GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- There's a story behind most of the ArtPrize entries you'll see this year, but one in particular tells the story on the importance of loving your mind, body and heart. It's a piece you can find at the Devos Place that depicts a woman and her walker, and it's related to a local artist's movement called "Go Boldly, Love your Body."
FOX 17 spoke to the artist behind the piece, Bri Luginbill, who says her "Go Boldly, Love your Body" movement aims to show people that beauty isn't just skin deep. She says she's hoping to tell people's stories through photos, helping them to embrace their bodies.
Luginbill is now reaching out to those who may struggle with their body image with her ArtPrize Seven entry. It's called "Empowerment Through Emily's Story," and it pictures a young woman with her walker with the words "My walker doesn't define me."
Luginbill tells FOX 17 the girl pictured in her piece has cerebral palsy, and she hopes the piece shows ArtPrize visitors just how confident Emily is, despite her disability.
"I want them to look at it and feel inspired," Luginbill said.
Her ArtPrize entry is not so much about winning but, rather, about those with self-doubt to love their bodies. "I hope they walk away feeling happy with who they are in themselves, because Emily has gone through a lot, and she's gone through things other people haven't. If she can be this confident and happy with herself, I hope that inspires people the same way with themselves," Luginbill said.
You can find "Empowerment Through Emily's Story" on the second floor of the Devos Place.
There are more than 15,000 other pieces scattered throughout the town. If you haven't it made it to ArtPrize Seven yet, there's still plenty of time to get those first round votes in.
