Hope you had a good weekend. I’ve been recovering from being sick the last few days so last week’s blog schedule was a little off. That’s why today I am sharing with you my favorite new Detroit murals and the recap of the 2018 Murals in the Market (MITM).
The events we attended for MITM were the opening night party, Family Reunion Block Party, and touring a few of the new murals. As I mentioned in a previous post, this was my first time attending the MITM events. Aside from having an unfortunate experience of our vehicle being vandalized and broken into, we had a great time at the events we attended.
WAIT…SOMEONE BROKE INTO YOUR CAR?!
Yes, it’s really unfortunate about our van. We were at the Family Reunion Block Party in Eastern Market, and when we left the party, we returned to our vehicle and found the passenger side window completely shattered. My camera gear and some of my personal belongings were stolen. It’s just one of those things that you have to be really careful about. (We’re still waiting to get our van window replaced.)
I’LL BE HONEST WITH YOU:
At first, I was really skeptical about going back to Eastern Market. It’s one of our top places to hang out in Detroit. But I decided I can’t let it keep me from continuing to visit one of my favorite Detroit places. We just need to be more aware and careful from now on, as this can happen anywhere you go.
FIVE REASONS WE LOVE DETROIT MURALS IN THE MARKET:
1. The opening reception is a great way to see more of the artists’ artwork and also buy artwork for your home.
2. The block party was a first this year and we had a lot of fun! You can read about our time at the block party below.
3. Touring the murals while the artists are working on them is really cool. You can even chat with them about their art.
4. Murals in the Market also offers various workshops for the public to attend. It’s another way to connect with artists and learn more about contemporary art.
5. We also love attending Eastern Market After Dark which is typically held at the end of Murals in the Market. Eastern Market After Dark features various forms of art and there are a few dance parties held in and around the sheds.
1xRUN’s Murals in the Market Print Exhibition & 2nd Floor Installation Exhibition Opening Reception @ MITM HQ
TRAVIS’ FAVORITE ART PIECES
Travis and I enjoyed touring the MITM HQ. We got to see some of the muralist’s artwork and listen to great music. We found the artwork to be fascinating and thought-provoking.
Travis said, “It was cool how the different pieces of art were contrasting and cooperative.” His favorite part of the art gallery was the collection of artists’ hand-painted chairs.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE MITM HQ
- A large, wide space for guests to walk around (upstairs/downstairs)
- A place to chill outside and also see the city lights
- Detroit-based art
- Skate Deck Designs
- Art by national and international artists
The upstairs art exhibit was my favorite part of the exhibit. One piece I loved, in particular, was Detroit-based artist Amy Fisher Price‘s “Party Store” art exhibit. I was so amazed at Amy’s artwork because the installation really looked like a liquor store!
Inside the
“Check Cashing. Money Orders.”
“This Building is being WATCHED”
“ADULT VIDEOS”
“Kaepernick 7”
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MITM ART GALLERY
FAMILY REUNION BLOCK PARTY W/DJ JAZZY JEFF & FRIENDS
The block party was a first for Murals in the Market and I hope it won’t be a last. The location had the perfect room for guests to walk around and grab a bite to eat from a food truck, get a beer or beverage, and also shop for some art.
Live music at the block party was the highlight of our evening. Here are a few artists who we got to see perform:
SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMERTIME WITH DJ JAZZY JEFF
Seeing DJ Jazzy Jeff at the Family Reunion Block Party brought back a lot of memories from my youth and early 20s (Ha! Can’t believe I just typed that!). He played a variety of classic hip-hop and R&B songs like Wu-Tang, Ludacris, Biggie, and Stevie Wonder.
We danced. We sang. We had a good time vibin’ to the beats of Dj Jazzy Jeff! Heck, I was even able to get Travis to dance a little during Jazz’s set. That’s a big deal because my husband doesn’t normally like to dance!
A few new Detroit murals we love!
You already know the new Aretha Franklin mural is my favorite because I am a BIG Aretha fan! We haven’t seen all of the 2018 murals, but we did find a few. You can check out below my photographs of some of the new murals we found.
If you want to make a half day of it and try to find all of the new murals in Eastern Market, here are a few suggestions:
- Bring your bike or rent a bike to ride through the Eastern Market District
- Go on a tour and join other mural enthusiasts such as Feet on the Street Tours.
- Walk through the area to find the murals.
You can download a map of the murals here if you like.
“17 Shitty Mountains” by Scott Hocking
Another art project which was featured in the Murals in the Market was the “17 Shitty Mountains” by Detroit-based artist Scott Hocking. The art installation is a series of concrete sewer pipes that Scott stacked and arranged to form monuments.
We had stumbled upon the “17 Shitty Mountains” as we were looking for the new 2018 murals. I had remembered seeing InstaStory updates about Scott’s latest project on the MITM Instagram feed.
According to Scott Hocking’s interview in the Detroit Free Press, the structures range from 14 feet to 22 feet tall, with the tallest structure
If you go to see the sculptures, I recommend wearing sturdy shoes because there are a lot of sharp objects and rocks in the area. For my fellow photography lovers, the “17 Shitty Mountains” sculptures make for a fantastic
Overall, Scott’s artwork is one to be admired and make you ponder many life questions such as why the artist chose the location for his sculptures and how we can turn abandoned places into beautiful spaces.
AND THAT’S OUR RECAP OF THE 2018 MURALS IN THE MARKET!
Here’s what we missed this year that we would have loved to attend:
- Artists’ Welcome BBQ
- Kids’ Workshop with Green Living Science
- Our Issue: Public Art and Combating Sexual Violence in Detroit
- Slow Jams: Murals in the Market Edition
- Citywide Poets
What I absolutely love about MITM is how the festival includes members of the community.
Artists are friendly and don’t mind if you want to take photos or talk to them. MITM features community-based events to raise awareness on important causes such as Our Issue’s campaign against sexual violence in Detroit. And MIM is very welcoming for families and all ages. It truly is a city celebration.
And as always, each year of Murals in the Market, the art that is created is just phenomenal. I’m already excited about next year’s Murals in the Market. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2019!
What is your favorite mural from the 2018 Murals in the Market?
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ALSO, CHECK OUT ON THE BLOG:
- Detroit Art: “Paint the City” Detroit Mural
- Detroit Art: Butterfly Mural in Ferndale (Metro Detroit)
- Detroit Art: Detroit Mural by Hubert Massey, Ijania Cortez, Anigara Bedian
- Detroit Art: YOU Belong, An Exhibition on Belonging
All photographs were taken by Jennifer Hamra for Good Life Detroit unless otherwise stated. This post was updated on 5/26/2020.
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