The annual ArtPrize competition began as an offthewall idea that agitated and drew criticism from the art world,

devised by an heir to a massive fortune. Now in its fifth year, it's a welltuned event anticipated by casual art admirers, hopeful artists and even critics.

On Sunday, after 11 days of public voting, festival organizers announced the 10 most popular art pieces on display in the city of Grand Rapids, Mich. They'll now go on to a second patriotsnflofficialproshop.com/Nike-Darrelle-Revis-Jersey.html round of public voting and compete for a share of the $360,000 in prize money, with the grand winner receiving $200,000.

It's not only the public voting for such a large cash award that makes ArtPrize unusual, but that it's open to anyone over the age of 18. This year, more than 1,500 entries filled the city, and the competition has received 430,000 votes and counting from the public.

Last year, Adonna Khare's detailed, largescale drawings of elephants took home the top public vote prize. The public has seemed to favor natural subject matter, which hasn't changed: this year, four finalists depict Danny Amendola Authentic Jersey animals, with many concentrating on natural themes.

The contest has drawn its fair share of Danny Amendola Jersey controversy, and some have deemed many of the popular entries as lowbrow or pandering. Last year, ArtPrize began awarding significant juried prizes too, with a grand prize winner receiving $100,000 and five other entries receiving $20,000 each.

ArtPrize Executive Director Christian Gaines told Michigan Radio that he's happy that the competition draws a large variety of work. He said the variety is reflected in the voters, as well:

"All kinds of people voting, with all kinds of different ideas of what they think is art. And what makes them happy, what strikes a chord with them . the public vote reflects that," Gaines told Michigan Radio. "This is the only community I can think of where the local NBC affiliate will preempt prime time television for three hours to talk about art in an intelligent way. . And that's because there's an audience that's interested in learning about that and doing that."

Scroll through the list to see the 10 artists whose works received the most public votes.

"Finding Beauty in Bad Things: Porcelain Vine," by Fraser Smith is a trompe l'oeil quilt carved out of wood. The piece is based on the porcelain vine, a plant Smith first saw when he attended ArtPrize last year. "Turns out they call it the 'kudzu of the north,/ since it's invasive, and can completely cover, and kill trees, and shrubs," Smith wrote. "I'm thinking of doing a series of pieces where the plant, or animal, or substance, or . whatever, is a bane, but hides behind a visually appealing exterior, and uses that as a defense; an evolutionary tool." Location: DeVos Place Convention Center.

"Botanical Exotica a Monumental Collection of the Rare Beautiful" by Jason Gamrath is an installation of handblown glass and steel. "The purpose of creating this series on a macro scale, is to bring to light the beauty that exists within the micro scale of nature," Gamrath writes on his website. "When I scale life forms up to be larger than a person, they can be observed with this prospective from across a room due to the overwhelming physical presence that they command. It is my hope that when people admire my largescale renderings, they can become captivated enough to look closer at earth's creations, and appreciate nature with the same eyes that I humbly and graciously experience our natural world through." Location: Grand Rapids Art Museum.

"Taking Flight" by Michael Gard is woven with recycled aluminum wire and LED lights. The sculpture first showed up in Grand Rapids when Gard floated her around the city on a giant helium balloon. "For me, the piece is about uplifting the human spirit. Illuminated from within, she drifts above, representing our hopes, dreams, and feelings," he writes. "I weave wire by first creating a sculpture in clay, then using molds to reproduce it in wax. I then handweave wire stitchbystitch around the wax form. The wax is melted away leaving a light but rigid sculpture. This piece is by far my most ambitious, representing at least 2,000 hours of work." Location: DeVos Place Convention Center. http://www.patriotsnflofficialproshop.com/Nike-Brandon-Browner-Jersey.html

Winner!"Elephants" by Adonna Khare

Adonna KhareAdonna Khare reacts after winning the $200,000 ArtPrize Award for "Elephants" at the fourth annual ArtPrize awards Friday, Oct. 5 , 2012 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The annual art competition began Sept. 19. This year's installment features entries from 1,517 artists from 56 countries and 45 states. The works are on display at dozens venues across downtown Grand Brandon LaFell Authentic Jersey Rapids. A list of the 10 finalists for the public vote was earlier announced by organizers. (AP Photo/The Grand Rapids Press, Cory Morse)

Grand Juried Award "Displacement (13208 Klinger St)" by Design 99. Time lapse video of the exhibition install.

Mitch Cope And Gina ReichertArtPrize 2012 Winners Mitch Cope and Gina Reichert of Design 99 from Detroit talk about their piece, "Displacement," Friday, Oct. 5 , 2012 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The annual art competition began Sept. 19. This year's installment features entries from Brandon LaFell Jersey 1,517 artists from 56 countries and 45 states. The works are on display at dozens venues across downtown Grand Rapids. A list of the 10 finalists for the public vote was earlier announced by organizers.

2D Juried Award Winner"Habitat" by Alois Kronschlaeger3rd Place Public Vote"Rebirth of Spring" by Frits Hoendervanger.