Artists reflect multiple sides By K. Michelle Moran GROSSE POINTE CITY — Artists draw inspiration from the world around them, and for metro Detroit artists, that world is a mixture of hope and despair, decay and rebirth. Various views of the city are reflected in the works displayed at the Grosse Pointe Art Center’s third annual “Urban Edge” show. In photos, paintings, drawings, sculpture, mixed media and more, the better than 50 artists chosen for this show by juror Taurus Burns explore the city in all its desolate beauty and glimmers of light. Jeff Cancelosi of Northville received first place for his ink stamp image, “Just to Let You Know” — one of two pieces he has in the show. Cancelosi’s works are made using craft store “statement” stamps — in this case, stamps embossed with “Just to let you know you’re in my thoughts today” and “Remember when.” Using different angles, pressures and amounts of ink, the artist creates remarkable images, often portraits of individuals. The stamp statements reflect our culture, Cancelosi said. In this piece, he was thinking about the Detroit of the past and the Detroit of the future. Cancelosi said he doesn’t do an outline first. The artist used to create detailed drawings — a background evident in his grasp of line, light and shadow. He decided to experiment with ink stamps after seeing his daughter playing with them. “I find it interesting to use materials in different ways. … This is all serendipity,” he said of the gradations. “The great thing about this is, every stamp has its own personality.” Former Detroiter Phil Cierpial of Grosse Pointe Park makes his GPAC debut with his acrylic on canvas, “Pause,” which took third place. Cierpial’s image — of a pheasant ambling between fire hydrants and orange road construction barrels divided by a sawhorse — is equal parts playful and provocative. “It’s essentially like a standoff between two groups, (with) a meaningless barrier between them,” Cierpial said. A temporary “truce” of sorts occurs to allow the pheasant to get through. Cierpial said viewers could see the piece as a metaphor for the tense relationship between Detroit and the suburbs, or as a metaphor for any longstanding conflict. With its centrally located pheasant, the work also reflects Cierpial’s emphasis on the beauty of nature, a common theme in his other work. Another artist making his GPAC debut is Robert Landry of Royal Oak. Landry submitted a small version of his bronze sculpture, “The Joy of Selflessness,” which was selected for this show. Landry’s original, a much larger piece that has been displayed around the country, spent a year on the site of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It may find a permanent home at that site in the future. “It was not done specifically for 9/11, but it’s actually dedicated to humanity, to transcendence, to whole, selfless behavior,” Landry explained. “It’s a monument to the potential that we can actually bring to life.” This is also the first time the GPAC has exhibited the work of Detroit artist Antonio Agee, who goes by the moniker “Shades.” The rising graffiti artist has work at the Detroit Institute of Arts and has been commissioned to create pieces for corporate clients, such as Chrysler, Universal Studios and Scrubbing Bubbles, said GPAC Director Amy DeBrunner — not bad for an artist who started out “tagging” buildings. DeBrunner said the 74 works selected for this show — out of 133 submissions — speak to “a broad diversity of urban images.” DeBrunner said the large crowd at the opening is indicative of interest in the city and the art center. Other artists honored for their works include second-place winner Mara Millich for “Omen II” and honorable-mention winners Jackie Brooks, Tim Burke, Charmaine Kaptur and Kevin Martin. Gallery Shop coordinator Janet Wisner was particularly impressed with Burke’s totem pole, “The PROphit,” which was created using materials from Detroit buildings. “I think it’s fabulous,” Wisner said, “It shows that our juror had a wonderful eye to choose such an incredible statement about the city.” In selecting pieces ranging from the realistic to “the more expressionistic and emotional,” Burns said he wanted to create “a really immersive experience of the city in a gallery setting.” “Urban Edge” will be on display through March 6 at the GPAC, 16900 Kercheval in the Village. Winter hours are noon-6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call (313) 821-1848, visit www.grossepointeartcenter.org or e-mail gpaa@grossepointeartcenter.org. You can reach A & E Editor K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1047. |
