I’ve actually never liked the term “prodigy;” as a definition it is at least partly dismissive of the truly exceptional accomplishments of the prodigies themselves, situating their achievements in the realm of “mere” talent and inclination. To the general public, the prodigy’s exceptional performance might appear to reflect nothing more than unearned talent. Nothing could […]

This past Sunday, Caleb Gentry, the most recent resident in “Depe Space” (Department of Public Engagement) at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (a Knight Arts Grantee) hosted “Puppeterium Playhouse Party,” a hands-on puppet party featuring free puppet-making supplies, performance stages and an unlimited supply of imaginative mirth. Said mirth reflected Gentry’s own artwork — […]

On March 14, at the OmniCorpDetroit hackerspace, Camp Detroit held an informative workshop regarding available stipends for collaborative art projects to be built and displayed at the upcoming Movement Electronic Music Festival, which takes place from May 26 through 28 at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. Movement is an internationally famous and longstanding Detroit festival featuring major […]

Ongoing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (a Knight Arts Grantee) is the site-specific collaboration between two legendary artists, Joshua White and Gary Panter. Although it’s absolutely accurate to call both White and Panter artists, the term feels a bit staid in this context, and in any case isn’t particularly descriptive in terms of […]

Last Saturday, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (a Knight Arts Grantee) hosted “Initiate,” a workshop and discussion around the ways that open-source technology and collaboration can bring about change on local and international levels. The freewheeling event was emceed by Detroit rap sensation and community activist Alana “Invincible” Weaver, and featured panel discussions and […]

Only in Detroit could a music club be open twice a week and stay in business, but that’s the beauty of Cafe D’Mongo’s Speakeasy, an enduring and idiosyncratic hub of culture downtown. The club’s owner — Larry Mongo — insists on being open only Friday and Saturday nights, which adds to the peculiar charm of […]

On Thursday night, the Detroit Institute of Art (a Knight Arts grantee) screened “Grown in Detroit” as part of its “Detroit Revealed on Film” exhibit. The film is a close look at the Catherine Ferguson Academy, a public school for pregnant and mothering teens that incorporates hands-on agricultural practice into its curriculum while also providing […]

This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of visiting The Detroit Historical Museum on Underground Railroad Family Day. It was my first time visiting the museum, and I was astounded at how wonderful and vibrant an institution it is. I happily wandered the “Streets of Old Detroit” exhibit, which recreates Detroit street scenes from prior […]

This past Tuesday, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (a Knight Arts grantee) hosted a talk by its current artist-in-residence, Chido Johnson, a 2009 Kresge Fellow who heads the sculpture department at the College for Creative Studies. Johnson spoke about his collaborative art project, “Let’s Talk about Love, Baby,” which is manifest in a “love library.” The […]