Art X Detroit Weekend

Every year the College for Creative Studies (CCS) and the Kresge Foundation hold an event to feature the winners of the previous year’s Kresge awards. This year's Art X Detroit weekend features all 38 Fellows who won over 2 million dollars last year when the honors were given out. Each of these artists has had a year and a little money to expand their knowledge and abilities and they will presenting their latest work to all of us during showcases in and around the Cass Corridor April 10-14th.

The event kicks off on April 10th with an opening night reception at the MOCAD that will feature hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The exhibits at the MOCAD will open at 5:30 p.m. and will run throughout April. The first feature starts at 7 p.m. on the 10th.

There will be over 70 artists featured at over 50 showcases spanning 5 days. Some of the highlights of the weekend include Fireloom and Junecast at The DIA Lecture hall on April 12th at 8 p.m.; the Passalacqua Experience Part one and two Saturday, April 13th at The Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre at 7 p.m.; Bahamut on Saturday in the parking lot of The Scarab Club at 9 p.m.; Passalacqua will be doing a T-Shirt workshop on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Michigan Science Center; and Terry Peake will have his newest piano piece played by Robert Conway at WSU in Old Main’s Schaver Music Recital Hall. For a full list of artist and features, click here.

Art X Detroit features 15 venues including CCS, The Detroit Public Library, The Detroit Orchestra Hall, The DIA and Wayne State. For a full list of venues including addresses and directions, please go here.

You can also go here for a full list of last years winners.

~S

Drinks X Design is Teaming up With Art X Detroit for April

This month Drinks X Design is teaming up with Art X Detroit for an event to bring together like-minded individuals for some networking and drinks. This month's event is sponsored by PBR and is being held at the MOCAD located at 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit.

From 5:30- 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, you can socialize and watch other artists, including a lecture by Cezanne Charles called "Beyond Borders" and a literary performance by Butterflies, Roti, Tornadoes Oh My. This monthly event is always held somewhere near the Cass Corridor and brings artists of all art forms together.

You can RSVP on the Facebook event page here, and all ages are welcome. This event is on a first come first served basis so make sure that you get there early. Remember to check back every month to find out where the artists will be drinking and socializing that month.

~S

Drinks X Design: Woodbridge Pub Edition

Drinks by Design are celebrating their two year anniversary by throwing a party at Woodbridge Pub on February 14, 2013. Drinks by design is a monthly open studio that uses different spaces around the city as a place for locals to meet up and introduce themselves to others in the creative, design and art community. These events take place the second Thursday of the month and always feature different places, people and ideas. 

This month they will celebrate the creation of the Woodbridge Community Garden and The Shack, which will soon become the new home of Detroit Bike City. Weather permitting, the owner of Woodbridge Pub, Jim Geary, will take attendees on a tour of the new space and will give out details about the changes to come in the next few months. 

This event is sponsored by Soco Black Cherry and they will be giving out a limited amount of free drinks on a first come, first served basis. Street parking will be available and RSVP is encouraged. Please RSVP here. 

~S

After 32 Years, a Popular Detroit Publication Shakes it up!

Today, when you go to grab your weekly Metro Times, you might be a little surprised by something. After 32 years the publication has undergone a transformation with the help of Skidmore Studio, the same studio that brings you Free Art Friday Detroit every week. Take a sneak peek at the new cover:

The months long process involved designers from both Skidmore Studio and Metro Times. After taking an analytical look at the functionality and user experience, they pushed the design of the publication away from a traditional format into a more magazine-style layout. The team redesigned the cover, masthead, section headers, article layouts, ad specs and much more. 

The new design will be on display starting today and is available at over 1,600 locations around metro Detroit. 

To really commemorate this transformation, there will be a celebration at the Drinks x Design Party on Friday, October 19. The party will be the season closer for Drinks x Design and is at the Madison Building in Detroit from 5:30- 8 p.m. 

Drinks x Design is a monthly open studio brought to you by Detroit Creative Corridor Center, Metro Times and Quicken Loans. The intent of the event is to build new relationships that could lead to employment and that prove Detroit to be a center for design and creative innovation.

So, go on. Check it out! I know the geeky graphic designer in me can't wait to see the new layout!

~B