DETROIT (AP) – A serious of wooden sculptures depicting wounded service dogs won one of two $200,000 grand prizes Friday at an international art competition in western Michigan.
Visitors to the eighth annual ArtPrize in Grand Rapids selected James Mellick’s “Wounded Warrior Dogs” Friday as winner of the public vote. Art experts chose Stacey Kirby’s “The Bureau of Personal Belonging” interactive performance and installation for the juried award.
An additional $100,000 in prizes was split among the top entries in various categories.
Mellick’s project is a traveling exhibition that’s intended to raise awareness about the sacrifices made by wounded veterans and their needs.
“It’s gonna sink in after a while. I’m elated,” said Mellick, 69, of Milford Center, Ohio.