Art X Detroit 2013

This evening, we headed down to MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit) for Art X Detroit.  As described by the MOCAD website, Art X Detroit is otherwise known as the:

Kresge Arts Experience... a free, five-day experience that celebrates Detroit's arts scene, April 10-14, 2013. Throughout more than a dozen venues in the Midtown Detroit district, the public is invited to experience an exciting collection of dance, music and theatrical performances, literary readings, workshops, panel discussions and much more created by the Kresge Eminent Artists and Artist Fellows. A special visual arts exhibition runs through April 28, 2013 at MOCAD. Art X Detroit is funded by The Kresge Foundation. 

This video also gives you a little more insight into what it's really all about as well.

We attended the kick-off event at MOCAD, where we heard the welcome, introductions & remarks by the Kresge Foundation.  It was a packed house as we tried to squeeze our way through this free event to meet up with Tommy and Regina.  In a very Chicago-esque moment, we ran into Scott, Angela, Heather, and even later, Reimer and Natalie.  During the opening remarks, they introduced the Kresge Art Eminent Artists and Artist Fellows, while everybody in attendance was happily mingling, eating, and drinking.

Each fellow apparently receives a $25,000 award from the foundation, pubic recognition, and customized professional practice opportunities.  Every two years, 36 fellowships are awarded for Detroit artists in the following categories: dance/music, film/theater, literary and visual arts.  In addition, annually, one Detroit Eminent Artist receives a $50,000 award in recognition for their longstanding contribution to metropolitan Detroit in the arts.  Tonight's event was all about celebrating and showing off what these artists have been working hard on from 2011-2012.

Upon conclusion of the opening ceremonies, we witnessed the professional Detroit Party Marching Band (a guerrilla band that appears unexpectedly at events throughout the city) lead a group out the door and up the road to the First Congregational Church, where Shara Worden kicked things off with her indie-rock band, The Brightest Diamond.  We joined them a little later after we toured the visual arts exhibition in MOCAD and munched on some of the free hors d'oeuvres.  I think my favorite in the visuals were the photographs by Bruce Griffin in his "Faces of Detroit II", a series of photographs of people he's met in Detroit.  Powerful images.

Later, we returned back to MOCAD to listen to Kris Johnson, a trumpeter, composer and friends with Tommy and Regina, perform some Jazz Classics.  Very talented young man!

This was our first experience in the newly re-dubbed (if that's word) Sugar Hill Detroit, an Arts District in Midtown Detroit.  It's described as a "new, emerging cultural center that celebrates art, the making of art, and the experience of art."  "[Midtown is] trying to resurrect the spirit of the past era and bring a new level of vibrancy and activity within a contemporary context that will create a more viable social and cultural hub."  With MOCAD, the N'Namdi Center of Contemporary Art, and Seva, the vegetarian restaurant we dined at a few weeks ago, this district certainly has promise despite it's naming controversy that Tommy and Regina shared with us.

After the jazz performance, we headed to Cass Cafe for dinner.  It was a very appropriate choice considering this quant restaurant features an art gallery and live music.  I'm always a sucker for their house specialty, a Lentil Burger featuring lentils, walnuts, and Parmesan.  Good times!