Hey, Detroiters! Welcome back to Culture Canvas.
“Devotion,” the latest exhibit by Detroit artist Jonathan Harris is on display at the GalleryDAAS on the University of Michigan campus.
The show features about 10 paintings with themes of family, Black love, and politics. Plus, it highlights artwork from the late artist Jon Onye Lockard, a Detroit muralist, painter, and professor who was a founding faculty member of UM’s Department of Afro-American and African Studies.
Harris made a splash in the art scene in 2021 when his painting, “Critical Race Theory” went viral, gaining worldwide attention. The piece, which depicts a white man painting over Black icons Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Harriet Tubman, landed Harris interviews on the MSNBC show “The ReidOut,” and “Roland Martin Unfiltered,” as well as a shout-out from U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and Detroit’s City Council.
The artist said his relationship with UM began in 2022 when he was commissioned for artwork at the African American lounge on campus. Harris has since done multiple projects for UM, like the mural “The Message.”
Harris never met Lockart, who died in 2015, but talked with me about why he decided to feature the artist’s work in “Devotion” as well as his own creations for the show, and what he hopes people take away from the experience. The exhibit runs through Feb. 28.
Editor’s note: This transcript was lightly edited for length and clarity.
BridgeDetroit: You titled the exhibit, “Devotion.” What does the word mean to you?
Harris: It’s like this pre-praise. That’s how it was in church before the actual worship. And that’s how I look at this exhibit — like this is the prelude for whatever I do next.
BridgeDetroit: What are some of the pieces you created for the show?
Harris: I have three pieces that could be considered political and the rest are really about Black family and Black love.
BridgeDetroit: Why did you decide to incorporate pieces from Lockard into the show?
Harris: He was a beloved professor at the school. He’s touched so many people and his work is so dynamic. I ran into a lady and I was telling her about my show and she was like, ‘Oh, Jon Lockard. That was my professor.’ The school thought it would be a good idea for his work and mine to sit alongside each other to tell a story for Black History Month.
BridgeDetroit: What do you hope people who visit the exhibit take from the show?
Harris: I want them to look at the story behind some of the political, social, and economic pieces. A lot of times, Black art, the ones that get big, is something traumatic and I wanted to create something where people aren’t looking at really traumatic images. It’s looking at something that has been crafted well and you’re looking at Black people smiling and in love and hugging just caring for each other.
One of the pieces tells a story of the less fortunate and how they’re part of society legally because they’re human and they’re in America, but they’re not treated like Americans.
We need to have a conversation as to why are there homeless people in America. Why can’t we take care of these people? It seems like it’s only right and only fair. That’s one of the main things that I hope people get out of this show. that is not about Democrat or Republican, it’s about being human. Being human is the most important thing at the end of the day.
As always, have a great week!
Cheers,
Micah
313 Scene
- Thirteen metro Detroit filmmakers recently came together to open The Collective Studios, a film studio in Southfield. The studio will be open to filmmakers shooting a movie or TV show, photographers and videographers, content creators, advertisers, and marketers.
- A four-part series focused on the Great Migration of Black Americans from the South to Detroit and other northern states during the 1900s has launched on PBS. The documentary, “Great Migrations: A People on the Move,” will air Tuesdays through Feb. 18 and can be viewed on detroitpbs.org.
- The owners of Harpos Concert Theatre in Detroit issued a public apology after the venue booked a metal show with ties to neo-Nazis and white supremacists. In a lengthy statement, co-owners Ruzvelt Stevanovski and Krystle Dzajkovska said they were “manipulated” and had no idea that the show was associated with National Socialist black metal (NSBM), which broadly refers to bands that promote fascist and white supremacist ideology. (Detroit Metro Times)
- The Detroit Artists Market is temporarily closed after a burst pipe caused flooding and water damage. The market is urgently trying to raise $35,000 to help cover costs via mightycause.com and seeking a building to serve as a temporary home for its planned 2025 exhibitions. (Detroit Metro Times)
- Detroit gospel star CeCe Winans brought her lifetime Grammy Awards tally to 17 with a pair of wins Sunday. Winans took the statuette for best gospel album with her record “More Than This,” her third triumph in that category as a solo artist. The singer-songwriter also grabbed the win for best contemporary Christian music performance (“That’s My King”). (Detroit Free Press)
- Pop/R&B star The Weeknd is coming to Ford Field May 24 as part of his “After Hours Til Dawn Tour.” The presale on Ticketmaster is from 10 a.m. Wednesday through 9 a.m. Thursday. Tickets for the general public open Friday at 10 a.m.
What’s Going on in the D?
- Hamtramck’s Planet Ant Theatre is kicking off Black History Month with the show, “Birth of a Ho Ass Nation presents: Do the Knowledge” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The production will feature stand-up, sketch comedy, monologues, and a PowerPoint presentation in the style of a TED Talk to educate audiences on the Black experience in America. Comedians Jake Russell, Darrick Ervin II, Cliff DeMarco, Melanie Hearn, and Ryan Brown will perform. The show will also run on Feb. 14-15 and Feb. 21-22. Tickets are $30.
- “Ruby: The Musical” is coming to the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts Friday-Sunday. The play tells the true story of Ruby McCollum as she stands trial after being accused of murdering a white doctor in Florida in 1952. The story, originally shared in 1952 by The Pittsburgh Courier and author Zora Neal Hurston through updates from the trial, shed light on the life of Ruby and became a well-known case nationwide. Tickets begin at $35 on Ticketmaster.
- The Detroit Institute of Arts is hosting a Stepper’s Ball Friday with members of Chicago’s I Love Steppin’ community. Founded in April 2008 by Jeff Clark, I Love Steppin’ is an open community of dancers passionate about Chicago dance style. The ball will include a brief introductory lesson on stepping basics from 6-7 p.m., followed by 90 minutes of dancing to music curated by DJ Rod Edwards. The event is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
- Galerie Camille is hosting an opening reception at 5 p.m. Saturday for its latest exhibit, “Living Frequency.” Honoring the legacy of Black artists in Detroit, the show features works by a diverse group of emerging and mid-career artists, including Joe Cazeno III, Ijania Cortez, Darian ‘Saint’ Greer, Breianna Jackson, and others. The exhibit runs until Feb. 28.
- Comedian Marlon Wayans is bringing his “Wild Child” tour to the Masonic Temple at 6 p.m. Saturday. Wayans is best known for his roles in the “Scary Movie” franchise, “White Chicks,” and the TV show, “The Wayans Bros.” Tickets begin at $59.
