Battle Creek artist Richard Schlatter thought his "A. Lincoln" ArtPrize entry might have a shot to win the 2-D category.

It did.

And it also won the grand prize: A $200,000 cash award.

"I had to pinch myself," Schlatter told 95.3 WBCK, referring to when he woke up Saturday, October 14, 2017.

Schlatter talked about how he conceived of the idea for a Lincoln portrait made entirely of pennies - 24,000 of them, actually. But, he went through a lot more in order to choose the ones with the right coloring.

The piece is now on display in the front window at the Battle Creek Community Foundation, 32 West Michigan Avenue in downtown Battle Creek. It will be part of the Art Walk Friday evening, October 19, 2017 at BCCF. Special public exhibits are planned for Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 22, 2017 from noon to 4 p.m. The BCCF said further exhibits will be announced soon.

Oh, and how did he figure out the final size? How did they move it? Where did he actually put it together?!

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