GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- ArtPrize has just begun, and there’s so much to see in the next couple weeks.
Artists are doing everything from paintings, to sculptures, and much more. One category that people might forget is in the running is music. Singers are going to be performing all around the city for the next few weeks.
Molly Bouwsma Schultz puts every emotion she has into her music. She has been singing for almost all of her life, and is currently part of a band called Vox Vidorra.
The song she is entering in ArtPrize is called “Kindness 414 Cass.” It’s about her grandfather that recently passed away.
The lyrics talk about what her grandfather taught her, one of those things being the kindness he showed the world. 414 Cass is the address where he lived, and where she grew up spending time with him.
Molly’s grandfather didn’t take on a normal role.
“I didn’t grow up with a father, and my mom and I didn’t have a car so just as an example, he would pick us up and bring us to get groceries. Then he would take me to his garden, and spend time with me,” she said.
Her grandfather was a music teacher, and is the reason she was introduced to music and became a singer. More than that, he was her biggest fan.
“When you are a little kid you never think your grandparents are going to pass away,” she said.
She said every lyric has meaning, and it all has to do with his legacy.
“One of the lyrics is I know what you meant about love, now I know about love. He would also joke about us setting an example, but he showed us you can’t just talk about living a morally sound life you have to actually do it. That’s what the line is about, it’s just really living the life you talk about,” she said.
Molly wants to carry on her grandfather’s legacy by sharing positive music, and wants people to remember singing is an art too.
“I really want people to come out to these busking performances because people don’t know music exists as a category in ArtPrize and its not just for me but people who are coming through the city need to hear the music that is involved,” she said.
If you want to check Molly out and other performers the times and locations are below:
- Friday Sept. 26 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Women’s City Club
- Saturday September 27 from 12-12:30 p.m. at Blue Bridge and 1-1:30 p.m. Women’s City Club
- Monday Sept. 29 from 6:30-7 p.m. at St. Cecilia Presidents Room
- Friday Oct. 3 from 6:30-7 p.m. at St. C ecilia Presidents Rm
