An Art Battle in Detroit.

Thanks to Andrew Davis I was able to participate in an “Art Battle” at the Russell Industrial Complex in Detroit this past Saturday. I must admit that I didn’t know what to expect because on my drive into work each day, the Russell is off to one side of the freeway, and looks like a foreboding burnout hulk of a factory (very Fight Clubesque…). An intimidating place, but a real cool space that has a lot of great studio space for artists and events like this. It was a unique Detroit experience going there, and I am happy to have had the chance to experience it. It is exciting for me being that I am relatively new to this area, and it is encouraging to see a good turnout at an event in a city that gets a bum rap.

There were 25 different artists painting, sculpting, and doing all kinds of crazy stuff all the while a DJ mixed it up. People paid 10 bucks to attend, and voted on whatever artist appealed to them. I was a bit nervous at first with people walking by, looking at what I was doing, but I soon got into my painting and was able to relax somewhat. It was a great excuse to get started on a body of work that I have been procrastinating for sometime now. I didn’t quite finish my piece, but got about ¾ the way done by the time it was all over.

I met a lot of cool people, and got somewhat buzzed off of their energy as well as the fumes (spray paint, cigarette smoke, and possibly pot...) from the graffiti artists next to where I was painting.

Most of all I really enjoyed seeing my current and former students there as well.

Thanks again, Andrew and Vince for putting it together. Thanks Dave for going with me into “battle”. Let’s all do it again sometime soon.