Hey, Detroiters! Welcome back to Culture Canvas!
City Walls continues to invite artists to create murals across Detroit and it has a new initiative — a mentorship program.
Last month, City Walls revealed the participants selected for its inaugural Detroit Artists Apprentice Program (DAAP). Hosted in collaboration with SpaceLab Detroit, the program connects experienced artists with emerging ones to offer mentorship and collaboration on public artworks across the city.
Six local artists were chosen to be mentors, including painter, muralist, and gallery owner Fel’le; graphic designer Zach Yarrington; painter, and muralist Ijania Cortez; muralist and installation artist Nicole Macdonald; fine artist and muralist Richard Wilson; and graffiti artist and muralist Marcus “Grabster” Borges. Each mentor and mentee will receive $10,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding, according to a news release.
“These artists are representing all types of disciplines and styles in the arts and are sure to produce many masterpieces all across the city for people to enjoy,” Zak Meers, City of Detroit Blight Remediation Lead, said in the news release. “We are beyond excited to embark on what is our first program to paint murals on interior city walls and very much are looking forward to connecting the artists with the public to help strengthen the threads of our shared urban fabric.”
Mentees will paint small interior murals individually and as a cohort. The idea is that the experience of creating smaller murals will help emerging artists build the skills needed to paint larger and more complex murals in the future, according to the city.
I will keep an eye out on the artwork that comes out of DAAP and hopefully, I will be able to interview a mentor and emerging artist in the program soon!
As always, have a great week!
Cheers,
Micah
313 Scene
- Nushrat Rahman writes about the anticipated closure of Pages Bookshop in North Rosedale Park. Owner Susan Murphy announced in an email that she’s retiring at the end of the month, and so is 10-year-old Pip, the bookstore’s resident cat.
- Rapper Flo Rida performed Friday at the Detroit Auto Show’s Charity Preview gala at Huntington Place, with the concert featuring hordes of fans dancing onstage, tequila shots doled out to attendees in the front row, and champagne sprayed into the audience. The lively performance also featured onstage appearances by rapper Flavor Flav, Richard Wershe Jr., also known as White Boy Rick, and former Detroit City Council member Monica Conyers. (Detroit Free Press)
- Nate Burleson, who played as a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions from 2010-2013, is the new host of the latest revival of game show “Hollywood Squares” on CBS. The Thursday premiere at 8 p.m. will include two episodes. Guest stars will include Tyra Banks, Tiffany Haddish, Tichina Arnold, Drew Carey, Pete Holmes, and Chelsea Peretti. (Detroit Free Press)
What’s Going on in the D?
- Discover wines crafted by Black winemakers across the United States at a wine-tasting event at 6 p.m. Wednesday at new speakeasy Miss Eva’s Detroit. The event is hosted by The Black Sip, a Detroit-based company that promotes Black-owned wine brands as well as representation in the industry. Three Detroit winemakers will be on site for the tasting as well as a panel discussion on the state of Black winemaking in the US. Tickets are $25 on Eventbrite.
- Moondog Cafe returns with the second installment of its Reel Detroit film series at 8 p.m. Thursday with a screening of the 2012 film “Detroit Unleaded.” Directed by Detroit filmmaker Rola Nashef, the movie follows Sami, who runs his immigrant family’s gas station with his cousin Mike. Afterward, curator Emmy Perryman will lead a brief Q&A with Nashef to discuss the story and production. The event is free, but Moondog is encouraging a $10 suggested donation.
- R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn is performing at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Sound Board inside MotorCity Casino Hotel. Attendees can expect to hear hits like, “Guess Who Loves You More,” “Customer,” and “Let’s Fall in Love.” Tickets begin at $45.
- Famous jazz club Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is hosting a “Havana Nights in Motown” event at 8:30 p.m. Saturday featuring Detroit group LL7 Latin Jazz. Cover is $20 and reservations are recommended.
