The Karmic suport has been leading up to Art X Detroit, a five-day arts experience that takes place April 6 thru April 10, in the city’s Midtown District. The event features 38 Kresge Foundation Artist Fellowship awardees and Kresge Eminent Artists (visual artist Charles McGee, jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, author Bill Harris) who will debut new works, sharing their expressions on canvas, in sculpture, through the written word, music, dance and more in theatres, art galleries, museums and university centers throughout Midtown.
Art X will also include several panel discussions and workshops with Kresge awardees alongside national speakers and local art experts. This free event is produced by the University Cultural Center Association, a nonprofit organization that has spearheaded reinvestment in Midtown through the arts, beautification and economic development.
“Kresge has organized its work in Detroit around the theme of ‘Reimagining Detroit,’” said Kresge Foundation President Rip Rapson. “A significant part of this work focuses on building a healthy and vibrant artistic ecology. That, in turn, pivots in large part on supporting and celebrating local individual artists through the Kresge Eminent Artist Award and the Kresge Artist Fellowships."
Art X will host an opening night reception beginning at 5:00pm on Wednesday, April 6, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD).
The evening will include live performances by Kresge Eminent Artist Belgrave, as well as Kresge Artist Fellow Joel Peterson in concert with BoxDeserter, as well as an exhibition of new works created by the 2009 Kresge Visual Artist Fellows which will be on display through Sunday, April 24. Another highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of a new installation covering the entrance of the museum by Kresge Artist Fellow Gordon Newton.
Leading up to Art X, the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Stephen McGee (no relation to Eminent Artist Charles) has created a series of striking mini movies featuring each artist taking part in the week's events.
Below are a few of our favorites, but be sure to check them all out.
Abigail Anne Newbold from Art X Detroit on Vimeo.
A. Spencer Barefield from Art X Detroit on Vimeo.
Cedric Tai from Art X Detroit on Vimeo.
Valeria Montes from Art X Detroit on Vimeo.
Gilda Snowden from Art X Detroit on Vimeo.
Susan Goethel Campbell from Art X Detroit on Vimeo.
Haleem Ar-Rasheed from Art X Detroit on Vimeo.
