Art and urban renewal

The Free Press's Jeff Gerritt is the latest to herald the power of art and creative enterprises to revitalize the city. The editorial is part of an ongoing series, "Cities Now and Tomorrow," endorsing an aggressive new plan for revitalizing urban areas.

For an example of what art as development might look like on a grand scale, check out Prospect.1 New Orleans, which was recently reviewed by The New Yorker. The biennial has placed major works of contemporary art throughout New Orleans, from museums to vacant lots in the Lower Ninth Ward, encouraging residents and tens of thousands of visitors to crisscross the city and explore its post-Katrina neighborhoods (and spend money along the way).

Great idea alert!

This is a wonderful idea. Why isn't it happening in Detroit, too?

To be clear, we don't need to import artwork. Just look to Tyree Guyton and the Heidelberg Project -- we already have great works of art springing up across the city. But just like New Orleans, we need the give and take. Outsiders bring creativity and energy, and the city in turn acts as a canvas and catalyst, not only for art but also for change.

Public art manifesto

I should have linked to it two weeks ago, but the Metro Times has a must-read article calling for more real, radical public art in Detroit. Jenenne Whitfield, the executive director of the Heidelberg Project, has the best quote:

"Attracting cool to the city — that notion is so tired. I'm so sick of that class of people who need to be massaged to live here. We give far too much credit to those folks. This city has never understood who we are or what we have here. We need to wake up the neighborhoods, shake the city up," says Whitfield."

Detroit fashion

The News reports on the fourth annual Detroit Fashion Week, which began Sunday and runs through Saturday at Asian Village (521 Atwater). The goal is "to bring designers, models, beauty professionals and businesspeople together to create a more cohesive and prosperous atmosphere for Metro Detroit's fashion industry." The official website isn't pretty but it has more information.

City seeks "creative class"

Crain's Detroit discuses a group working to bring more creative types to Detroit. Design Detroit, a group of universities, creative organizations, and economic-development groups, has a $200,000 planning grant from the Knight Foundation to develop strategies to bring 1,000 creative professionals to the city. Enticements may include "instructor positions at area design schools, real opportunities to see their designs come to life and financial stipends of $5,000 to $10,000 in exchange for commitments to live in the city for a set amount of time." The group will hold a public forum on April 8 at the Max M. Fisher Music Center. Stay posted.

Scrummage moving to the East Side

Scrummage University, the bizarre young-hipster hangout, is moving from its current space in Eastern Market to an abandoned toy factory at Van Dyke and Davison on the city's east side. (Hat tip: Web Vomit and Metroblogging Detroit.)

The new location has a few obvious advantages, like 10,000 square feet of space and a parking lot, but it's still a very odd choice. I worked with the community development corporation that operates in that area this summer, and I just don't see Scrummage meshing well with the neighborhood. For one, the new location's across from Mt. Olivet Cemetery (where my grandparents are buried). The cemetery won't appreciate its new neighbors. It's also totally on its own. That strip of Van Dyke is almost totally dead, and there are no other music or arts venues anywhere near. A sudden influx of white, suburban teenage hipsters will surely be noticed. It may have flown under the radar in Eastern Market, but Scrummage will stick out glaringly in its new digs.

But I give them credit for their daring. I've only been to Scrummage once (the intense Dan Deacon show in July), but I'll have to visit the new venue to see what they make of it.

Russell Industrial Center

Model D writes about the quickly growing Russell Industrial Center, an old industrial complex that is now home to dozens of artists and creative small businesses. Model D previously profiled some of the artists who work there.

As I mentioned earlier, the Russel Industrial Center currently tops my list of Detroit sights I've yet to see (besides passing glimpses from I-75). It's a great model of creative entrepreneurship, just like the the 4731/555 galleries on Grand River, which also provide space for artists.

Detroit design

Design*Sponge has a comprehensive guide to Detroit design including the city's best architecture, art galleries, design shops, and restaurants. I'm familiar with most of the list, but there are a few I'd still like to visit, like the Russell Industrial Center.

Hat tip: Model D.

Art museum boom

Despite the state's rapidly shrinking arts budget, the institutional support of art in Michigan continues to grow. Michigan State revealed its architectural plans today for a new contemporary art museum in East Lansing. It looks great. The University of Michigan Museum of Art is also undergoing a major expansion and is set to open in early 2009.

These, of course, join the expanded Detroit Institute of Arts and the still newish Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit down the street on Woodward.