Hey, Detroiters! Welcome back to Culture Canvas.
I hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season with your loved ones, whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah!
BridgeDetroit is taking a two-week break, so this is my last newsletter for 2024. I want to thank all of the people who’ve subscribed this year, and the readers who have been here since the beginning. I’m proud to provide exclusive interviews with movers and shakers in the city’s arts and culture scene, while keeping people updated on the latest news and activities.
After a busy year, I’m looking forward to some relaxation and spending time with family and friends. When I’m back in January, I’ll focus on something that’s been a goal for me since I started at BridgeDetroit–making Culture Canvas and my overall arts and culture coverage better than ever, and providing more news that Detroiters care about.
But until then, here are some of the important stories that came out of the arts scene this year:
- After 120 years in the city, Pewabic Pottery broadened its commitment to the east side with the purchase of the house behind its studio and store on Jefferson Avenue.
- The Detroit artist community lost one of their own this past January, when poet Kelly “Native Child” Mays was fatally stabbed inside her Westland apartment.
- Comedian and actor Mike Epps opened his comedy club, One Mike Detroit downtown in January.
- Def Sound Studio, founded by Detroiter Jerry Flynn Dale, became the first hip-hop studio in Michigan to become designated as a historical landmark.
- Detroit artist Tiff Massey opened her exhibit, “7 Mile + Livernois” at the Detroit Institute of Arts in May. At 42, Massey is the youngest artist to have an exhibition at the DIA. It’s on display until May 2025.
- Poet, activist, recording artist and filmmaker jessica Care moore was appointed Detroit’s poet laureate in May. She follows in the footsteps of Dudley Randall, who began in 1981, and Naomi Long Madgett, who served from 2001 until her death in 2020.
- A damaged building on the grounds of Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum was demolished in July after the city called it a safety hazard.
- The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce released a survey asking where people would like to see a centralized LGBTQ business district in the city.
- A “Bridgerton” themed ball held in downtown Detroit in September made national headlines after attendees complained that it was a scam.
- Musician Patrick Prouty was appointed as Detroit’s first composer laureate in September. The two-year appointment includes writing music that represents or celebrates the city’s history and outreach to young musicians.
- Ed Vaughn, known for opening the first Black-owned bookstore in Detroit and serving twice in Michigan’s House of Representatives, died Oct. 8 from pancreatic cancer.
- A City Walls mural in Southwest Detroit that was supposed to serve as a memorial for the daughter of artist David Fernandez was accidentally buffed by the city in October. City officials said the artist would get $5,000 to account for the money lost and that work will restart on the mural in the spring.
