GRAND RAPIDS, MI - When West Michigan native Mark Lewanski sat down eight years ago to begin a 400-pound glass tapestry, he never knew that he’d win $100,000 for his vision.

But that’s exactly what happened the evening of Friday, Oct. 3, in downtown Grand Rapids at the closing ceremony for ArtPrize, a 16-day international art competition . The event officially ends on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Lewanski’s piece, “ARRAS,” is a colorful hanging glass tapestry composed of thousands of delicate glass fibers, woven together by hand. It was displayed at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for the past two weeks.

“I’m in disbelief, just beyond ecstatic. I couldn’t even find words,” he told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press on Friday night after winning the grand prize award. “I just jumped up and high-

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