Peeling back the paint chips, exposing every negative, and checking the hem of each leg, I ventured to uncover some of the most exciting artists younger than 30 (OK, one of them is 30) buzzing about the eyes and ears of Detroit's creative core — the collage of often-quirky tastemakers who step between kempt galleries and moldy basements of the local arts landscape. It was nearly impossible to trim the list to only six artists. As each MBA leaves for bigger buildings and longer unemployment lines in cities with rapid transit and stagnant underground energy, Detroit's creative community continues to weave itself into a near-incestuous juggernaut. Josh Band turns photography on its head, Angela McBride takes forgotten fabrics and whips them into hip, Kill Taupe investigates pop art power, Mario Moore shows us his impression of the world through paint strokes, while Audrey Pongracz offers a lowbrow fantasy land to get lost in. A three-headed monster of screen-printing, graphic-designing dudes called The Silent Giants rounds out the list. Dig in.
Angela McBride
Peace, love and ... spandex
Audrey Pongracz
Blood (and the Easter Bunny) on the canvas
Josh Band
An eye for an eye
Kill Taup
Making the pop pop from the dreary burbs
Mario Moore
Young, confident and kickin' it new school
The Silent Giants
The three-headed beast to stomp the earth
