With nearly twenty artists in the exhibit and far fewer days of, well…hospitable weather ahead, we thought Sunday would be a nice day to bring the exhibit outside. In the age of COVID, we wouldn’t dare think of doing an indoor event. At the same time, we wanted to give guests an opportunity to meet the artists, and for all of us to meet each other as well.
Individually packaged refreshments will be served outside. Some of the art will be displayed on the grounds as well. No more than six guests will be invited inside to walk through the exhibit. Masks must be worn at all times and there will be sanitizer and temperature checks at the door.
we all know that Pop-Up is just a fancy word for “last-minute”…but let’s see what happens!
IRWIN HOUSE GALLERY PRESENTS THE “GIFT OF ART”
affordable art exhibit promoting art giving & collecting this holiday season
Opening Black Friday
NOVEMBER 27, 2020 – Starting on Black Friday through the end of the year, Detroit’s Irwin House Gallery is encouraging shoppers to consider giving the gift of art this holiday season. Creating a safe, semi-private art-viewing experience across two floors at its West Grand Blvd. location, the gallery presents The Gift of Art – an affordable Fine Art exhibition featuring local talent from the Detroit Fine Art Breakfast Club (DFABC) and more. All works of art are priced from under $100 to no more than $500. And, while guests can drop in at anytime during business hours, the gallery is taking extra safety precautions by allowing no more than six visitors inside at a time, checking temperatures at the door, and honoring private appointments for those who request it, and offering the full exhibition on-line at irwinhousegallery.org.
The Gift of Art Exhibition is being organized by Artist Jonathan Harris, who led an indoor-outdoor pop-up exhibition at the Irwin House in mid-October. The event was attended by more than three-hundred guests and resulted in a near sell-out for all the artists. On the heels of this highly successful affair, Harris was offered an Artist Residency at the gallery, which encompasses future curated events (including this one) and support with the development of new work, and culminates in a solo exhibition in the Spring of 2021. A dedicated DFABC member, Harris drew from the collective’s extensive talent pool to pull together the core of the Gift of Art exhibition. Featured artists represent a broad range of genres, backgrounds, and themes and include Amanda Koss, Cameron Jenkins, Dawud Shabazz, Donald Calloway, Ellen Doyle, Errin Whitaker, Ese Alexis, Hosanna Kline, Izaiah Ford, Jonathan Harris, Judy Bowman, Kayla Childress, Kelly O’Neill, Kirah Price, Maliek Phillips, Mary Morekas, Melissa Vize, Scott McDuffee, Tawd b. Dorenfeld and Warren Wells.
In the world of high art, galleries across the country saw in-person art sales plummet during the first shutdown, even though on-line art sales soared for many establishments who made the option available. On local levels, however, Irwin House Gallery Director, Misha McGlown, reports noticing an increased interest in art during these uncertain times, noting the healing properties of art and an almost-feverish emphasis on home-making – since many were confined to the home and found that to be the only environment they could control. “People buy art as an investment – not only for financial gain, but as an investment in culture, memories, or careers of artists they believe in. But, people also buy art because it feels good; it is an investment in self-care. We are asking holiday shoppers to give that good feeling to the people they care about this season, or to start or enhance their own art collections here,” she adds. “The myth about collecting art is that you have to have a lot of money to do it, and you have to be knowledgeable about art. Not true. You start where you are (economically) and all you have to know is what feels good in your heart. This exhibition promises something for everyone.”
Starting Black Friday, November 27, 2020, hours of operation are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm and Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Appointments are not required, but encouraged, during these hours. To visit on any other day/time or for a private tour, contact Curator, Jonathan Harris at 313.982.2067 or jonoraymond@gmail.com. All other inquiries, or for more information, please contact the Irwin House Gallery at 313.932.7690 or irwinhousegallery@gmail.com. The exhibitions runs through Sunday, January 3, 2020. Event details can also be accessed on Eventbrite HERE. Irwin House Global Art Center & Gallery, 2351 W. Grand Blvd. (between LaSalle & Linwood), Detroit, MI 48208 | http://irwinhousegallery.org FB + IG: @irwinhousegallery
“Gift of Art” Curator and Artist-in-Residence, Jonathan Harris
Exhibiting artists Amanda Koss, Kirah Price, and Donald Calloway (top to bottom). Event hashtags: #goa #artfortheholidays #buymoreart #supportlocalart
What started out as a one-day, indoor-outdoor pop-up event, sprawled into a two-week art explosion, filled with amazing original art, friends, family, art enthusiasts, community, and happy collectors snatching art right off the walls! Conceptualized by the brilliant and emerging artist, Jonathan Harris, the exhibition featured his art, along with the work of Kayla Childress, Izaiah Ford, and Kenya Raines. Thank you to everyone who came out and shared with us this experience. Special thanks to Jon – whom we are continuing to work with – the artists, and the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club for showing up and showing out. In the words of Henry Harper, “WOWZA!”
There were too many amazing pictures from the event, so we decided to sum it up in a video HERE!
Join us on Saturday, October 17, 2020 for an indoor-outdoor, COVID-safe, pop up Fine Art exhibit hosted by emerging artist, Jonathan Harris. The exhibit features new work by Harris along with three artist friends: Kayla Childress, Kenya Raines, and Izaiah Ford.
Enjoy the promo video, created by Harris & friends, and we hope to see you on Saturday:
Art will be displayed inside and outside, along with the JUSTICE PEACE + LOVE Banner Exhibit.
– No more than six guests will be allowed inside at a time.
– Temperatures will be checked at the door.
– Masks must be worn inside at all times.
Join us at the JUSTICE PEACE + LOVE outdoor art installation on Saturday, September 10th for a voter awareness afternoon, infused with art, music, and tea!
Lend your voice to the conversation, get your questions answered, come for the spirit of community, the spirit of Detroit, and the wonderful protest art garden.*
Jeff Cancelosi’s John Lewis from the JUSTICE PEACE + LOVE outdoor exhibition*Featured Artists: Angel Malaika, Errin Whitaker, Esé Alexis, Jack Rhea, Jeff Cancelosi, jessica Care moore, Kathy Rashid, Kianga Moore & Darian Smith, Jonathan Harris, Marta Carvajal, Michael Horner and youth artists Darrion Stanton, DeVon Stanton, Donovan Espuet, King Thomas Moore, and Kingston Espuet.
The JUSTICE PEACE + LOVE unveiling weekend was everything we’d hoped for and more! The installation has brought color, life, and positive messages to West Grand Boulevard, and community members and commuters are continuing to stop by, enjoy the banners, take pictures, and even make new friends. Recognizing art as a catalyst to bring communities together, Irwin House Gallery has presented this project in partnership with the West Grand Boulevard Collaborative. We imagine this will be an ever-evolving exhibition so, even if you’ve seen it already, visit often and stay tuned….
Thank you to the Detroit Metro Times for listing the event, to the amazing artists, creatives, and young people who made this exhibition, and to everyone who stopped by last weekend to celebrate the installation with us!
On September 26, 2020, Irwin House Global Art Center & Gallery will unveil a 100 ft. outdoor exhibition, in partnership with the West Grand Blvd. Collaborative (WGBC|ARTS). The exhibition features twenty large-format banners mounted along a specially-installed fence across the gallery property – facing the flow of Boulevard traffic between the John C. Lodge and Jeffries freeways. Each banner has been uniquely painted by local creatives, thinkers and/or youth, in response to the exhibition’s title: JUSTICE PEACE + LOVE.
Unable to open its doors and provide regular programming during the pandemic, the Gallery is acting on an overwhelming urge to connect with its community, provide some semblance of healing during these unprecendented times, and create a platform for the voices and visions of the city’s artists to be heard and seen. “We are all screaming inside,” the Gallery Director feels. “This installation gives participating artists an outlet to respond to those issues and questions most deeply resonating in their souls, and to share a measure of beauty and hope with the community. That, in itself, is curative for the creators, and for each of us who experiences their art.”
Individual works have been fueled by recent issues, including COVID-19, police killings, U.S. politics, street violence, global protests, and any number of inequities laid bare over the course of this year. With a focus on a positive way forward, artists have been given free reign to articulate their most urgent social concerns, resulting in an exhibition that reflects a range of Black, cross-cultural, and inter-generational thought. Contributors include Angel Futrell, Errin Whitaker, Esé Alexis, Jack Rhea, Jeff Cancelosi, jessica Care moore, Kathy Rashid, Kianga Moore & Darian Smith, Jonathan Harris, Marta Carvajal, Michael Horner & Tyrone Gardenhire and youth artists Darrion Stanton, DeVon Stanton, Donovan Espuet, King Thomas Moore, and Kingston Espuet. Partners on the project, Irwin House Gallery and WGBC, are both women and minority-led operations committed to improving life for West End Detroit citizens (WEdetroit). This public art installation is the first of its kind for the neighborhood and marks the beginning of many arts initiatives designed to serve, invigorate, and strengthen the community.
JUSTICE PEACE + LOVE will open to the public with a socially-distanced drive or walk-through afternoon, where visitors and commuters are invited to view and engage with the exhibit from 12 pm – dusk on Saturday, September 26, 2020, and to visit the installation everyday thereafter through November 30, 2020. The exhibtion will move indoors, with related programming, from December 6, 2020 – January 20, 2021. The Gallery is open limited hours and by appointment at this time.
The Irwin House Gallery, not unlike most of the world, remains closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Before the crisis, we were preparing to reset and restore for Spring events – including a community public art project. No one could have seen what was to come.
While we were certainly disappointed about the disruptions in our plans, we were happy to comply with the state’s shut-down orders and we continue to support Governor Whitmer in her efforts to extend the stay and keep us all safe. During this time, we are continuing to do all we can to serve our neighborhood and to support communities in need.
We have remotely continued our work with the West Grand Boulevard Collective (WGBC) to advocate for West End Detroit residents. We had an opportunity to volunteer for with Chef Maxcel Hardy and Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good, preparing and serving meals for shelters and first responders. As neighbors of Henry For Hospital, we are also looking at ways we can support health care workers serving in our community. And, we have adjusted the scope of future programming to include programs which support post-pandemic healing through the arts.
We look forward to keeping in touch and reconnecting with the artists and arts communities of Detroit. In the meantime, please stay safe, stay informed and, most importantly, take care of your physical and mental health. Here are a few resources. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or anyone you know needs help during this critical time.
Lastly, we are all aware that some individuals displaying Coronavirus symptoms have been unable to get tested or receive medical care, including health care workers. We are not, in any way, disseminating medical advice, but if you find yourself having to administer self-care at home, please take what you find useful from the following video created by Dr. Nida Mohsin:
We KNOW you’re sheltering in place and keeping safe. And we are absolutely heartbroken, with you, by the loss of many dear friends, loved ones, leaders and great voices in our city and beyond. This is an unimaginably rough time, for the entire world. But hope prevails, laughter and sunshine still manage to peek in, and creativity is a healing elixir for us all.
While you’ve been inside, WE ALSO KNOW you’ve been digging through your crates of old photos – we’ve seen you on Facebook! So, since you have those beautiful Motown memories right at your fingertips, please be a part of a gallery project by sending us one of your favorite Detroit images.
Thru May 30, 2020, The Irwin House Gallery will be accepting YOUR Detroit photos for a permanent installation at our space, as an artistic record of real Detroit people, our meaningful moments, and the people, places, and experiences that shape us.
Here’s what you do 🙂
– PLEASE SUBMIT 1-3 of your favorite images to: irwinhousegallery@gmail.com
That’s it!
Thank you for being a part of our space, and helping us create this document of everyday Detroit greatness! Please take care, stay safe, and WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN and inviting you over to see the finished installation!
Well, it is still Women’s History Month, at least for a few more days…and Kivahas been highlighting its women-owned businesses all month – and that includes US! Kiva has been critical to the work we’ve done here
FYI — At this critical time for businesses, the Kiva lending platform is still active and dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. If you are considering any type of loans to help keep your business afloat during this COVID-19 crisis, a Kiva loan may be your best option!
Kiva loans are absolutely interest free! And, as a response to COVID-19 they have actually altered the US loan product to expand borrower eligibility, increased loan size to $15,000, and offer a 6 month grace period for repayment terms. Please see the graphic attached below and this blog update for a further breakdown.
Kiva has offered a helpful COVID-19 FAQ page for both lenders and borrowers HERE.
For more information about how you can apply, visit kiva.org or just ASK US! Kiva has been a tremendous resource for our establishment and we are happy to help you get started!
Wishing health and strength to all!
The Irwin House Gallery
Exhibiting artists Amanda Koss, Kirah Price, and Donald Calloway (top to bottom).
