LOST BOYS OF SUDAN

As part of a national outreach campaign to raise awareness about the current crisis in Darfur, Sudan, and refugees in general, the award-winning documentary film LOST BOYS OF SUDAN will screen twice in the Detroit area, on Sept. 27 and 28. The film’s director Megan Mylan will be there, along with some Sudanese refugees from the “Lost Boys” group who now live in Michigan. They will hold a Q&A with the audience after the film.

Wednesday Sept 27 - 5pm
Free screening and discussion
Michigan Theater
603 E. Liberty St, Ann Arbor
Sponsored by the University of Michigan Law School

Thursday Sept 28 - 7pm
Free screening and discussion
Main Art Theatre
118 N. Main St, Royal Oak
Sponsored by Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, the American Jewish Committee and the Trinity Film Coalition

(There will also be two youth screenings on Sept 28th: one for the entire 9th grade in the Utica Community Schools district, and the other at Youthville in downtown Detroit.)

www.LostBoysFilm.com

INDEPENDENT FILM SCREENINGS AT 555 GALLERY

Thursday, September 28
Monthly Film Series Runs Every Fourth Thursday;

Seasoned vets as well as students are welcome to show their films. There is a $15.00 submission fee for features, $5.00 for shorts. Features are films greater than 60 minutes and shorts must be 30 minutes or less. Submissions are accepted on DVD or Mini DV. “The purpose of the series is to bring filmmakers and film lovers together,” says series curator Brian Heath. The screenings are an opportunity for producers, directors, actors and crew to network and share their experiences. Attendees are also encouraged to bring information promoting current and upcoming events and projects.

While the screenings are an opportunity for those in the industry to get together and network, the general public is also being encouraged to come experience films they might not otherwise get to see. “People are excited about the films,” says Heath. “For a lot of them, this is a side of Detroit they don’t normally get to see.” There’s a $5.00 admission fee at the door.

BOHEMIAN NATIONAL HOME

In the gallery: New Art Show- Barb Loomis and Frank Pahl Former Detroit painter/print maker Babara Loomis presents a series of paintings based on the Columbia River Gorge, near her adopted home of Portland, Oregon. Frank Pahl displays several of his smaller musical automotons and other whimsical creations.

Wednesday, Sept 27th: Extra Golden (thrill jockey)
Extra Golden is a collaberation between Onyango Wuod Omari of the Nairobi, Kenya based Benga band Orchestra Extra Solar Africa, and Ian Eagleson and Alex Minoff of the Washington D.C. based rock band Golden. Benga music is a guitar-heavy dance music that has been popular in Kenya since the '60s, which Minoff (also of Weird War) has spent several years investigating.
Doors at 9 pm; $5

(Lolita Hernandez reads from Autopsy of an Engine and Other Stories from the Cadillac Plant for Poetry @the Zeitgeist at a reading that also features “worker writer” Mick Vranich

Wednesday September 27 8:00 PM
Admission Free, Smoke Free
2661 Michigan Avenue)

Saturday, Setember 30th: Tara Jane O' Neal with Warn DeFever
Tara Jane O' Neal first came on to the scene with 90's indie-rockers Rodan. Since then, she's developed into a producer, a rootsy songstress and an important go-to person at Drag City Records. Her down-tempo, introspective numbers are reminiscent of her label-mate Edith Frost, but O'Neal mixes it up with some interesting ambient and instrumental numbers. Detroiter (oops I mean Livonian) Warn DeFever, of His Name is Alive, wears too many hats to say what his set will be like, but we're sure it will be great.
Doors at 9 pm; $7

Sunday, October 1st: Frank Pahl and Dan Kahn
A night of dissin' on George Bush. Frank Pahl and Dan Kahn bring us a couple of protest tunes, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Moveon.org. It will also be your last chance to check-out Pahl's automotons in the gallery, before he takes them home.
Doors at 7pm; $5

A Community Celebration @ Romanowski Park
Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006
4:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Stop by and enjoy food & drink, and meet the artists:
Mary Laredo Herbeck and your friends & neighbors,
to find out how they joined together to clean
Romanowski Park & save the environment by making art!
The event will celebrate the culmination of a collaborative Community Environmental Arts Project (CEAP) that was coordinated by Casa de Unidad in partnership with The Greening of Detroit, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, and local artist Mary “Laredo” Herbeck, and involved dozens of community children and adults in a public art project. The resulting artworks of the summer-long Project – including totems, murals, and garden decorations – will be permanently installed in southwest Detroit’s Romanowski Park (Lonyo, south of Michigan Avenue).

CAID EVENTS

Friday, September 29, 2006 and the last Friday of every month
Doors at midnight, $5 donation

deep funk celebration.
featuring DJ Brad Hales and DJ Frank Raines
spinning their incredible collection of deep funk 45s
from the late 60s to the mid 70s

For more info please contact the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit at 313.899-CAID or via e-mail at funk@funknight.com. Funk Night is at the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit located on 5141 Rosa Parks
Blvd, Detroit MI 48208
Funk Night is all ages.
Free on the street parking available.

Wednesday, October 4
The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit presents...
MoHa! (Oslo, Norway)
THINKBOX (Canada/USA)
Paris '68 DJs (Detroit)
9 p.m., $5

• Saturday, October 7
The CAID and Dance Elixir present
ACTIONS IMMEDIATE
One night only! The artists of Oakland (CA)- based performance company Dance Elixir are hailed for their glamorous aesthetic and fierce technique. Tonight they are joined by local music and performance artists for an evening of live art improvisations and creations.
Leyya Tawil, dance
Topher Keyes, electronic scores
Mike Khoury, violin
Jeremy Kallio, dance
Michael Caleb, electric guitar
Cristina Waltz, video
8pm door, 8:30-10pm show
$5
for more about DE visit www.danceElixir.org

by
Leyland DeVito

In a recent poll by Sperling’s BestPlaces, Detroit was ranked the fourth biggest city in the country for video gaming. It could be the brutal weather we suffer through for half of the year that drives people to huddle around their Nintendos, or perhaps the lack of other things to do, or maybe just a general love for gadgets. It’s a question that 16-year-old John Wolff ponders on his online forum with other Detroiters who enjoy video games. The forum is part of Wolff’s group Urban Electronics, a way for like-minded kids to not only talk about video games but to be able to meet up and make them too.

“Everyone says, ‘I have a great idea for a video game’, but they never pursue it,” Wolff says about why he started the group, which meets on Sundays at Lawrence Technical University. He says the group’s aims are educational, allowing the local youth the opportunity to express their ideas and learn about video game technology. Mostly it’s a learning experience for everyone. “These kids are ages twelve and up,” he explains. “We’re going to start at the basic level, and move on from that experience.”

Wolff realizes that as a small non-profit group, it will be difficult for his games to compete with what’s out there. Instead of relying on stunning visual effects like big game developers tend to do, Urban Electronics will be concerned with the aesthetics at the core of the games. “Since our games can’t focus on high quality graphics, we focus on innovation in game play, and on making the storylines concrete and not loosely sewn together,” he explains. “I asked the group, ‘What would you like to see in a game?’ and we decided on urban elements. Not urban as in Grand Theft Auto, but urban as in ‘cool’. We are thinking about urban music in our games. Wordy music in video games doesn’t really work, but we are thinking of using beats, scratching, DJ’s.” Wolff assures: “It will be different.”

Making games has been an interest of Wolff’s since he was in the fourth grade, citing the futuristic role-player Final Fantasy VIII and the covert-op Metal Gear Solid series on PlayStation as his favorite games and catalysts. It was then that he discovered the computer program RPG Maker, software that allows video game enthusiasts to try their hand at making their own role-playing games by configuring pre-made sets of graphics for characters and maps. But to do something really complex, like creating his own graphics, Wolff realized he would need extra help, so he started writing his ideas down in a notebook for use later.

By eighth grade, Wolff’s interest in making video games was rekindled with an encounter with an issue of Game Informer Magazine with a headline about game development. Instead of suggesting that he pursue a more normal hobby, Wolff’s mother actually encouraged him, and let him go on a trip to a video game development conference in Chicago.

“The conference covered every single aspect of video gaming,” Wolff says. “Video game development, video game design. It was really enlightening.” So when he learned about SEMAFX, a group of Southeastern Michigan digital artists and their Creative Congress event, he decided to share his ideas for his own game development organization. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Which is where we first caught wind of Wolff and crew, with an impressively delivered artistic statement about the project. For a previous feature on SEMAFX, please click here.)

At nearby Youthville of Detroit as well as local video game shops, Wolff started spreading the word about his plans. “I created interest in it just through word of mouth, which I believe is the most powerful aspect of advertising,” he says.

Since it is an educational experience, Urban Electronics’ crew of nine is aiming at one project per year. Eventually, Wolff hopes to branch out to developing games on multiple platforms for a wider audience. But Wolff and his group are always interested in other talent joining them, and anyone who is curious about game design is welcome to sit in on their Sunday meetings. “I want to bring everything to the next level and really immerse people in a game environment,” Wolff says.

Urban Electronics meets on Sunday, October 1st at Lawrence Tech. More information is available at their website, http://www.uegda.com.

Leyland DeVito is studying illustration at Detroit's College for Creative Studies. He can be reached at flyingtreemonkey@aol.com.

Art Openings Galore this week including “Shelter” at CAID, and Russell Keeter retrospective at CPOP. See our arts calendar for a comprehensive listing.

JOIN US For A GROUP CRITIQUE!
Wednesday, September 20th from 6-8pm.
Everyone is welcome! Bring in one piece to be critiqued by a group of your peers.
Please call 313.832.8540 to reserve your spot.
Only ten artists will display their work!
Detroit Artists Market
info@detroitartistsmarket.org
313.832.8540

See our related story here.

John Glick Public Lecture
DeSalle Gallery, BBAC
7pm
Light refreshments/snacks

SATORI CIRCUS: Detroit’s Premiere Performance Artist is back in a New Performance Art Piece!!!

Ladies and Gentleman, SATORI CIRCUS is back!!! After a four year 'walkabout', Russell A. Taylor returns with SATORI CIRCUS to 1515 Broadway Theatre with a new performance art piece - MOSES:39. Combining elements of theatre, movement, music, poetry, film and the fine arts, MOSES:39 takes you on a journey of one child's life through adulthood and the obstacles he faces through his parents expectations, lack of interest, pressures of life, and his own personal demons that eventually take control.

Although, it sounds like a depressing tale, those of you who have seen SATORI CIRCUS ...will be comforted to know that he hasn't lost his dark comedic side.

MOSES:39…SATORI CIRCUS’ first performance in 4 yrs.
SEPTEMBER 7 – 10, 14 – 17 & 21 – 23
7:30P doors – 8P performance
TH & SU $10 advance/$15 @ door
FR & SA $15 advance/$20 @ door
For more info – 313.965.1515

Tour de Troit - Sept 23
What:
The 5th Annual Tour de Troit - A fun and easy morning bike ride touring Detroit’s fabulous neighborhoods!

When:
Saturday, September 23, 2006 at 10:00am
Where:
The ride takes off from Roosevelt Park right in front of the Michigan Central Station at Michigan and Vernor.
How:
Pre-registration is available online right here!

Or simply send a $25 check ($15 if your are a student) to Greater Corktown....write Tour de Troit on the note line.

Please mail and make checks out to:
Greater Corktown Development Corporation
2411 14th Street, Suite 200
Detroit, MI 48216

The 5th Annual Tour de Troit is set for September 23, 2006. The ride takes off at 10:00 a.m. from Roosevelt Park. The Tour de Troit 2006 will be approximately 35 miles and is accompanied by the Detroit Police Department to ensure safety at major intersections. Don't let the length of the ride scare you off!! We had a blast last year riding at our leisurely pace (plus we will stop and rest during the ride).

When the ride is complete, there will be entertainment, food, and drink in the shadow of Michigan Central Station! We hope you can join us again for the ride this year.

This Week at the Bohemian House:

Wednesday, Sept 20th: Tatsuya Nakatani- solo performance and collaboration w/ Detroiters

Percussion virtuoso Tatsuya Nakatani returns to the Bohemian, following his recent performance with the Bossa Nova group Yukijurushi. This time out, he'll display the immense skills that have earned him an important place
amongst peers like Peter Kowald, Peter Brotzmann, Steve Swell, Roy Campbell, Sabir Mateen, Ken Vandermark, the Billy Bang Quintet featuring Frank Lowe, Assif Tsahar, Le Quan Ninh, Mat Maneri, and William Parker. An acoustic show on the floor of the ballroom. Doors at 7:30 pm; music at 8:00 pm. Sliding scale donation $5-10.

9/21 Kayo Dot with Larval
Two bands at the intersection between heavy rock and cerebral art music that are both associated with John Zorn's Tzadik label. Kayo Dot use a wide range of instruments; inlcuding violin, viola, euphonium and clarinet. Band leader Toby Driver studied with none other than ex-Detroit music legend Yusef Lateef. Bill Brovold's ever-changing Larval has been mixing Art Rock and Prog Rock for more than a decade. That's when Brovold made Detroit his home after many years in the New York Downtown scene, collaborating with Rhys Chatham, Glen Branca, Zeena Parkins and many others.
Doors at 9 pm; $6

Friday, Sept 22: New Art Show- Barb Loomis and Frank Pahl
Former Detroit painter/print maker Babara Loomis presents a series of paintings based on the Columbia River Gorge, near her adopted home of Portland, Oregon. Frank Pahl will be displaying several of his smaller musical automotons and other whimsical creations. He'll also perform music
along with the automotons at the reception. 7-10 pm.

Art Openings Galore – see our arts calendar for a comprehensive listing.

Art in the Park
To benefit Common Ground Sanctuary
2006 Fact Sheet

www.commongroundsanctuary.org

Common Ground Sanctuary 32nd Art in the Park is coming!!
Sept. 16, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sept. 17, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Shain Park, downtown Birmingham - Admission is free

For more information, call 248.456.8150 or visit www.artinthepark.info

Carrie LeMieux
Office: 248.456.8158 ext. 215
CLeMieux@commongroundsanctuary.org
Art in the Park to benefit Common Ground Sanctuary will feature original, juried fine art by more than 190 artists from across the United States and Canada. Eighteen media will be represented, including: basketry, ceramics, drawing, general fibers, wearable fibers, furniture, blown glass, flat glass, jewelry-metal, jewelry-other, leather, metal, painting, paper arts, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood.

When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: Shain Park, downtown Birmingham, Mich.
One block south of Maple and west of Woodward Ave.

Admission: FREE

Parking: Ample parking within walking distance. Two hours free in city decks Saturday; free parking all day Sunday

Highlights:
§ Live musical entertainment
§ Delectable food
§ Silent auction with donated art from exhibiting artists
§ Children’s area with hands-on activities
§ Art showcase from the Kennedy Center for students with disabilities

Information: 248.456.8158 ext. 202
www.artinthepark.info

Presenter: Common Ground Sanctuary is a nonprofit crisis intervention agency serving Oakland County youths, adults and families in crisis. The agency presents Art in the Park annually as its principal fundraiser.

Sponsors:
Pulte Homes Corporation; Loomis Sayles & Co., L.P.; Observer & Eccentric Newspapers; Saturn of Troy, Saturn of Southgate; Shirley K. Schlafer Foundation; HOUR Detroit; Nordstrom; Style Magazine; WNIC 100.3 FM; DTE Energy Foundation; Jimi’s Family Restaurant; M-CARE; Michigan Heart Group; Astrein’s Creative Jewelers; Comerica Charitable Foundation; Corvus International; Detroit Public Television; WRCJ 90.9 FM; Edith S. and Barry D. Briskin; Fifth Third Bank; Health Alliance Plan; National City Bank ; Office Depot; Rochester Insurance Agency; Sheldon Real Estate of Oakland, Inc.; The Taubman Company.

Media Contact: Carrie LeMieux 248.456.8158 ext. 215
Images available upon request.
Centaur Bar
Tuesday Night Movie Night
http://www.centaurbar.com/

James Hart Book Release at Zeitgeist with Audra Kubat and other musicians – Friday, September 8, 8pm.

Marick Press Publishes James E. Hart’s Second Poetry Collection. Book party celebrating the publication of White Holes, a new volume of poetry on Marick Press by James Hart

Zeitgeist Gallery 2661 Michigan Avenue west of Tiger Stadium, east of Jeffries I-96 overpass. (313) 965-9192

Poets: James E. Hart III, Kim Hunter
Musicians: Audra Kubat, Tyvek, Ass, Big Shorty. Singer songwriter Audra Kubat is the headline act for a book party celebrating the release of James E. Hart III’s White Holes, a book of poetry on the Marick Press. Besides Kubat’s haunting vocals, the innovative rock stylings the bands Ass and Tyvek and the jazz of Big Shorty will also be on tap. Poet Kim Hunter (borne on slow knives, Past Tents Press, 2001) will help Hart celebrate the publication of his second volume of poetry and the first on the newly formed Marick Press. James E. Hart III will of course read from his new work. A $3 donation is suggested. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

DETROIT SYNERGY: Discussing Differences-A Dialogue for Detroit's Future - Signup

Discussing Differences is a collaboration with Detroit Synergy and The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), with support from the Farbman Group, to help Metro Detroiters break down racial and social barriers by using NCCJ’s Different People…Common Ground (DPCG) dialogue series.

We are currently looking for participants for the September sessions. The group is scheduled to meet on the following THREE Wednesdays – September 13th, 20th and 27th. The sessions will begin at 6:00pm and will end at 9:00pm. All three sessions will be conducted at the same location, which will be announced.

If you are interested in participating in this upcoming series, you must e-mail Christyn, Sonya or Jen at dsg_dpcg@yahoo.com by Friday, September 8th. All participants will be chosen out of a pool of those interested. Please keep in mind that you must confirm for ALL THREE DATES in order to participate in the series. Also note that due to the small size of the group (no more than 20), we cannot guarantee a spot in this group of sessions. You will, however, be added to the list to participate in a future group of sessions.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email the group leaders at dsg_dpcg@yahoo.com or visit http://www.detroitsynergy.org/projects/dpcg for more info.
A New Way to Participate in Discussing Differences!
You can discuss differences on our Discussing Differences Yahoo! Group. Anyone is welcome to join. Each week we will post a new topic to discuss on diversity-related issues. Think of it as an on-going Coffee Talks session in an online format. To subscribe to the group you must register or have an existing Yahoo! account and then send a message to DiscussingDifferences-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. If you want to check it out before joining, visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DiscussingDifferences/

The Last Party of the Year: Dally in the Alley!
Come Celebrate Our 29th Year . . . Saturday September 9!

"The biggest block party in the city of Detroit – takes on the theme of recycling this year!
OPENING: Saturday, September 9, from 11 - 11pm
(Rain Date: Sunday, Sept. 10)
Performance, vendor info, and more at the Dally website here: www.dallyinthealley.com

SATORI CIRCUS: Detroit’s Premiere Performance Artist is back in a New Performance Art Piece!!!

Ladies and Gentleman, SATORI CIRCUS is back!!! After a four year 'walkabout', Russell A. Taylor returns with SATORI CIRCUS to 1515 Broadway Theatre with a new performance art piece - MOSES:39. Combining elements of theatre, movement, music, poetry, film and the fine arts, MOSES:39 takes you on a journey of one child's life through adulthood and the obstacles he faces through his parents expectations, lack of interest, pressures of life, and his own personal demons that eventually take control.

Although, it sounds like a depressing tale, those of you who have seen SATORI CIRCUS ...will be comforted to know that he hasn't lost his dark comedic side.

MOSES:39…SATORI CIRCUS’ first performance in 4 yrs.
SEPTEMBER 7 – 10, 14 – 17 & 21 – 23
7:30P doors – 8P performance
TH & SU $10 advance/$15 @ door
FR & SA $15 advance/$20 @ door
For more info – 313.965.1515

BOHEMIAN NATIONAL HOME

Thurs. Sept. 7th: Yukijurushi
Yukijurushi is a Bossa Nova instrumental and vocal trio, whose primary focus is the subtly hypnotic rhythms and haunting melodies of modern Brazilian folk forms. The group performs standard Bossa Nova, jazz standards and
original songs. Drummer/vocalist Tatsuya Nakatani is a marvel to be seen.
Originally from Osaka Japan, he has performed with many major figures in the jazz and improvised music scenes, including Peter Kowald, Peter Brotzmann, Steve Swell, Roy Campbell, Sabir Mateen, Ken Vandermark, the Billy Bang
Quintet featuring Frank Lowe, Assif Tsahar, Le Quan Ninh, Mat Maneri, and William Parker.
Doors at 9 pm; sliding scale $5-10

Saturday, Sept. 9th: Odu Afrobeat Orchestra
Even though Odu Afrobeat Orchestra is based right here in The Bohemian, we've only played the home-base once- for our third gig. Now we're bringing Detroit's best live dance party back home. Original Afrobeat music from Nigeria via Detroit; lead by Ade Boye Adegbenro and featuring some great names in Detroit music: Faruq Z Bey, Kenny Green, Michael Carey, John Douglas, Marko Novachcoff, Chad Gilchrist, Chris Facinni, Kevin Callaway, Mark Sawasky et al.
Doors at 10 pm; sliding scale $5-10

The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit

Saturday, September 9
One Root and A Dub Supreme Sounds humbly present....
Revival: A night of Roots, Reggae, and Dub
Doors at midnight
$5 donation

Centaur Bar
Tuesday Night Movie Night

Mitten Movie Project Presents “InZer0”, “Outsourcing Greenville”, “The Writer” and “On The Other Side”

Arrive early for the Directors Reception to meet the directors, cast and crew

Thought Collide Productions and the Mitten Movie Project present their monthly series with Episode 5 of “InZer0”, the science-fiction series shot entirely in Detroit, “Outsourcing Greenville”, The Writer” and “On the Other Side” at 7:30 pm at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak.
The story of “InZer0” continues with Episode 5 created and directed by Jamie Sonderman of Detroit. The series is set in the near future as Thames, an ambitious courier, weaves his way through a dangerous city in a post-apocalyptic world. The future of the human race is at stake as the decimated population has become sterile. Thames finds himself in the middle of the struggle. In a world without a future, someone has to deliver hope.

Pre-sale tickets are $10 at the Main Art Theatre the day of the showing or $11 via Pay Pal at www.myspace.com/inzero. All films are unrated and “InZer0” has mild violence.

In addition to the screening, there will be a free pre-party Directors Reception in the lobby of the theatre from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Meet the directors, stars, cast, crew and learn about casting opportunities for upcoming episodes of “InZer0”. Be scene.

After the screening, the evening continues with an afterglow party at Memphis Smokes. There is a suggested door donation of $5. 21+ welcome.

Detroit International Jazz Festival

Labor Day Weekend, September 1st through 4th

The 27th Annual Jazz Fest comes back to Detroit, closing down Woodward to make way for music and eats and treats from Campus Martius down to Hart Plaza. The music starts at noon on Friday and runs through Sunday evening. Acts include Nathaniel Mayer, Marcia Ball, Dr. John, Joan Osborne, Taj Mahal, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Funk Brothers, and many more. Full schedule and other information at the festival’s website.

Going Back DVD Release Party
Saturday, September 2
3-6pm
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
Robinson Gallery

Bruce Campbell will be in attendance for a talk and Q&A. See Attachment for background

RST Productions will hold a DVD Release Party to celebrate the release of the Michigan-produced feature film on DVD.

WHO: Bruce Campbell, Christopher Howe, Ron Teachworth (writer/director), Darlene Cypser (Bifrost Distribution)
WHAT: Going Back DVD Release Party including Q&A with actor Bruce Campbell and director Ron Teachworth
WHERE: Robinson Gallery, Birmingham/Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, Michigan
WHEN: Saturday, September 2, 2006 3-6 p.m.
www.goingbackthemovie.com and www.ronteachworth.com

A quiet weekend for art openings, with Arts, Beats, and Eats in Pontiac, and just one art opening, out at Northville Friday night. Check these art events and more out this week and every week in our arts calendar (and the handy printable version too!)

Centaur Bar

Tuesday Night Movie Night