"Nowhere to go but up": Artist/Curator Answers Our Four Questions

Graem Whyte. Many know him as a sculptor - creating works mathematical in nature to the more whimsical, like his recent Chewbacca series. He finds employment at CCS as a technician in the foundry, but on Wednesday nights, he serves up Ghetto Blaster and other Detroit brewed originals as the bartender at Motor City Brewing Works. In blending his art with his Wednesday night job, Whyte created the difficultly titled, weekly art showcase, "This Week In Art." Over the last several months, we've been proud to sponsor this weekly gathering of artists - a salon of sorts for this age. Over that time we've seen established artists try out new ideas and the less established get one of their first big showcases. There's been video, music, and even self-portraits drawn by all the guests of Whyte's and fellow artist, now his wife, Faina Lerman's wedding. We caught up with Whyte during his own show, the final one of 2005. Now in celebration of "This Week In Art's" ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, Whyte answers thedetroiter.com's famous four questions.

(For an extensive and excellent look back at the past year of This Week In Art, check out Rebecca Mazzei's article in the MetroTimes here.)

WHY DETROIT?

Well first off, I've grown up here and lived here all my life.

And second, as an artist, it's conducive to making art. It's cheap, rent is cheap. And there's a great environment for making art.

WHY ONE NIGHT ART SHOWS?

These started out as a way to get people in the bar. As an artist this seemed like a natural fit, to have one night art shows. They're quick, they're easy. Most people go to the openings anyway. And we can't have art up for more than one night as it is because we brew in the same space that we show art.

(Owner) John (Linardos) had had a few things here before - glass shows and other miscellaneous things. There has also been Five Shows in Five Days (at the Detroit Artists Market) that Phil Burke and Roe Peterhans put on. I was in the third or fourth. And I co-curated the fourth or fifth one. This was sort of the same idea. It's great energy - there's a nice buzz that happens when it's only for the moment. It's kind of ephemeral. It's a nice way to get people to really check out the art. Because a lot of times when there's a month long show people keep putting it off and then after a while they never check it out.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF DETROIT?

Hell if I know.

But seriously, I think Detroit has a lot of room to grow, there is a great creative base in the city. There are a lot of artists and musicians. There's an environment that fosters creativity in a certain way. So I think if anything is going to happen, it's going to happen as a result of creative endeavors. It's happened in other cities. A lot of times you look at cities that have made comebacks, and the first people that go into decrepit areas are artists. They fix up those spaces and then others come in. Obviously the city has nowhere to go but up. People have been saying this for a long time, but I think it's still true.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF ONE NIGHT ART SHOWS IN DETROIT?

Well the future here at the Brewery I think is looking up. We're booked up until August. We're garnering a lot of interest from local artists. It's a great place to show for artists who might not show otherwise, and it's a great place to show for artists who might not have a gallery behind them.

As far as the broader art scene goes, I think it all depends on the galleries. Hopefully the Brewery showcase can be a catalyst for other venues, other spaces, which we really need more of in this city, to really provide the art community with what it seems to need, as evidenced by the turnout that we've been getting at these shows.

- Nick Sousanis ws@thedetroiter.com