Federal government shutdown forces Artprize artists to move

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — While politicians in Washington worked on the federal budget earlier this week, local artist Mark Lewanski was making backup plans.

“We kind of pivoted rather well. And we're still going, still in business, still showing our work,” said Lewanski.

Lewanski’s 10-foot glass-woven art piece had been on display inside the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. But because the museum is government-funded, the shutdown left his work locked behind closed doors.

“It’s kind of trapped in there right now, and we're waiting to see what happens,” said Lewanski. “In lieu of shutdown, I was given the opportunity to set up outside at the last minute as an emergency measure.”

Lewanski said it took two to three days to hang the piece inside the museum, and it would take just as long t