Way back when we started thedetroiter.com, my urgency to cover everything in the arts stemmed from my own discovery of just how much was going on, despite how little was being written about. Over five years later, I don’t find that that has changed much.

In the last few years, I’ve been on the other side of the arts, not just as observer and writer, but as the one putting on the exhibitions, first with CAID and now with Work : Detroit. So now I’m the one seeking out press coverage, trying to find ways to get more attention to the people and the ideas that I’m working with. It’s a hard sell. I don’t want to place the blame on the individuals in the media, as I think they have too much to do, and no mandate to focus on such things. Somewhere along the way, our media perhaps following our culture, perhaps leading it, decided celebrities and sports were the thing to devote attention to. It’s frustrating. I believe the things that bring about change in our community, are these little things – people making things, touching other people. I like sports, heck, I coach a sport, and I believe in their value on that personal level. But the success of the Lions doesn’t affect my life. There are works of art, expressions of the human condition that will never leave my memory.

Our current show at Work, “WHY” an exploration into the nature of creativity, hit the sort of things I wanted the general public – including sports fans – to see, to think about, and perhaps think about their own works in a different light. So sure, maybe I didn’t market it right, or people didn’t like it – though to that end, heard and read people’s comments, and we did something important here, I’m sure of it. And the thing is, while I know this one personally and feel strongly for it, I also know there are many more out there, and all deserving of some attention, works and ideas that matter to people. (The sheer amount of such exhibitions is the reason for my overview series of articles of late.)

There aren’t simple solutions and traditional media is suffering. I understand that. But I know there are important things happening right within our own communities that we have to start paying great attention to. So to that end, as we have since the beginning, thedetroiter.com will remain committed to unearthing this great American city, one story, one week, at a time. – Nick Sousanis
ws@thedetroiter.com

Your arts editor got the opportunity to share his New Year’s resolution with the Detroit News courtesy of Michael Hodges. Here’s what I had to say, “I resolve to not feel responsible for everything going on around me. There’s a balance to be struck between being selfless and selfish. By doing more of what I need to do for me personally, I can perhaps give more to my community.” For a look at what other Detroiters shared, check out the full story here.

Want to share with us – send your resolutions our way, and we’ll print a few of them next week. All the best in the New Year! – Nick Sousanis
ws@thedetroiter.com