Zen and the Art of the Artist’s Statement

A lot of artists seem to go into a state of panic whenever they’re asked to write an artist’s statement. Sometimes they get defensive, saying things like “My art should speak for itself. If I wanted to deal with language, I’d be a writer.” Conversely, some artists see it as an opportunity to write at [...]

Detroit Inspiration: Detroiter named “Caregiver of the Year”

Detroit has a lot of heroes. There are the obvious heroes: the policemen, the firemen, and the doctors. There are the less obvious: the volunteer tutor, the public defender, and the public school teacher. And the 80 year-old grandmother and caregiver.  
On Tuesday, the American Kidney Fund’s third annual gala, The Hope Affair, will take place in Washington, DC.   [...]

Detroit Twits, 10/23/11

@TEDxMusic Music Lives Forever
Arts Journal | Detroit Symphony Offers $20 Tickets To City Residents http://bit.ly/oepsZF | #arts #read

@SilviaRdz Miss S
Working with Diego Rivera: Reflections by Rina Lazo and Arturo Garcia Bustos the Detroit Institute of Arts http://shar.es/bvavv

@DutchArtEvents Robert Kloos
Now on view: Corine Vermeulen in group exhibition at Detroit Institute of Arts http://fb.me/WWh2ZAHV

@wxyzdetroit WXYZ Detroit
A local [...]

The Science and the Art of Healing

Not terribly long after I opened Art Effect Gallery, I was approached by an interior design professional, Phyllis Canvasser, who was working on an interior design build-out for a new medical office in Novi, Michigan.  Phyllis wanted to select original works of art by emerging local artists for the 10,000 sq. ft. space. 
A collector of [...]

Visions: Tim Hetherington — Inaugural Exhibit at Bronx Documentary Center

Visions: Tim Hetherington, on View at the Bronx Documentary Center
On occasion, we will announce cultural events that take place in other art destinations, and we will interview experts and cultural role models outside of Michigan. We believe it is important for Detroiters to be inspired from what’s going on globally, so that they can in [...]

The life of an Art Therapy Project

And to finish this week’s focus on art therapy, I thought it would be useful to look at an art therapy project and its imagery.  I started a daily visual journal in 2005 to record my feelings about events happening in my life. I was in graduate school for education, working towards my masters in art [...]

Art Therapist Spotlight: Kelly Darke

Kelly Darke is an artist and art therapist.  She recently completed a masters degree in Art Education for Art Therapy as well as receiving a K-12 art education certificate at Wayne State. She works as an art therapist with individuals who have suffered traumatic head injuries, and she works as a professional artist and combines [...]

For Planning Purposes — Here’s what to expect

Here is our planning schedule through next August. This (of course) is subject to change, but we thought we would share it with you to get your in-put. Let us know (email Colin at colindarke@thedetroiter.com or post in the comments below) if you have any ideas for the weekly themes noted below.
October
 10/3 Detroit’s Galleries
 [...]

Textile Techniques as Art Therapy

Art therapy takes various forms and art therapists use various techniques. One technique that I found particularly useful is art therapy through knitting. The following is an in-depth analysis of this particular technique.
To begin with, adolescence is a time of great change for kids as they experience puberty, which could last between one and [...]

Hanging with Diego Rivera

What would you give to talk to Diego Rivera?  To ask him about the  Detroit Industry mural?  What would you give to talk to Frida Kahlo?  To ask her about her self-portraits?  To ask her about her relationship with Diego?
Well, that’s not going to happen.  But the Detroit Institute of Arts provides the next best thing tomorrow, Wednesday October 19, [...]