GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The haunting tones of a 250-foot harp melded with the sounds of the flowing Grand River on Friday as ArtPrize 2026 opened with a spectacle that turned downtown Grand Rapids into part of the world’s longest stringed musical instrument.
Created by artist and musician William Close, the Earth Harp sent strings soaring above spectators, transforming Pearl Street Bridge into an extension of the instrument. Close used rosin-coated gloves to draw rich, cello-like sounds from the strings during the opening-night celebration.
An opening-night celebration began at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 18 followed by a parade at 7 p.m. featuring 15-foot papier-mâché puppets carried by volunteers through downtown Grand Rapids. Hundreds of people joined the procession which ended at Pearl Street Bridge…