Photo from Cycle 6 by Joe Gall/Red Bull Content Pool.
By: Ayana Bryant-Weekes
The Red Bull House of Art, a multidisciplinary and collaborative art project, relieves the stress of financial limitation or lack of tools and space so budding artists can manifest their creative dreams right here in Detroit. Six artists are selected for a three-month residency where they are provided individual studio space and materials, allowing their artistic concepts to flow freely. At the end of each residency is an unveiling and public display at the Red Bull House of Art Gallery. As show curator Matt Eaton told us in a 2013 interview, “The selection process for the current crop of artists was just the same as every round. The goal is not to find the hippest, coolest artists (though I think they are all very cool), but to find the people who may not typically have a voice.”
This year, for the first time, Red Bull House of Art will showcase more than just Detroit artists. National artists from across the country in a special artist-in-residency program will have the opportunity to showcase their work to a much broader audience, and bring a national art stage to the Motor City. Since opening, 54 Detroit-based artists have been given the tools to create by their own means. Red Bull House of Art has become a mainstay in the growth of Detroit's creative community, as well as the producers of a highly anticipated seasonal event receiving rave reviews from local media outlets.
At the Cycle7 preview last night, Clickondetroit.com noted, “the House has been busy undergoing changes for the first opening of the year,” speaking of the program’s shift from housing eight artists at a time, to six. “Now, the remaining two desks on the first floor of the two-floor gallery and workspace will feature one desk for Red Bull House of Art alumni. Any of the previous 48 artists will now be offered a space to come and work, free of charge, when they need to continue to innovate on their previous experiences.”
The six artists being featured tonight (Paula Zammit with figurative painting, Nick Jackson with house and spray paint on wood panels, Katherine Craig with mixed media, Lamar Landers with wood, resin and acrylics, Bethany Shorb with industrial polymer paint on aluminum and wood and Zak Meers with multidimensional installation) are sure to continue in the astonishing creativity of previous shows. This is Red Bull’s third year in the Eastern Market location and as an added bonus there will be a bike valet provided by Detroit Bike City starting at 7 p.m. Music for the night will be provided by local artists Erika and Keith Kemp.
The Red Bull House of Art Gallery is located at 1551 Winder Street, Detroit Mi, 48207. Regular viewings after tonight’s showcase will be every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Check out 32 photos from the Cycle 6 Red Bull House of Art Opening here.
