Launch

As Detroit stages the greatest comeback of any major city, and I only say that due to its history making bankruptcy, there's plenty to talk about. The artists always show up first. Mostly for the cheap real estate. They come, changing the landscape and setting up the foundation for the rebirth. Then there's those of us who were here the whole time. Weathered those black days after October 2008 and survived. So who are they are what are they up to? Report, but not hard. Keep it light and friendly. Easy to read. Don't take it all so seriously. Discuss cool shit without being uppity or snarky. None of that art speak. I am an artist and don't understand what the hell they're talking about half the time.

To establish my cred to discuss this topic, I'm one of the artists who's been here the whole time. Been a working painter here since 1992. When Wall Street collapsed the economy, we all had to scramble to earn a living. Most of us had paying jobs. I worked with interior designers, some had automotive related work. Gone. Hollywood showed up. I scored a job as a scenic painter on a Brad Anderson film November 2009. I got abnormally good at making things look gross. I mildewed Kumar's bathroom. On the Gerard Butler film, I worked on the biker bar set and faked everything from nicotine stains to rust. I also met some set decorators who needed art for their sets. That resulted in Reel Art Detroit, a company that provided the art they were looking for. It launched right into the big pool. No warm up. No crescendo. First two clients were ABC and Warner Brothers. Holy crap, it worked! Until our state government, in their infinite wisdom, killed the incentives and a much needed second industry that was on the precipice of exploding here. Back to square one.

Which is where I am now. Reinventing myself. Again. Back in the loop with interior designers, I sold a 5x15 foot painting for $11,500 February 2013. First time I'd ever sold a piece for that kind of money. That painting has since been resold and now owned by Roger Penske. Sold several abstracts last year. I've decided to reposition Reel Art Detroit to reach out to local collectors via the interior designers I already have a relationship with. Additionally, I was invited to write an art column for a new magazine, DDEAF, launching tomorrow September 1. This blog is designed to be a companion to my reconfiguration. Report what I see. I'll post more of the visuals on my detroitartjunkie Instagram, if you're interested. I don't hit every opening, there are too many these days, but I'll post what I see and you can follow here or come out and see for yourself.