GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The HAS HEART Coffee Shop at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Grand Rapids is the perfect space for veterans and their art.
“When I went to Desert Storm, I learned how to weld and grind metal. So I used a lot of that in my ArtPrize piece,” said retired U.S. Army Sgt. John Katerberg.
Katerberg won the public vote grand prize at ArtPrize 2024 by transferring his military skills to create art.
‘Dynamic Sunset’ wins $125K grand prize at ArtPrize
“I was injured in an improvised explosives explosion. So I was medically retired,” Katerberg said. “So that allowed me to finish my schooling finally. I graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design with a painting degree.”
His winning piece was done on brass metal and is set to be made into other works of art. The acrylic and oil painting was brought to life using techniques from his family members and the military. The 104-pound canvas shows a “Dynamic Sunset” near the Grand Haven pier and Lake Michigan.
