CultureLabDetroitandMuseumofContemporaryArtDetroitPresentPublicCommissionbyArtistGarySimmons

DETROIT—(August31,2016)—CultureLabDetroit(CLD)andMuseumofContemporaryArtDetroit(MOCAD)arepleasedtopresentapublicworkbyGarySimmons,ondisplayat1301Broadway,#101withsupportfromBedrock.Thissite-specificimmersiveinstallationwillopentothepublicSeptember15thwithareceptionfrom5to7pm,andwillremainondisplayuntilJanuary1st.ForhisfirstpublicprojectinDetroit,Simmonshaswallpaperedthespacewithself-createdmusicalflypostersthatreferencespecificmusicalstyles,aswellastheirattendantsubculturesandsociopoliticalconnotations.Referencingdub,Motown,punk,reggae,rock‘nroll,andtechno,thesesingularimagesformanauditoryautobiographyforSimmons,aswellasacross-sectionofAmericancultureoverthepasthalf-century.

Photocredit:JKAPhotography.CourtesytheartistandAnthonyMeierFineArts,SanFrancisco

GarySimmons’installationinauguratesCultureLab2016,atwo-dayseriesofdiscussions,dinners,andpublicprojectscenteringarounddifferentapproachtowalls--architecturalorideologicalboundarieswhichbothdefineculturalpracticeandlimitourunderstandingsofart,architecture,andotherculturalundertakings.TheconversationswillbeheldSeptember15thand16th;moreinformationcanbefoundatwww.culturelabdetroit.org.

“CultureLabDetroitisaboutmakingconnections—betweenminds,fields,andcommunities,”saidCLDFounderJaneSchulak.“Thisexcitingprojectisaperfectexampleofthat.Gary’ssingularprojectbothenhancesandpayshomagetoDetroit.”ThisisthefirstmajorcollaborationbetweenCLDandMOCAD,andmarksanothermilestoneinCLD'shistoryofworkingwithlocaluniversitiesandinstitutionstocultivateprojectsthatfocusonbringingintheworld'stopartistsanddesignerstogeneratepublicengagement.Bedrock’ssupportallowsthissite-specificcontemporaryartworktoinvigorateahistoricspaceandthesurroundingcommunity.Simmons’installationchampionstheculturalhistoryofDetroit,presentingitsmusicandartasacauseforcontemplationandcelebration.“AsMOCADapproachesour10thanniversary,Iamfilledwithprideforourpioneeringhistory,aswellasourroleasaleaderinthelocal,national,andinternationalartworlds,”saidMOCADExecutiveDirectorElysiaBorowy-Reeder.“OurmissionistosupportthevanguardofcontemporaryartandGarySimmonsandourpartnershipwithCultureLabDetroitandBedrockcelebratesourpurposewithboldness.”

“AtBedrock,weliketoinfusecreativityintoeverythingwedoandfinduniqueusesforallofourrealestate.Artisahugepartofcreatingavibrantdowntown,bringingcommunitiestogetherandmakingDetroitaone-of-a-kinddestination,”saidDanMullen,ExecutiveVicePresident,Bedrock.“WearethrilledtohostGarySimmons.He’stheperfectartisttoshinealightonthecity’srichmusicalhistoryanddowntownDetroitmakestheidealbackdropforhisiconicwork.”

Thoughappearinginavarietyofspaces,thisworkindeliblyreferstotheguerillatechniqueofwheat-pastingposterstofences,facades,doorways,andothermakeshiftsurfaces,effectivelyturninganurbanlandscapeintoamediumforculturaldissemination.Theaestheticeffectisoneofurgencyandintervention,andasaresult,fly-postergraphicshavelongbeenintegraltoagivenmusicalsubculture.Byreplicatingthisimagerywithintheconfinesofthegallery,alteringitincolorandcompositionwhileallowingthemaingraphicthrustoftheimagerytoremain,Simmonspresentsonce-slightedordisenfranchisedephemeraasvitalcontributionstocultureatlarge.

TheDetroitprojectisthelatestiterationofanongoingseries.SimmonshasinstalledsinglewallsattheBaldwinGalleryinAspenandtheSimonLeeGalleryinLondon.Recently,heactivatedtheentireinteriorofAnthonyMeierFineArtsinSanFrancisco.Importantly,theDetroititerationwillbethelargestoftheseries,andthefirsttobepresentedasapublicinstallation.Addingtothesite-specificnatureoftheproject,forthisiterationSimmonsdesigned13postersspecificallyreferencingDetroitmusic.ImagesofanotheriterationofthisinstallationbyGarySimmonscanbedownloadedhere

ABOUTGARYSIMMONSGarySimmonswasrecentlyfeaturedinthe56thInternationalArtExhibitionAlltheWorld’sFuturescuratedbyOkwuiEnwezorandorganizedbytheVeniceBiennale.HewasalsoincludedintheSharjahBiennale12intheUnitedArabEmiratesandProspectNewOrleans3.SelectedpubliccollectionsincludetheAlbrightKnoxArtGallery,Buffalo,NY;BaltimoreMuseumofArt,Baltimore,MD;HirshhornMuseumandSculptureGarden,Washington,D.C.;TheMiamiArtMuseum,Miami,FL;MuseumofContemporaryArt,Chicago,IL;TheMuseumofContemporaryArt,LosAngeles,CA;TheMuseumofModernArt,NewYork,NY;PhiladelphiaMuseumofArt,Philadelphia,PA;TheSaintLouisArtMuseum,St.Louis,MO;SanFranciscoMuseumofModernArt,SanFrancisco,CA;StudioMuseumHarlem,NewYork,NY;WalkerArtCenter,Minneapolis,MN;andtheWhitneyMuseumofAmericanArt,NewYork,NY.ABOUTCULTURELABDETROITCultureLabDetroitfostersconversationsandcollaborationsbetweenDetroitandtheinternationaldesigncommunity.Throughpublicdiscussions,exhibitions,publicartprojects,andcreativepartnerships,CultureLabDetroitexploresandpromotesthevitalroleofcultureinthemindfulregenerationofthecity.TheorganizationwasfoundedbyJaneSchulakfoundedCultureLabDetroitin2013,inpartnershipwiththeDetroitCreativeCorridorCenterandtheCollegeforCreativeStudies.ABOUTMOCADThemissionoftheMuseumofContemporaryArtDetroitistopresentartattheforefrontofcontemporaryculture.Asanon-collectinginstitution,MOCADisresponsivetotheculturalcontentofourtime,fuelingcrucialdialogue,collaboration,andpublicengagement.ABOUTBEDROCKDetroit-basedBedrockisafull-servicerealestatefirmspecializinginacquiring,leasing,financing,developingandmanagingcommercialandresidentialspace.Sinceitsfoundingin2011,Bedrockhaslocatedmorethan160officeandretailtenantstoDetroit’stechnology-centricdowntown.Inaddition,Bedrockanditsaffiliateshaveinvestedmorethan$3.5billioninacquiring,renovatinganddeveloping95+propertiesindowntownDetroitandClevelandtotalingmorethan15millionsquarefeet.Withamissiontoactivateitspropertiesthroughinteractiveplacemaking,Bedrockhasproudlypartneredwithdozensoflocal,nationalandinternationalnamestomakeartacentralpartofDetroit’svisualandculturallandscape.VisitorInformationContact:313-832-6622Exhibitionhours:Wednesday:noon–4:00pmThursday+Friday:noon–7:00pmSaturday+Sunday:noon–5:00pm

PRESSCONTACTSForNationalandInternationalInquiriesAdamAbdallaCulturalCounselAdam@culturalcounsel.comHunterBraithwaiteCulturalCounselHunter@culturalcounsel.comForLocalInquiriesKathleenKennedyFerrisKennedy|FerrisCommunicationsKathleen@kennedyferris.comForInquiriesRegardingBedrockGabriellePoshadloCommunicationsManager,BedrockGabriellePoshadlo@bedrockdetroit.com