Trained as an architect and engineer, Ezio Manzini is a leading expert on sustainable design and social innovation. As professor of Industrial Design and director of Milan Polytechnic's Unit of Research Design and Innovation for Sustainability, Manzini's efforts are focused on developing and implementing innovative processes for entrepreneurs and organizers everywhere. His lecture this week at the College for Creative Studies will address social innovation.
Throughout his career, Manzini has written nearly a dozen books, including the award-winning text
The Material of Invention and the more recent
Sustainable Everyday. He has conducted several studies for Emerging User Demands for Sustainability, an international consortium of universities and research centers. Manzini has received honorary doctorates in fine arts from The New School of New York, Goldsmiths College, and University of London, and is an honorary professor at the Glasgow School of Art.
He speaks Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6 - 7 p.m., Wendell Anderson Auditorium, inside the Walter B. Ford Building on the
CCS campus, 201 E. Kirby St., in Midtown Detroit's Cultural Center.
How good is this? Mighty good, we reckon, enough to make Detroit urbanistas salivate with frothy joy to get a glimpse of rediscovered and rarely-seen archival film clips exhibiting real Detroit life. That includes cityscapes, labor and leisure as captured by amateurs, newsreel cameramen and industrial filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1960s.
Lost Landscapes offers Detroiters imagery of the city's past, absent of nostalgia, at the same time providing inspiration for people to forge new directions for the city's future. The images rely on audience participation for the soundtrack -- yes, interaction with the films is encouraged, as questions are to be shouted out, observations shared and mysterious locations identified. Archivist Rick Prelinger will be on hand to introduce the screening with a brief talk on the value of ephemeral films, on the changing nature of historical memory, and what consequences will arise from the emerging massive matrix of personal records. Prelinger began collecting ephemeral films -- advertising, educational, industrial, and amateur works -- in 1983. In 2002, his collection of over 200,000 items was acquired by the Library of Congress and in 2004 Rick and spouse Megan opened the
Prelinger Library in San Francisco. The library includes over 60,000 pieces of print ephemera -- books, periodicals, maps and zines -- and is open to the public.
Come early, seating is limited for this free one-of-a-kind event at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. MOCAD is at 4454 Woodward Avenue, in Detroit's Midtown.
Hello lovers, and those still in the hunt. This is your time of year, and here are a few places that you might want to see and be seen during Valentine's Day weekend.
Wanna party to synthpop, electrodiscofunk and New Wave? So do we. Try Fierce Hot Mess Friday, Feb. 12, at Oslo (1456 Woodward Avenue). Designated driver recommended. DJs Dre and Adriel Fantastique. 18 and over welcome. 10 p.m. $5.
Lovesick? Here's the cure, called, oddly enough, Lovesick, brought to you by the new wavers at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD, 4454 Woodward Avenue, Detroit) Saturday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m. DJ's Frankie Bank$ and Johnny Saco. $10 at the door. Cash bar.
There's plenty of good options for a romantic dinner with your chosen one, but let's stay on Woodward Avenue with our picks and head over to the Whitney (4421 Woodward Avenue, Detroit's Midtown) Feb. 13-14, 5 - 9 p.m. The mansion will provide a warm and cozy 115 year-old backdrop to your XXX's and OOO's. This year, the Whitney will feature a four-course meal, all non-alcoholic beverages and a champagne toast. Following dinner go up to the Ghostbar for a jazz and blues performance by the Coachmen. For dinner reservations call 313-832-5700.
And at Atlas Global Bistro, the V-Day weekend specials begin Thursday and roll on through Sunday, when Taittinger Brut is only $9 a glass or $45 a bottle. Pair that with any of Chef Christian Borden's
special specials or choose the there-course prixe fixe for $36 per person.
Atlas Global Bistro is at 3111 Woodward Avenue, in Detroit's Midtown. Call 313-831-2241 for reservations.
Detroit's Dirty Show has grown from an underground happening to what is
probably the largest erotic art exhibition on the planet Earth. Who knows, there might be a bigger one on Jupiter or Mars, but we doubt it. It's
become a Detroit Valentine tradition, and is growing beyond anyone's
expectations. Last year a massive two-weekend event in Detroit reached
capacity every night, and openings in Zurich, Sydney,
and Vancouver were equally successful. And the launch of an exhibition last fall in a seedy motel in LA brought the show
into the Californication limelight. Finally.
Some of the artists from afar exhibiting at this year's show include: Photographer Frederic Fontenoy (Paris), photographer Antoine d'Agata (Paris), photographer and installation artist Arron Hawkes (California), painter-photographer Gregory de la Haba (NYC), Scott Brooks (California), a painter and a former Michigan resident. Also in the show: tons of local talent, including Glenn Barr, Niagara, Jerome Feretti, Camilo Pardo, Ron Zakrin, Andy and Dave Krieger and many more.
Feb. 12-20 at Bert's Warehouse, 2739 Russell St., in Detroit's Eastern Market. Go
here for tickets and times.
Last fall, the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (better known to us as the CAID) held its first annual members exhibition. The exhibition permitted all members to bring in work of any size, there were no limits on where the work would be placed in the gallery and each member was responsible for installing his or her own work. CAID's Executive Director, Aaron Timlin, selected eight artists from the members show to be included in the Final Cut exhibition, opening at CAID's Ladybug Gallery this Saturday.
The artists in the show are Brian Cronin (Detroit), Lloyd Eddy (Berkley), David Flaugher (Detroit), Michelle Hauske (Royal Oak), Jim Hittinger (Detroit), Melissa Jones (Franklin), Trever Long (Detroit), and Christopher Rainone (Royal Oak). The exhibition includes photography, paintings and mixed media art. Come meet the artists at the opening reception Feb. 13, 6-10 p.m. Free.
The Ladybug is in Southwest Detroit at 1250 Hubbard St., Detroit. If you've not been there before, the entrance is on Porter Street in the lower level of the Whitdell Building, a historic affordable 32-unit apartment building for artists. The exhibition runs Feb. 13 through March 13. Gallery hours are 12 - 4 p.m. on Saturdays or by appointment.
Also this weekend: the closing of the Young and the Restless exhibition (aka the Yelp Art Attack) at the main CAID building, 5141 Rosa Parks Blvd., in Detroit's Woodbridge neighborhood. The reception is free and is 6-11 p.m.
Feeling cooped up since, oh, around Halloween? So are we all, including your pooch. The perfect antidote for the winter inactivity blues is a winter walk with your favorite pet.
Canine to Five and the Riverfront Canine Club host "Winter Walks on the Riverfront" the second Sunday of each month from January through April. And, yup, this Sunday is circled on our calendar for some human and canine exercise. This guided walking group is led by Canine to Five staff and is free to everyone and their dogs. The group meets at Rivard Plaza (1340 Atwater at Rivard Street, downtown Detroit) to begin the snowy trek to the Dequindre Cut.
Free parking is available in the parking lot behind Rivard Plaza. Bring water and disposable bags for your dog. If you forget, disposable bags are available along the Riverwalk for your convenience.
Sunday, Feb. 14, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.