Ferndale Artists, Galleries Featured in Detroit Gallery Week

Artists and art enthusiasts alike will be drawn to Ferndale galleries during the upcoming Detroit Gallery Week. The event will bring together more than 100 art venues across metro Detroit.

Gallery Week, in correlation with Art Detroit Now, aims to bring attention to the regions vibrant art scene through special exhibits, lectures, openings and tours.

“It's a cooperative effort for awareness of the arts in Detroit,” said Susanne Hilberry Gallery director Hazel Blake.

Darlene Carroll, director of the Lemberg Gallery on Woodward Avenue, is looking forward to the opportunity to attract some new faces. “The mass of events brings a lot of attention to the wealth of art happening in the area,” she said.

The Susanne Hilberry Gallery is looking to build an audience through the event as well. “This year we're putting forth a big effort to coordinate locally,” said Blake. “It's about sharing publicity."

The two galleries are looking to do just that on Wednesday with scheduled programs coordinated to run in sequence. Timing and proximity will allow art patrons to easily hop from one gallery to the next.

The first event, a question and answer session with Detroit artist Corine Vermeulen, is at Susanne Hilberry Gallery at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Vermeulen's photographic exhibition Your Town Tomorrow explores what it means to live in Detroit “in the aftermath of widespread cultural and economic collapse,” she writes in her artist statement.

Afterwards, patrons can head to the Lemberg Gallery for a 7:30 p.m. performance art piece by 2009 Kresge Fellow Russ Orlando. The performance is inspired by the current exhibition at Lemberg by Ferndale artist Ed Fraga, entitled Love Duet. Although Orlando's performance will be featured one night only, his piece and Fraga's exhibit can be viewed through October 29.

Additionally, the Pittman-Puckett Art Gallery inside on Nine Mile will continue to showcase Ferndale photographer and 2011 Kresge Fellow Bruce Giffin for the event. Giffin's current exhibit, The Face of Detroit, is “a story of survival,” according to the artist. It features photographs of Detroit locals who are struggling to survive. “That kind of spirit can save us,” said Giffin of his subjects.

Several other Ferndale galleries, such as and will be involved as well. Detroit Gallery Week runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8. More information can be found at www.artdetroitnow.com.