On the Dot
We were tickled pink to get an invitation to a private preview for Tyree Guyton's Inner State Gallery show on Thursday, the first solo show by the artist in Detroit in five years. The show featured Guyton's paintings on car hoods, warped and corroded from the recent arsons that have plagued his Heidelberg Project. It created an interesting canvas for Guyton's work, resulting in a strange artistic collaboration between Guyton and his pyromaniac enemies. Though Thursday night's crowd was a small group of Guyton's friends, family, and collectors, we could see plenty of little red dots on the wall next to his paintings, indicating sales. Speaking of dots, the man of the hour himself sported a bow tie with one of his signature polka dots painted on it — a gift, he told us, from Cyberoptix TieLab's Bethany Shorb. On Friday's official public opening reception, Guyton drew a full house. Congratulations!
A Strange and Exciting Affair
The Greatest Masquerade on Earth happened in Detroit over the weekend: Theatre Bizarre, the annual Halloween masquerade party at the Masonic Temple. The two-night, sold-out roster featured over 80 musical acts, fire performers, acrobats, and burlesque artists. Friday night was the Illusionists' Ball Preview Gala, a strictly enforced formal masquerade charity event with only 500 tickets sold. It featured the best of Theatre Bizarre's entertainment, along with a strolling dinner, open bar, fancy desserts, and endless Halloween candy. On Saturday, over 4,000 folks ventured out to Masonic dressed in their best and creepiest Halloween attire. Folks went over-the-top in creating the most unique, one-of-a-kind costumes. Costume trends this year were carnival-inspired, full face or body makeup, and masquerade themes. Attendees wandered and got lost on eight floors of the Masonic Temple. There, the Halloween decor was top notch also, with elaborate spreads of jack-o-lanterns, burning tapered candles, and endless candy corn. In the crowd, we spotted Nicole Rupersburg, Sagen Isham, Stephanie O'Connor, Robyn Barnsdale, Mike Moore, and Jason Hall. Every year this event grows into something more spectacular than before. If you're a lover of Halloween or the Carnival, this is one Detroit tradition not to miss next year.
Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean
Henry Rollins brought his spoken word tour to the Royal Oak Music Theatre last weekend, breaking from his usual appearances in Ann Arbor and Detroit proper. Not having lost a step, Rollins is still the king of intensity and hilariously positive global commentary. Delivering non-stop (we're not entirely sure he even took a breath the entire performance), rapid-fire storytelling in a manner that only he can, the crowd was left captivated, per usual. In fact, there wasn't even a heckle or noticeable cellphone glow from the usual douchebags hell-bent on recording everything everywhere always. Two hours of no-holds-barred opining and narrating — everything from his early days in Black Flag to his role in 1998's Jack Frost and various trips around the globe — treated the audience to a fantastic set of tales unheard until now. As usual, thanks for the laughs, Hank.
Willie Horton Day
The Navin Field Grounds Crew, along with ballplayers from Romulus High School and the Detroit Men's Senior Baseball League, celebrated the 11th annual Willie Horton Day Saturday at Navin Field, site of old Tiger Stadium. Horton, a Detroit native who hit 325 career home runs, helped lead the Tigers to victory in the 1968 World Series.
