 festival. In addition to tulips, we ask our artists to incorporate BICYCLES into their artwork.
ABOUT THE PROCESS
First Bloem invited artists in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties to submit artwork for the official Festival Artwork Competition and a Viewers' Choice Award. Artists could submit up to three works.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
Tulip Time's poster program began in 1982. Its long-standing history has produced a beautiful collection representing the festival and the Holland community. The poster is an integral part of Tulip Time and marketability of the artwork is one of the prime considerations in the selection of the winner.
THE JUROR AND SELECTION PROCESS
This years' juror, Kim Smith, selected the Top 20 from 65 works that were submitted by 41 artists. Smith is the owner of Perception Gallery in Grand Rapids, MI and began his career in fine art in 1976 with Hefner’s Art Gallery in Grand Rapids. In 1989, Smith became the owner and manager of the Perception Gallery. Perception Gallery offers works of art by listed 19th and 20th-century American & European painters, printmakers, and sculptors, period, period reproduction, and conceptual framing services, conservation, and appraisals.
The official Festival Artwork will be selected from this Top 20 by Tulip Time.
The pieces selected for the Top 20, in alphabetical order by artists, are:
“Abstract Blooms” by Tricia Baker
“Tulip Time Cycles” by Mary Benedict
“Lake. Bikes. Tulips” by Elizabeth Bombara
“I Scream, You Scream for Tulip Time” by Elizabeth Bombara
“In the Park” by Karl Burdak
“Dutch Delivery” by John Cowden
“Classic Beauties” by John Cowden
“Lace Up, Pedal Through: Old Traditions Made New” by Jenny deFouw Geuder
“Tulip Delivery” by Agnes Fisher
“Tulips and Grasses” by Judy Giles
“Pedal Petal” by Toni Houtman
“Holland!” by Karen Johnson
“Come Together” by Karen Johnson
“Spring Race” by Erin Mullis
“Springtime” by Anne Rivers
“The Colors of Spring” by Nancy Sackrison
“Tour Rondttet Windmole Iland” by Sri Soekarmoen McCarthy
“Gears and Cheers” by Carolyn Stitch
“Blooms and Bicycles in the City” by Tracey Venema
“Tour de Tulip” by Kyle Susan Vohlken
THE VIEWERS' CHOICE AWARD
After the winner is selected and revealed in early 2024, the remaining 19 of the finalists' original works will be placed on display during Tulip Time (May 4-11, 2024). A voting system will be used for the public to vote on their favorite artwork. The winner will be announced at the end of the festival (date and location to be announced).
IMPORTANT DATES
Oct. 16, 2023 Top 20 artists notified
Late February 2024 First Bloem Reveal Party (poster winner announced)
May 4-10, 2024 Top 20 exhibit and Viewers' Choice voting
May 11, 2024 Viewers' Choice Award Reception
Please direct all questions to Lorma Freestone at (616) 403-1015 or ttartwork@tuliptime.com
