Art Detroit Now! May 8th-10th

River's Edge Gallery is participating in Art Detroit Now May 8th - May 10th with an Arts & Tarts event. Our three floors and the Patricia Izzo Fine Art Photography Gallery will be open for viewing the entire weekend with treats for patrons. Patricia Izzo will be on hand most of the weekend to give studio tours, please call ahead to be sure to catch her (734)246-9880. Our house artists will be stopping by throughout the weekend to visit with all Art Detroit Now visitors. One of our gallery directors will be on hand to give tours and talks as well. Gallery Hours for Art Detroit Now are as follows Thursday, May 8th 10am-7pm; Friday, May 9th 10am-8pm and Saturday, May 10th 10am-8pm. Please stop by and view what the River's Edge Gallery has to offer during this monumental event for all of metro-Detroit.

In celebration of Earth Day and the greening of Wyandotte the River's Edge Gallery will continue its show, Shades of Green: art Rescued, Recovered, Reworked & Repurposed.

Keep reading for details about Art Detroit Now and stop by the River's Edge Gallery for our part of this monumental event!

Art Detroit Now – One Weekend Thousands Of Artists!Detroit Art And Artists Celebrated At 100 Area Galleries And Museums
Metropolitan Detroit has long been known as the automobile capital of the world and the home of Motown. But Detroit will show off its artistic side May 8-10 during Art Detroit Now, featuring thousands of artists whose work will be shown in art galleries, non-profit art organizations, museums and university art centers throughout metro-Detroit.
Art Detroit Now will include exhibitions, demonstrations, and festivals showcasing the great art and talented artists in our area. Organizers estimate that over three days, this first-time event will draw 100,000 people to 100 galleries and museums located in 16 cities throughout metro-Detroit.
Planning for Art Detroit Now began in 2006 with a group of art collectors, patrons and professionals who were committed to finding ways to increase the visibility of Detroit-area contemporary artists and galleries.
"First, there was the opening of Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), then the grand opening of the new Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA),” said Marc Schwartz, event chairperson. “Art Detroit Now is the next step in establishing our area as a major arts center. Virtually every contemporary arts organization in our greater community has come together to be part of this event. Our hope is that everyone will enjoy Art Detroit Now by visiting a gallery or museum May 8-10."
Some of the 100 participating venues include the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Cranbrook Art Museum, DIA, MOCAD and Russell Industrial Center.
MOCAD will open the exhibition, Considering Detroit, on May 10.It is the first exhibition in a series that explores contemporary art of the Detroit area. "One of the motivating principles for Considering Detroit was to support in every way the Art Detroit Now effort because it is so important," said Marsha Miro, founding director at MOCAD. "We saw it as an opportunity that could not be missed, and arranged for both our summer exhibition and programs to highlight contemporary art activity in the metro area."Graham W.J. Beal, director of the DIA, said the newly renovated museum looks forward to participating in Art Detroit Now. The museum will devote its May 9 Friday Night Live to celebrating Detroit-area visual and performing arts. “DIA staff members and volunteers have been among the earliest supporters of Art Detroit Now and we are delighted to participate in this program,” Beal said. “Art Detroit Now is a terrific way to promote and support the artists whose creativity, it is increasingly being recognized, are crucial to a vital community.”
Cranbrook will hold Here and Now: The 2008 Graduate Degree Exhibition, which showcases students’ studio work. “Metro Detroit attracts students in art, architecture and design from around the world, many of whom remain in the region after graduation, breathing new life into our art scene each year.” said Gregory M. Wittkopp, director Cranbrook Art Museum. “Cranbrook Art Museum is delighted to be able showcase Cranbrook Academy of Art's most recent graduates during Art Detroit Now."
For a complete list of participating artists, venues, and a schedule of activities, please visit artdetroitnow.com or thedetroiter.com. For more information, call 248-258-8808 x29.


Founding Members: Michelle Peron CCS Center Galleries - Gregory Wittkopp Cranbrook Art Academy & Museum - Nancy Sizer Detroit Artists Market - Becky Hart, Valerie Mercer & Stephanie James Detroit Institute of Arts - George N'Namdi George N'Namdi Gallery - Marsha Miro MOCAD - Dick Goody Oakland University Gallery - Susanne Hilberry Susanne Hilberry Gallery - Lisa Gonzalez Wayne State University Galleries - Marc Schwartz Community Representative

Shades of Green Opening March 21st

What: An art opening and happening : SHADES OF GREEN: art RESCUED, RECOVERED, REWORKED, REPURPOSED
When: Showing March 21st through May 12th with an opening reception on March 21st and a Meet the Artist night on April 18th 6-10 PM.
Where: River’s Edge Gallery in downtown Wyandotte 3024 Biddle St.


All art works turn “green” at River’s Edge Gallery in downtown Wyandotte for the next few months. Well, not literally, but their next show, Shades of Green: art Rescued, Recovered, Reworked, Repurposed is composed of artwork that has a green message. “Artist traditionally have brought the beauty of nature to the eye of the beholders through paintings, sculpture, photography and other mediums. Artists have also traditionally used natural elements or cast off objects to make their art. They have rescued the old and broken and recovered, reworked and repurposed them. They were the first recyclers,” stated gallery owner, Patt Slack.
The Second Floor gallery will present the works of Paul Balog, Tim Burke, Nancy Byrum, Rick Chaedel, Mary Ellen Croci, the late Dr. Arnold Dreifuss, Michelle Fancovie, Kevin Martin and Sandy Smith. This takes us from belt buckles made out of old wrenches to hand painted furniture to tables made from street signs to realistic oil paintings of endangered species to an installation of the many things that can be done with the industrial left-overs from Nurf footballs.
The Third floor Patricia Izzo Fine Art Photography Gallery presents the same message but done with the eye of a fine art photographer. Those shown are B.T. Charles, Joe Crachiola, Elayne Gross, Patricia Izzo, Marianne Letasi, Teresa Louisias, R.W. Stewart, Elaine Redmond and S. Kay Young. The photography techniques are as varied as the artists. Everything from Polaroid shots to hand painted images to digital to traditional film developing is featured. The subject matter is also varied with everything from industrial shots, nature scenes, recovered and reworked family photos from the 40’s, flowers and machine parts.
The show runs from March 21st to May 12th with an opening reception on March 21st and a Meet the Artist Night on April 18th, both from 6 to 10 pm. The Gallery hours are 10-7 Monday through Thursday, 10-8 on Friday and 10-5 on Saturday.

Opening Friday January 18th!

River's Edge Gallery presents two floors of the Underexposed artist opening January 18th 6pm-10pm.

Twelve artists show their work in an effort to bring them to the forefront of the metro Detroit art scene. This is a group composed of sculptors, jewlers, potters, painters, printmakers, photographers and mixed media artists. Many of these artists work in the arts or artistic fields already there are curators, illustrators, students, graphic artists, print makers and photographers.

One of the busiest on the art scene but least exposed is Marianne Letasi. Letasi is known for her efforts at the DIA, Downriver Council of the Arts, Dearborn Arts Council, Midwest AIDS Prevention Project, River's Edge Gallery and more... but not as the artist. Marianne was always the quintessential curator of artists and "the wind beneath their wings" person.

Letasi has finally been encouraged to take the spotlight for herself by her fellow artist, Patricia Izzo. Patricia, who has a gallery next to her studio at River's Edge Gallery in downtown Wyandotte, insisted that Marianne show her unusual shots of nature, perspectives from her visit to the Slovack Republic & the Orient and other world travels along with one of her other favorite subjects, cemeteries.

Letasi who retired from the DIA's photography division and as the copyright manager, said that she wants to show diversity in her work. "I want to show that a true artist can see a fine art image anywhere. They take ordinary subjects and do extraordinary things with them. A walk by anything can turn into a piece of art." To prove this theory, many of her nature shots that look so exotic are taken out of her own backyard. Letasi's models are also usually her own friends and relatives. To bring this all together the show will include a wall of photos depicting the many hundreds of artists that have been on the receiving side of Marinanes generosity and lens.

The mezzanine is home to, Underexposed, a group show featuring some of newest up and coming artists in the metro- Detroit area. Curated by the 'dAP (the 'dotte Arts Project), Aimee Rodriguez and Jeremy E. Hansen, to highlight that which reflects the purpose of the 'dAP, to show emerging and progressive art in the Downriver area. "Since this is where we work and primarily how we formed," says Rodriguez, " we only saw it fitting that we host our first show at the River's Edge Gallery."

Both Hansen and Rodriguez work as co- gallery directors at the River's Edge Gallery and live Downriver, Hansen says "We worked for years together and share the same vision of how to bring the thriving metro- Detroit art scene Downriver." Hansen is an artist and is one of the featured artists in the show for his painting and sculpture. Rodriguez is an activist as well as a mother. Hansen and Rodriguez have worked at the River's Edge Gallery for over five years. Rodriguez says, "Working at the River's Edge Gallery has given us the experience and contacts necessary to build a really great foundation for the 'dAP."

Rodriguez says, "The purpose fo Underexposed is to show some of our favorite artists. These could be artists that are already in the River's Edge Gallery but haven't had a show here, those who were in our summer festival or those who we have just met and really liked their work. We feel these artists set the scene and are ready to do bigger things but this is the first taste."
Those featuring work in the show are Shannon Burnett, Kelly Darke, Howard Davy, Emily Duke, Jeremy E. Hansen, Ryan G. Hill, Larry Larson, Brett Scott, Erin Suess, Haley Vining and Robert Wright.

The show runs from January 18th to March 14th. The opening for the show is Friday January 18th 6pm-10pm.


also visit us at www.myspace.com/art_daddy