Last time we talked of Detroit’s art past and art Detroit’s future – how in linking the community together, the Art Detroit Now event can raise the level of consciousness and thus our potential. Art Detroit Now is now here, poised to let everyone know what those of you who’ve been with us week in and week out over the last six years already know – this arts community rocks! And it has for a long time. We’re pleased to have supported artists, galleries, and institutions with a steady diet of reviews, coverage, and listings.

Some thanks are due. To Andy Malone, designer of the gallery maps available at all galleries and online on our arts calendar. Andy designed the original arts venue map, which debuted last year during the “Shrinking Cities” event, and due to high demand, disappeared in hungry hands, almost that quickly. To Tom Carbone, steadfast arts calendar man extraordinaire, who every single week for the last three years has provided the most comprehensive listings of openings and events in the area, and this week, it’s all happening at once. To the folks behind Art Detroit Now, particularly Marc Schwartz for dreaming this up, and having the persistence to reach out and hold together such a diverse and spread out community. And of course, to all of the artists and venue operators, who persevere through determination because they have to, who help all of us to see our world a little differently and inspire hope for a better tomorrow. It’s a pleasure to unearth all those who truly make this a great American city.

So, check out our arts calendar for the rundown of everything (and we do mean everything), and have a great time enjoying all that the arts of our region has to offer. – Nick Sousanis
ws@thedetroiter.com

… and a contest.

As a bit of fun, we thought we’d offer a small prize – a “thedetroiter.com” bright orange t-shirt – to the person who attends the most galleries over the ADN weekend. (Excluding one James Dozier!) As proof of attendance, we not only want a list of all the galleries attended, but a few words about each – some description, a favorite thing seen, a story, something that places you there and perhaps to offer to our readers who didn’t make it to quite so many places, a bit of the flavor of the venue. Email me at ws@thedetroiter.com by Friday, May 16 to be eligible. We’ll post the winner the following week. Don’t forget our weekly printable arts calendar that you can carry with you, so you won’t miss a thing!!

“Although a number of artists have moved to New York recently, many more are staying here because they have faith in Detroit’s potential as an art center. By nature, creative people are optimists and builders. Detroit needs them now more than ever before.” Joy Hakanson Colby wrote those words in the Detroit Anniversary Catalogue celebrating the nation’s bicentennial. Her words ring true today.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading about Detroit’s art history of late – in working on my forthcoming (really) book on Charles McGee. Looking at Detroit past while observing Detroit current, makes me think about Detroit future.

What has always encouraged me in talking to, working alongside, and just knowing Detroit artists, is the sense of hope, of possibility – to make something grow from something that once was. Some such folks that I’ve had the pleasure of writing about include Scott Hocking, and Clinton Snider (or the two together), urban explorers looking at the city with a new eye, and there are many others. And of course there is Tyree Guyton and the beauty and attention he’s brought to the street (and beyond) that he’s reclaimed.

This pioneering spirit to forge one’s own path, extends to the gallerists (some links here and here) as well as to the very spaces we show such works themselves.

Let’s turn to Charles McGee again for something he said in an interview for Detroit Focus back in 1978, “We can make it work here but we have to do it together.” And furthermore, “We must raise the level of consciousness in and about the arts to the same degree as the very best work here.”

So we’re on the verge of Art Detroit Now, an event to link all the arts venues in the region, and make a showcase of all that’s going on here. Regular readers of this online publication know just how much has been going on in the arts in our community, but the ADN event is a great opportunity to work together and show the community at large how strong and plentiful Detroit arts are.

And they are. And by raising the level of consciousness together, we’ll continue to realize this community’s potential. To Art Detroit Now and Art Detroit Tomorrow. – Nick Sousanis
ws@thedetroiter.com