The Red Bull energy drink may give you wings but that’s nothing compared to how high the Red Bull House of Art has flown in Detroit in just one short year.
Detroit took another step forward in its goal to become an art Mecca as the Red Bull House of Art celebrated its first anniversary. More than 2,000 people braved the unpredictable Michigan weather to attend the gala in Eastern Market.
Entrance to the Red Bull House of Art. Photo by Nick Hagen.
The Red Bull House of Art launched last year during Movement Electronic Music Festival and has given 32 Detroit-based artists the opportunity to create their works and opened the door for collaborative efforts between the artists in residence. It’s now a pillar in Detroit’s art scene and backed by rave reviews and good word of mouth is fast becoming a “must-see” quarterly event.
“After a year in, we’re more established as a gallery and an institution,” says Matt Eaton, curator of Red Bull House of Art. “We’re using our experience to put lesser known artists on a pedestal and share them with thousands of art patrons and the national art community as a whole.”
The spring grand opening highlighted work done by eight artists in 10 weeks and included figurative oil paintings on canvas, mixed media and even make shift 50′s style ray guns… to excite us sci-fi geeks.
Each artist shown at the Red Bull Art House had reached a new plateau. This was the largest showing for each of them including Kevin Skinner, who had never shown his retro ray-guns publicly before the art house welcomed him. Every artist’s own vision has helped to shape the character, reputation and uniqueness of the establishment.
Also shown at the gallery and well received by the crowds have been:
- Oil paintings by William Harris and Tylonn J. Sawyer
- The captured moments paintings of Lisa Poszywaks
- Kristin Adamcyzk’s surrealistic photo work
- The interactive line-and-color paintings of Lindy Marie Shewbridge
- Cryptic paintings of Gregg Siemasz
- Digital and physical collages of Ellen Rutt
“The public response has been amazing,” says Rutt, who was overwhelmed by the response from her first public showing. “After creating art in such an isolated environment, it’s an incredible experience to have others take interest in my work.”
Inside of the Red Bull House of Art Gallery Space at ArtXDetroit. Photo: Nick Hagen
The Red Bull Art House can be visited every Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. It’s located at 1551 Winder St. in Eastern Market. If one piece especially speaks to you, you can purchase it during gallery hours or by appointment. A new group of Detroit artists will be featured every 10 to 12 weeks over the next two years. Patrons can look forward to two more showings this year, as well as workshops and lectures.
You can follow the Red Bull House of Art on Twitter @redbullDET @redbullHoADET | #houseofart. On Facebook www.facebook.com/redbullhouseofart or on Instagram @redbulldet @redbullhouseofart
Here’s a little background on the Red Bull House of Art. The concept was born in Brazil and provides artists with the foundation, tools and resources needed to create their work without financial or institutional constraints or censorship. The organization says its bedrock principle is “from Baroque to Banksy the art world is always rebuilding from the foundation up.” Check it out.
