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Revok and Flying Fortress created

a welcome sign at one of the
entrances to Hamtramck.

Book explores the contemporary artists
who find inspiration in the Motor City.

I

Suzanne Chessler

Contributing Writer

G

raphics designer and Detroit
native Julie Pincus has developed
the book Canvas Detroit (Painted
Turtle/Wayne State University Press) to
showcase and describe the artistic initiatives
transforming a place long labeled as a city of
economic and physical decline.
The book features full-color photography
to capture the current art scene on view in
both public and hidden spaces — all being
transformed by art. Narrative by Nichole
Christian delves into the art itself and the
artists behind the works.
"What makes me happiest about the book
is that it covers a wide range of artists, and
we wanted to be as inclusive as possible
Pincus explains in a phone conversation
from New York, her home since 2007.
"It could have been just a picture book,
but we got Nichole to do the writing, and
the artists opened up to her. The pictures
and stories work hand-in-hand. I think the
pictures bring people in, and the stories keep

Julie Pincus

Nichole
Christian

Canvas Detroit combines full-color

photography of the city's much-
buzzed-about art scene with narrative
that explores the art and artists that
are re-creating Detroit.

them there
Hundreds of pieces of artwork span many
forms, including large-scale and small-scale
murals, sculptures, portraits, light projec-
tions, wearables and installations. Images
show locales from buildings to alleyways.
"The premise of the book had to do with
artists using Detroit as their canvas:' Pincus
says. "They're using a lot of found objects in
some cases, and they're using the buildings
themselves:'
Tyree Guyton is among those represented
by works incorporating found objects.
Graem Whyte and Faina Lerman of Detroit-
based Popps Packing transformed an empty
portion of a park into an undulating grass
sculpture. Matthew Easton co-founded the
Detroit Beautification Project, inviting artists
from around the globe to spread colorful and
sometimes playful murals across the city.
Some works are impermanent. New York
artist Judith Hoffman, for example, used
4,000 pieces of sewn-together royal-blue
paper to cover a former used-car sales
office, which she planned to be destroyed
by the elements.
The idea for the book came after Pincus
met with the Wayne State University Press
to suggest an idea for capturing graphics
on walls. When she was told that had been
done, conversation led to Canvas Detroit.
"In the five years I was working on the
book, it mushroomed into what it is now,"
she explains. "I had identified many artists,
45 or 50, from driving around and doing
research. I tracked them down and explained
that they would be contacted by a writer.
"In a couple of cases, Nichole suggested
people. There are some artists who did not
make it into the book, and I regret not know-
ing them earlier:'
Pincus, the daughter of Lois Pincus Cohn
of Artspace II in Birmingham and the late
Max Pincus, attended Temple Beth El as a
youngster. She earned a bachelor's degree
from the University of Michigan and particu-
larly enjoyed graphics-design studies.
After working as a junior graphics design-
er for Ford and Earl Associates, she did free-
lance work in San Francisco and went on to
earn a master's degree in graphics design at
Yale University.
"I worked all over the place — in Chicago,
Minneapolis and New York — as a freelanc-
er," she says. "I ended up moving home and
living there until my husband's work took us
to New York:'
Pincus, 53, is married to Hugh Broder,

Above: Garfield Lofts Projection —
ToBe Detroit by NBNY: Local arts

supporter Marc Schwartz led the
way for Delectricity, an after-dark
exhibition of art and light.

1 4

Detroit Daydream, a found-object

1

Monica Canilao's constantly evolving

installation hanging on Belle Isle and
created by Halima and Kai Cassells

Treasure Nest is festooned with
paintings and numerous found-object
sculptural elements.

who has a broadcast production facility.
She has three stepchildren.
Retaining other work in Michigan as
she completed the book, Pincus lists the
Kresge Foundation and the McGregor
Fund among her clients. She also created
A Passion for Glass, about the collection
donated to the Detroit Institute of Arts by
Aviva and Jack Robinson.
"I did a lot of the photography for the
book but didn't identify the photos I took
because my name would have been all
over the place' Pincus says. "Photography
has been part of all my studies.
"The other photographers were really
important to this project because so much
of the art is gone. I had to find people who
had recorded it:'
Because of contractual obligations,
Pincus had to raise money for the book.
The two biggest gifts were from Avern
Cohn, her stepfather, and the Mandell L.
and Madeleine H. Berman Foundation.
"I wanted to record a really interesting
time in Detroit, where I believe there is a
sea change, and I don't think we'll ever go
back:' Pincus says.

Talking Fence and Illuminated Garage, a
gathering place in the Brightmoor area
of Detroit, were the inspiration of Gina
Reichert and Mitch Cope of Design 99, a
community-based architecture/art studio.

"Detroit is attracting young, educated
people devoted to art as well as dabblers
in art. I think everyone is going to benefit
from all this so the book is very positive:'

❑

Julie Pincus and Nichole Christian
appear at Book Beat in Oak Park
at 3-4 p.m. Sunday, June 22. Free.
(248) 968-1190; thebookbeat.com .

JN

June 5 • 2014

43

