Essay'd: 30 Detroit Artists (A Painted Turtle Book)
Essay'd: 30 Detroit Artists highlights the individual contributors to Detroit's thriving and diverse art scene. Stemming from the popular website of the same name, Essay'd seeks to introduce readers to some of the contemporary art practitioners who live and work in Detroit or have participated in the Detroit art scene in an important way. Even those familiar with Detroit and its art ecosystem are sure to find new insight and perspective on artists that have made their careers in Detroit.
Four arts writers within the Detroit art scene-a professor, a gallerist, and two critics-create an ongoing series of short essays that focus briefly and intensely on standout artists. This blending of critical sensibilities and interests provides a unique perspective on a diverse place, offering many points of interest and access to one of the most vital and intriguing art environments in the country. While many artists have helped to grow and shape the local art tableau, the authors selected thirty for this volume, including Signal Return's artistic director Lynne Avadenka; "The Detroit Portrait Series" artist Nicole Macdonald; 2012 DLECTRICITY performers Tzarinas of the Plane; and 2013 Kresge fellow Carl Wilson to name a few. This book is not a systematic attempt to identify the "best" or "most important" Detroit artists, or even to define what those terms mean. The position the essays take to their subjects is not critical but neither is it reverential. The objective is to create a platform for Detroit artists, not a pedestal.
Essay'd is an excellent introduction to the Detroit art landscape, as well as an opportunity to deepen one's knowledge of the Detroit art scene and its players. Art lovers and regional history buffs will not want to miss this collection.
Steve Panton is the founder of 2739 Edwin and 9338 Campau galleries, co-founder of the Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Festival and the Free School of Hamtramck, and the inaugural curator of Art@TheMax. His personal interests are in interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of pedagogy, research, and exhibition making.
Publisher: Wayne State University Press
Published: United States, 1 August 2016
Format: Paperback / softback, 168 pages
Age Range: 15+
Other Information: 248 illustrations
Dimensions: 27.7 x 21.3 x 1.5 centimeters (0.61 kg)
Writer: Dennis Alan Nawrocki, Steve Panton, Matthew Piper, Sarah Rose Sharp
About the AuthorDennis Alan Nawrocki serves as adjunct faculty in the Department of Art and Art History at Wayne State University. Author of Art in Detroit Public Places (Wayne State University Press, 2008) and a freelance critic, Nawrocki has penned reviews for a wide range of publications including Art in America and Sculpture. Steve Panton is the founder of 2739 Edwin and 9338 Campau galleries and co-founder of the Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Festival and the Free School of Hamtramck. His personal interests are in interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of pedagogy, research, and exhibition making. Matthew Piper has been covering the Detroit art scene since 2011, when he served as the inaugural Detroit blogger for KnightArts. His writing and photography have since been featured in Bad at Sports, Detroit Research, Infinite Mile, and Model D. Sarah Rose Sharp is a Detroit-based writer, activist, photographer, and multimedia artist. She writes about art and culture in Detroit for Art in America, Hyperallergic, KnightArts, and others. She was named a 2015 Kresge Literary Arts Fellow for Arts Criticism.
Reviews"Wayne State University Press has captured the vibrancy of the contemporary art community at this critical moment of Detroit's cultural renaissance in the visual arts. Essay'd speaks to the inspiration, dedication, and creativity of individuals living and working in this great city." -Salvador Salort-Pons, Ph.D., director, president, and CEO of the Detroit Institute of Arts