"X" Marks the Spot: Art X Detroit, a First-ever Arts Experience, Arrives in Midtown Detroit, April 6-10

DETROIT, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit is often touted as one of the most creative cities in the world. Now, thanks to The Kresge Foundation, residents and visitors will experience an explosion of creativity with Art X Detroit, a first-ever, free, five-day arts experience taking place throughout Midtown, April 6-10. Internationally acclaimed artists such as Charles McGee and Marcus Belgrave will unveil new work and performances and art enthusiasts will discover some of Detroit's most talented artists.

Art X Detroit will feature new visual, literary and performing arts at 17 different venues over five exciting days created by each of the 38 Kresge Artist Fellows and Kresge Eminent Artists who received awards from The Kresge Foundation between 2008-2010. Since their inception in 2008, the Kresge Eminent Artist Award and Kresge Artist Fellowships have provided over $1 million to individual visual, literary, and performing artists living and working in Michigan's Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

"Through Art X Detroit, we want to showcase this extraordinary cohort of talent, from multi disciplines, crossing multiple generations in multiple forms," said Rip Rapson, President of The Kresge Foundation.

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.

Art X Detroit Highlights:

• Opening night reception at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD): Live performances by Kresge Eminent Artist Marcus Belgrave; Kresge Artist Fellow Joel Peterson in concert with BoxDeserter; exhibition of new works created by the 2009 Kresge Visual Artist Fellows; unveiling of a new installation by Kresge Artist Fellow Gordon Newton. To meet the amazing response for Art X Detroit's Opening Night, the N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art will serve as a second location for the reception. (PLEASE NOTE: Due to an overwhelming positive response, this public event is at capacity.)

Through April 24, the Art X Detroit Exhibition, will be on display at MOCAD showcasing new works created by the 2009 Kresge Visual Artist Fellows: Abigail Anne Newbold, Cedric Tai, Chido Johnson, Corine Vermeulen, Ed Fraga, Gilda Snowden, Gordon Newton, Hartmut Austen, Kristin Beaver, Lynne Avadenka, Michael E. Smith, Rod Klingehofer, Russ Orlando, Senghor Reid, Shiva Ahmadi, Sioux Trujillo and Susan Goethel Campbell.  

• "Spirit Renewal" – A sculpture by Kresge Eminent Artist Charles McGee. Measuring 8' x 22', this newly commissioned 56-piece sculptural configuration will be located in front of the Horace H. Rackham Memorial Building. McGee's work promises to be a highlight of the future Midtown Loop Greenway Public Art Plan and will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 6 at 4:00 p.m.

This sculpture project would not have been possible without the partnership of the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) and the Rackham Engineering Foundation. "The Engineering Society of Detroit is proud to have such a renowned artist display his creation on the front lawn of our home, the Rackham Building," said Darlene Trudell, ESD Executive Vice President. "It is a symbol of ESD's efforts to revitalize the City of Detroit. A big thanks goes out to our Young Engineers Council for their efforts in making this happen."

• "Street Folk" developed by world-renowned Heidelberg Project creator, Tyree Guyton, is a provocative social commentary that addresses the issue of homelessness in an installation that incorporates more than 10,000 pairs of shoes. According to Guyton, "The shoes are a reflection of people, all going in different directions and yet they are all in the streets." Installation unveiling is Thursday, April 7, 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Edmund Street at Woodward Avenue in Detroit.

• "The Rube Goldberg Variations" – Sound art at its best with Composer and Instrument Builder Frank Pahl. Frank Pahl will perform live at the Scarab Club accompanied by guest musicians amidst his kinetic sound installation. Known for his strangely wonderful music compositions performed on MacGyver-like concocted instruments made from erector set parts, vintage suitcases, rotisseries motors, air organs, and computers, Pahl will perform three times during Art X Detroit:  Friday, April 8, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 9, 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, April 10, 1:00 p.m.

• A Book Launch Party with Lynn Crawford and Steve Hughes at Leopold's Books. Art X Detroit's only novelist, Lynn Crawford, will read from her latest novel, Simply Separate People, Two, just published by Brooklyn Rail/Black Square Editions.  Steve Hughes will read from Stupor: A Treasury of True Stories, a new collection of 14 issues from years 2008-2010 of his zine Stupor specially bound for Art X Detroit.  This evening of prose is scheduled for Saturday, April 9 – Crawford reads at 7:00 p.m. and is followed by Hughes at 8:00 p.m.  
• Rick Robinson and CutTime Simfonica bring a Concert of Peace with classical music in a new way, Homeward Journey: CutTime Simfonica. Original works by composer/bassist Rick Robinson, are performed by CutTime Simfonica, with appearances by hip hop dancer Haleem "Stringz" Ar-Rasheed and Flamenco choreographer Valeria Montes.  This musical performance features several works by Rick Robinson that are virtuosic, powerful, playful and funky as played by six string players from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The performance is on Saturday, April 9, 5:30 p.m.- 6:45 p.m., Detroit Institute of Art – Lecture Hall.

• Susan Goethel Campbell, joined by a Meteorologist, Dave Kook, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will discuss her art project, Cloudspotting Detroit, which focuses on the city's unique atmosphere. Seasonal videotaped segments will be screened and copies of the Cloudspotting Detroit guide will be distributed. This panel discussion is scheduled on Saturday, April 9 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Detroit Science Center – Toyota Engineering Theater.

• Composer and improvisational musician A. Spencer Barefield presents "Super String Symphonica: Quantum, Quasar, Music and the Cosmos," a series of original compositions for Chamber Jazz Ensemble featuring eight string players and percussion. This incredible musical performance will take place on Thursday, April 7 from 8:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Detroit.

• Artist Lynne Avadenka has created two separate, but conceptually connected pieces – a wall drawing and an accordion screen piece – as part of her installation, "Goes and Comes." Avadenka's work is inspired by both the philosophical and physical presence of the book, and her Art X pieces are made from a combination of traditional, obsolete and contemporary print techniques. The wall drawing expands the idea of the page, while the accordion screens are book structure expanded into sculpture. Avadenka is conducting a Book Arts workshop on Saturday, April 9 from 1 to 4 p.m., Wayne State University Art Building, Room #354. For more information, please contact 313.420.6000.

For a complete Art X Detroit schedule visit www.ArtXDetroit.com.  Visit Art X on Facebook for updates and artist video presentations. Art X Detroit programs are available at most participating venues in Midtown, various restaurants and hotspots like Avalon and Bureau of Urban Living. For more information on the Kresge Arts in Detroit program, visit: kresge.collegeforcreativestudies.edu

Editor's Note: Please note the following schedule update for Saturday, April 9. The Art X Detroit event schedule is available at www.ArtXDetroit.com.

SOURCE Art X Detroit