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ArtPrize returns to Grand Rapids with record-breaking ambitions and a mission to space. Posted 4:54 PM, Sep 18, 2026 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - ArtPrize returned to Grand Rapids Friday, kicking off what organizers are calling the event's biggest year in almost a decade - and for the first time, the winning piece could end up in space. WATCH: ArtPrize kicks off in Grand Rapids with a mission to space Organizers announced at the start of this year's festival that the winner of the competition will have their artwork sent to space. In partnership with California aerospace startup Reflect Orbital, ArtPrize will digitize the winning artist's piece, engrave it into a plaque, and then attach it to a satellite where it will be sent into orbit. "I'm not sure an arts organization has ever gone to space before," ArtPrize Deputy Director Coleman Brook said. The two-week event features the world's largest string instrument, and organizers are hoping to break a world record for the largest attendance at a fashion show. "ArtPrize is bigger and better this year, and we think this is the year that really solidifies it as Art City, USA," Brook said. The event is expected to draw more than 1 million visitors and features 1,025 entries, the most since 2018. Brina Tiemeyer, a longtime attendee, said the event draws people from well beyond the local area. "This event is great," Tiemeyer said. "I bring my kids every year." Not everyone in attendance planned their visit around the festival. Matt and his mother Beverly, visiting from out of state, said they stumbled upon ArtPrize by chance. "When we drove into town, just to check out the town, we realized that this big event was going on, so we've just really started the process of bouncing from place to place, and it's been super cool," Matt said. Among the pieces that caught their attention was a replica of the Mackinac Bridge built from 20,009 K'NEX pieces, on display inside the Amway. The artist behind the piece, James Derck, said the massive build started last winter as a way to have fun with his kids. He said to get the piece to the hotel he had to split it into five, six-foot sections and pack it into an enclosed trailer. "I was incredibly nervous every time we hit a bump, but it got here totally fine," Derck said. Midway through day one, he said he's been blown away by the public's reaction. "Right now I'm just being humbled by this experience. This was entirely put together as just a project to do with my kids, and I'm happy to be here," Derck admitted. This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The private satellites ruining its night sky legally. For thousands of years, humans have looked up at the night sky and seen the same stars that guided ancient mariners and inspired countless generations of astronomers, poets, and dreamers. This shared celestial heritage is now under threat from a new source of pollution: artificial satellites. Companies like SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb, and others are racing to deploy massive constellations of internet satellites in low Earth orbit. Meanwhile, newer ventures like Reflect Orbital are proposing to launch thousands of space mirrors that could reflect sunlight onto Earth to extend daylight hours for solar power. These projects, while promising technological and economic benefits, come with a steep price for its view of the universe. Did you know that a single government agency in the United States has the power to change how the night sky looks for every person on Earth? Private companies are moving faster than the laws meant to govern them. If current trends continue, the view of the stars you enjoy today might soon be covered by thousands of bright, moving lights. The unregulated future of its night sky. Recent approvals have opened the door for projects that sound like science fiction. The FCC lately gave a company called Reflect Orbital permission to test a large mirror in space - this mirror is about 60 feet wide and is designed to reflect sunlight down to Earth after the sun goes down. While it helps solar farms produce power at night, it also adds new brightness to the sky. This test is just the beginning of a much larger plan - Experts worry that if this succeeds, Geo could see a fleet of 50 000 mirrors orbiting its planet. Other companies like SpaceX besides Blue Origin are also waiting for permission to launch their own massive groups of satellites - these projects are moving so fast that the rules meant to manage them are already out of date. Why international law cannot stop private satellites. You might think that global treaties would protect the sky but the existing framework is very old. The Outer Space Treaty from the 1960s says that the country where a satellite is registered has the final say, which means if the U.S. gives a green light, other nations have almost no way to stop the launch. The main problem is how the law defines "damage" Currently, international rules only cover physical hits, like * Satellites crashing into each other in orbit. * Space junk falling and hitting buildings on the ground. * Physical destruction of property by a falling spacecraft. Light pollution and "optical interference" are not currently considered damage under these old rules. Even if a satellite ruins a billion dollar telescope's view, the law does not provide a clear way to sue for those losses. How one U.S - agency decides for the world. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a U.S. agency but its decisions have global reach. By granting licenses to American companies, it essentially dictates what the sky looks like for people in Europe, Africa, & Asia - this unilateral approach is not new but it is becoming more frequent as the space industry grows. Critics point out that the FCC often bypasses international consensus to give U.S. businesses a competitive advantage. As an example, they have approved communication systems that use radio frequencies not but authorized by global unions. Because the U.S. represents such a large part of the global economy, it often acts alone, knowing other countries have little power to push back. Space Technology The cost to science and the environment. For astronomers, these satellite "megaconstellations" are a nightmare. Every new satellite creates a streak of light that can ruin deep space images. If companies launch tens of thousands of mirrors and data centers, ground based telescopes might become useless for certain types of research. Beyond science, there are environmental worries - These satellites are currently exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act - this means * Companies do not have to prove their satellites won't hurt the environment. * The FCC does not need to conduct a review of light pollution impacts. * No one is officially tracking the long term effects on nocturnal wildlife. This exemption started in the 1980s when launches were rare - Now, with thousands of objects going up every year, many advocates say this lack of oversight is a major regulatory failure. Looking for a legislative fix. Stopping the projects is difficult because the United Nations moves very slowly. Groups like the International Astronomical Union are asking for a ban on space mirrors but the UN requires everyone to agree before passing a rule. Countries like Russia, China or the U.S. will block any rule that limits their own power in space. Your best hope for a dark sky likely lies in new national laws. Some advocacy groups are suing the government to force environmental reviews. Until the laws catch up with the technology, the responsibility falls on individual nations to change how they grant licenses. Without a change in how Geo manage space, the "Saturn's ring" of satellites around Earth could become a permanent, bright reality. Faq. Can other countries stop a U.S. satellite launch? Generally, no - Under current international law, the country where the satellite is registered has the authority to approve the project. Other countries can complain but they have no legal mechanism to block the launch itself. Do satellites physically harm the environment? While they don't usually drop chemicals on the ground, they cause significant light pollution. They can also create space debris, which makes it dangerous for future space travel and can damage the atmosphere when they eventually burn up upon reentry. Why does the FCC handle space mirrors? The FCC manages the communication licenses and various regulatory approvals for U.S. companies operating in space. Even though their primary job is communications, they have become the de facto gatekeepers for almost all commercial space activity in the U.S.

The Federal Communications Commission has approved California-based Reflect Orbital to launch a test satellite that reflects sunlight to Earth at night. The company plans to deploy 50,000 satellites over the next decade to power solar panels after dark and assist search-and-rescue operations. Scientists have raised serious concerns about the project. Dr Travis Longcore from UCLA called it "an existential threat to optical astronomy". Dr Noelia Noël from the University of Surrey questioned who controls when and where Earth is illuminated, noting "the night sky is a shared scientific, environmental and cultural resource." Reflect Orbital's test satellite, Eärendil-1, features an 18-metre reflector operating from 625 kilometres above Earth. The company would charge approximately $5,000 per hour for its sunlight service.