Art-inspired activities dominate the weekend

Local weather forecasters are calling for record temperatures this weekend, but I'm sure that won't stop thousands of metro Detroiters from getting outside and enjoying some of the cool activities that will take place in the D this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

First up is the 22nd annual Detroit Festival of the Arts, the Motor City's free premier arts and entertainment extravaganza featuring world-renowned artists and performers. Located in the D's Midtown area, this annual outdoor fete will feature more than 100 international, regional and local artists, 10 stages with more than 100 performances, and an Arts and Crafts market. Organized by the UCCA and Wayne State University, the Detroit Festival of the Arts runs from June 6 - 8. Click here for a complete schedule of performances, directions, hours and more.

After you take in the art in Midtown, head over to Detroit's historic Pewabic Pottery for the organization's House & Garden Benefit Show. Celebrating its 18th year, this event will showcase the works of more than 70 ceramic artists. The annual fundraiser -- which is open to the public and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 -- will also feature exhibitions, museum tours and demonstrations. Pewabic is located at 10125 East Jefferson Avenue.

Also on the agenda this weekend is the Indian Village Historic Home and Garden Tour, which marks its 35th year anniversary on Saturday, June 7. Running from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., the tour will showcase a geenrous handful of IV's glorious homes, including the Dodge and Buhl Mansions, as well as a beautiful Queen Anne at 853 Iroquois and the restored beauty located at 776 Seminole. While you're toruing, be sure to check out the Art Lot, featuring the works of 20 Detroit artists, and the historic neighborhood's Community Garden. Tour tickets are $20 each and are available at Iroquois Avenue Christ Lutheran Church, the Waldorf School on Burns, and Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church.

For more art-inspired events this weekend in Detroit, visit thedetroiter.com's comprehensive and up-to-date arts calendar here.

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MassiV Growth at CAID

Three years ago, the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID) and its half dozen members moved into the art program's first home on Rosa Parks after 25 years of nomadic existence.

Now, just 3 years later, CAID is operating four venues throughout Detroit, and the organization has over 500 members.

Celebrate CAID's continued metamorphosis on May 10th, when the non-profit arts organization kicks off its 2008 exhibition season with shows at all four of its venues: the CAID; the Carriage House Gallery; Ladybug Gallery and Studios; and MassiV, the newest addition to the CAID family of galleries.

Opening Reception festivities are free and open to the public, and start at 6 p.m. on Saturday May 10th. CAID recommends parking at either CAID (5141 Rosa Parks Boulevard in Detroit) or MassiV, inside the Russell Industrial Center (1604 Clay Avenue in Detroit) and taking advantage of the free shuttle service to all four galleries.

Each of the galleries will offer a different perspective of CAID's exhibition and education vision and mission. Opening Night highlights of each gallery include:

CAID Main: the Eco Village Student Design Competition. Part of the city of Detroit's latest green initiative, this exhibition includes cutting edge solutions to vacant land usage courtesy of a faculty-led studio of architecture students from Lawrence Tech, University of Detroit Mercy and University of Michigan, who were charged with designing an eco-village on a five-acre site in Detroit's Woodbridge Neighborhood. Guests at CAID will also have the opportunity to attend the Sonic Lullaby 3.0 festival featuring live musical performances by Auburn Lull, Soundpool, Elika, Indian Guides, Crash City Saints, Sunlight Ascending, and Sey Lui. The performances begin at 9 p.m. Admission is to the music portion is $8, but is free to the exhibition.

Carriage House Gallery: the Harvest Gold Club: COLLECTING, CREATING and CLEARING OUT. A collaborative exhibition featuring the work of Madeleine Barkey, Jeanne Bieri, Teresa Petersen, the Harvest Gold Club depicts artwork within an environment that imitates a typical living room or clubhouse. The artists created the environment using material found on the curbside, including furniture, books, appliances, and knick-knacks. These cast-off items are sometimes antique, sometimes charming and sometimes utilitarian, but always worth more than their curbside appearance would indicate.

Ladybug Gallery and Studios: Curator's Choice exhibit. Featuring the work of more than a dozen artists, this exhibition includes paintings, sculpture, photography and video.

MassiV: Chido Johnson: Domestified angst – first recording. This major solo installation of new work by Chido Johnson -- a Zimbabwe-born artist who serves as the current chair of sculpture at the College for Creative Studies -- explores Johnson's personal state of cultural negotiations between Euro-American and South African cultures.

Can't make it to CAID's 2008 Exhibition Opening Night? No worries -- exhibitions at the four galleries run through August 10, 2008. For more information, please visit CAID on the Web.

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Mod hits Metro Detroit

Art deco lovers rejoice! The Michigan Modernism Exposition is right around the corner -- the big event hits the Southfield Municipal Complex on April 19 and 20 -- and the Detroit Area Art Deco Society (DAADS) is kicking off the weekend with a special preview party on Friday, April 18.

Designed to give deco-junkies first dibs on amazing 20th century antiques and fine arts, the special evening includes a sneak-peak of the expo, along with the display of a '37 Cord Phaeton; a vintage accessory fashion show; a live performance from jazz-band, SG Ensemble; and wine and appetizers. DAADS is also launching its first collectible poster at this year's event. Created by Detroit residents Chris and Lisa Heine, the poster is a graphic of Detroit's well-known and loved skyscraper, the Penobscot.

Tickets to the preview party, which runs from 7 - 10 p.m., are $50 in advance ($65 at the door) and can be purchased online here, or in person at several metro Detroit retailers. Proceeds from the event benefit DAADS scholarship, restoration and preservation programs.

“The preview party is incredible because you can be the first to purchase 20th century antiques and fine arts from merchants that travel to Michigan from the US, Canada and Europe,” said Gary Spondike, DAADS president. “DAADS is thrilled to put on the preview party once again and are so thankful to those who are joining us in making this one of our best openings.”

Not familiar with the Michigan Modernism Exposition? Featuring 20th century antiques and fine art from dealers across the US, Canada and Europe, this annual event embraces a broad selection of mid-century design in furniture, jewelry, clothing, radios, photographs, art, glass, china, silver, clocks, paintings and textiles.

The 2008 Michigan Modernism Exposition runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 20. General admission is $8. Please visit DAADS on the Web for more information.

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idUnited has new Detroit tees!

What's better than a Detroit-inspired t-shirt? A Detroit-inspired t-shirt for a cause. That's the idea behind idUnited's new short-sleeved tees.

Designed by local artists Ric Breeze and AJ, the 100% cotton American Apparel tees come in two styles: Detroit Rose for men and Detroit Evolve for women. Men can snag a tee in black or white. Ladies, your version is available in purple, red, baby blue, or my personal fave, chocolate brown with blue.

The hip tees run $25 each, with 15% of the profits benefitting Detroit's 555 Gallery/Studio, a non-profit organization that aims to enrich and diversify Metro Detroit through art.

idUnited understands the importance of standing out in a crowd, which is why it makes just enough shirts to meet demand (read: no extras will be printed). If you'd like to showcase some new Detroit threads, you have until June 3 to place your order. After that, idUnited will introduce a new product, new designers and a new charity, and the Rose and Evolve tees will be no more. Get yours before it's too late.

Questions on the tees, the artists or idUnited? Click here.

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