ArtXDetroit, April 6-10

[Kathleen]

I've been to a number of ArtX events over the 4 days...

There were definitely highs and lows.

The low for me was the MOCAD event yesterday. It was to be a discussion of "Chronicling a City in Change." Well, the discussion that developed was so far off topic that I walked away disappointed and disillusioned. I'm not saying that the comments made by the panel and the audience wasn't accurate, but it wasn't the topic to be discussed. This topic had a lot of potential. Too bad we didn't get to hear or talk about it.

I also have been a bit discouraged about the lack of communication by the ArtX staff at the various events. There were times we could have used some additional information about what was happening, and they had no information or maybe didn't know what they could do.

One the flip side, the Cut-Time Simfonica program led by Rick Robinson, a bass player with the DSO, was briliant!!!! It was a beautiful program of his classical interpretation of modern day music styles, executed wonderfully by some of his DSO colleagues, with some help on one piece by Stringz and his Hardcore Detroit dance colleagues.

The Diego Rivera event in the DIA's Rivera Court was totally SRO. A nice program, but since I was one of those standing and couldn't keep standing, I left after 90 minutes [[60 minutes waiting, 30 minutes into the program). They should have scheduled two performances at least. And worked out the crowd issues. I know when I left about 8:40, there were some disappointed folks being turned away from seeing the 9:30 Flamenco program.

So while the Kresge Arts people have some work to do to make this event work better, it was a valiant and well-intentioned effort.

And now I'll be heading back down there shortly to see Marcus Belgrave [[fingers crossed that we get there earlier enough to get a seat!).

[Kathleen]

Had a wonderful time at this afternoon's Flamenco program at MOCAD and at this evening's closing performance with Marcus Belgrave and TRIBE at the Wright Museum. Both events enjoyed full crowds that seemed to really appreciate the fabulous performances!!!

It was announced that ArtXDetroit will be a biennial event, with the next one scheduled in 2013.

[eno]

I went to a few events related to Art X and enjoyed myself. Went to the DIA on Friday night to see Vicky Chow from the Bang On A Can All Stars play with the New Music Detroit musicians. It was a variety of emotions brought forth by the excellent performances.

Today, a friend and I went to the Scarab Club to see Frank Pahl and his band of musical cohorts improvise in a room lined with Frank's "automatics", motor-operated percussive instruments set to timers, playing his Rube Goldberg Variations. Any opportunity to see Frank is a pleasure as his musical whimsy and talent is a fresh and novel experience. Look for his other musical project, Little Bang Theory, to see music played on toy instruments.

[mauser]

Here is a post about the MOCAD "Ruins Porn" panel discussion.

http://www.detroitfunk.com/?p=5207

Here is the description of the event:

“Chronicling a City in Change” – A discussion on current photography of Detroit’s urban landscape, the community’s national/global image and the potential for a newly framed future. Moderator: Toby Barlow, Chief Creative Officer, Team Detroit Panelists include: Dr. Craig L. Wilkins, Vince Carducci, Sean Doerr, Eric Smith, Bill Gaskins and Jim Griffioen.

Sounded pretty cool so I went. Wasnt very cool - but the original topic is a very valid one, even the skewed "Ruins Porn" version of the discussion is one that could be discussed intelligently. I dont think it was at this event, but I credit the organizers and some of the panelists for trying.

[[there is an audio file of most of the discussion at the bottom of the above post - and I know MOCAD also videoed the whole thing)

[Kathleen]

Thanks, Mauser! Loved your recap and perspective on the "Ruins Porn" discussion. I'm still pretty disappointed that we didn't get to hear discussion of the original topic of documenting the city in change...how it has been done and how it is currently being chronicled through the new and evolving digital technologies...and how it can help us in the future.