Art Detroit Now - Cranbrook Graduate Awards - Art Space II

2008 Cranbrook M.F.A. Graduate Awards Presentation and Exhibition:
Thank you Greg Wittkop, Cranbrook Art Museum Director and the Academy for allowing MOTORCITYBLOG to attend the award show and photograph the awards and exhibition.

The Cranbrook Academy of Art has long been revered as progenitor of globally recognized artists, designers, and architects. Ten artists-in-residence mentor 15 students each in a M.F.A program that is uniquely self-directed. Monumental discipline, intellectual effort, and technical skill is required to complete the 2-year program. US News & World Report ranked it as the 4th best M.F.A. program out of 220 in the US. So, if you want to get your finger on the pulse of creme de la creme contemporary art, definitely check out the exhibition at the museum.
It's located at: 39221 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

--Photography and commentary by Sue Antosh




Art Space II, Birmingham:
Gallery manager, Colleen Houlihan was kind enough to share that while the gallery has been in business for 24 years, it is still an uphill battle to promote the incredible offerings of art and artists in Detroit. She attributes this to our huge geographic expanse and modern diversions like computers and video games.

"Art Detroit Now is such a great way for people to experience real art and get outside the home and enjoy something truly interactive." The gallery supports and promotes Cass Corridor and local artists, does a lot of secondary market business (reselling fine art--Chagall, Picasso, Miro, et. al.), as well as consulting with corporations. The gallery is currently highlighting the work of one of the first American Modernists, Edgar Louis Yaeger, who was born in Detroit. Yaeger's style is, "a combination of Cubist structuring and American Scene representation with pleasing color harmonies and stylized patterns well suited for public murals." The oil on canvas painting, "Dove," is a great example of this (see the detail photo in the slide show). The muted, warm, earthy palette and 2D forms truly communicate a sense of peace on earth when you are viewing it in person.

--Photography and commentary by Sue Antosh