In terms of the arts, Detroit is truly experiencing a renaissance period. Along with the world-renowned collections and exhibits of the Detroit Institute of Arts, African American artists expressing themselves using a variety of media are on the rise. Rolling out asked Detroiters about the Motor City’s art scene. –roz edward
Public Health Nurse
I think the city of Detroit is very unique in that we do have a lot of creative people here in all forms of the arts. [Paintings] just happen to be one of them. One facet that I am really interested in is dance. Detroit has a wonderful mix of different art forms, but I particularly love the Detroit Institute of the Arts. I have introduced my granddaughter to art, and I have some art friends who I hang out with. Every now and then, I dabble in some of the art forms just because they evoke so much emotion.
Kenneth Morris Art Evaluator
… If you know people who are part of the art scene in Detroit, you get to know all of the people that are part of the art scene in Detroit. In certain places, it’s hard to throw a rock around without hitting an artist or an art educator. And, even though it’s a small arts community, it has global links.
M. Saffell Gardner
Visual Artist and Sculptor
My take on Detroit’s art scene is that it is vibrant. It’s one of those things where you have to keep cultivating relationships, as far as galleries and things of that nature. You have to keep supporting them by going to the galleries and the museums around the city to try to bring those [institutions] back and to keep the work going and current.
Tonya Corbitt
Art Collector
I wish it was a little bit more mainstream. To me, you have to be on the right mailing list, and you have to pursue it yourself. I think, if you were in Chicago or New York, [the art scene is] a little bit more pronounced than it is here. I do try to spread the word as much as I can, like I brought someone to the Detroit Institute of the Arts today for the Alain Locke Award. So, we always try to bring somebody along to fine-arts presentations and showings.
Latasha Ellis
Banker
I think the art scene has grown. I grew up in Detroit, and I see far more in the arts downtown and starting to spread out to the suburbs than I did when I was a little girl. I love it. It’s a vibrant scene.
Doris Syfax Rhea
Art Collector
I am a collector of African American art, and I think it is … alive and diverse. Really, New Yorkers are even saying now that, that is the case. It’s been this way for a little while, but I say, for the last 15 to 20 years, it has increased to the point it is now.
Rosalyn Trotter
Risk Manager
The Detroit art scene is continually growing. It’s constantly evolving, and it’s very vibrant.
Carole Harris
Cyber Artist
Detroit has a tremendously vibrant art community, and that covers all genres, meaning everything from music to the visual arts, performing arts and dance. I think it has been a well-kept secret, and we are trying to get the word out into the larger community. A lot of people who are in the broader art community came from Detroit, and their roots are here. Detroit is a good nurturing place, and we are trying to keep more [artists] here in the city. There’s just a tremendous amount of talent.
Karen Brown
Instructional Specialist
I love Detroit’s art scene, I’m just not as active in it as I’d like to be. There is so much going on that I [want] to be a part of, but the arts scene is crazy. it’s thriving in this town. I think it has to be presented a little differently for the [black] community. It’s more than just visiting museums during Black History Month. Anybody who has an interest in anything can appreciate [cultural events] outside of just February.
Marsha Cusic
Writer
The art scene in Detroit … exists sort of under the radar of Detroit mainstream activity, and that’s because [the city] has always been associated with work. It’s a blue-collar town. But, under the surface, there has always been an extremely intense cultural life, and it’s very heavily African American. African Americans are very active in the cultural life in Detroit.
Gail Ross
Customer Service VP
I think the art scene in Detroit is really … huge, and I think it’s so underground that I cannot believe the people who are involved who are art lovers. I cannot believe the number of children who don’t know anything about art. I mean, they may live close to the museum, but never visit it. Art is an intimidating subject for a lot of people, and I think we need to just open the kimono and show all of our goods because there is a lot of good here.
