by Robert Maniscalco

Detroit is at a cross roads with a bourgeoning cultural revolution at odds with the powers of convention and mendacity, the results of which are best represented by slick new ball stadiums, casinos and glossy redevelopment. Becoming the Casino Mecca of the Midwest is fine, I guess, so long as we don't forget the people struggling to find a deeper meaning and purpose in their lives. Detroit's unique automobile culture is what first put it on the map. Detroit's rich artistic sub-culture, however, is what has always had the potential to transform Detroit into a great modern city. Unfortunately, what I call the carburetor mentality, continues to take center stage. "If it can't be fixed with a wrench then it's not worth bothering with!" When will we realize that the rich, grass roots culture of Detroit is truly it's life blood; it is our best hope of becoming a great city of the 21st century, a destination, a place to which people and businesses will want to make their home.

I am one of a growing number of those who are proud of our Detroit heritage and yet committed to generating an alternative to the carburetor mentality. Local artists must have a voice, for they are the heart and soul of the city. Through our artists we begin to understand who we are, which is essential to becoming a dynamic community. So why not celebrate our heritage with our art?

The good news is that the City of Detroit is getting behind the many art-related Detroit 300 Festivities going on throughout our community. The Scarab Club hosts two major exhibitions this month and next.

The first is a traveling exhibition of black-and-white photographs capturing the spirit of Detroit over the last 100 years. Organized for the city's 300th Anniversary, this exhibit opened June 1st and runs through June 30th, 2001. Detroit Revisited offers a nostalgic glimpse of Detroit and it's people, celebrating the city's diverse history, architecture, landscape, and people, as seen through the eyes of three generations of photographers. These images are part of a larger photographic collection presented in a beautifully crafted 212 page coffee-table book entitled Detroit Revisited. Local photographers Gene Meadows and Bill Rauhauser, along with art historian Mary Desjarlais, teamed up to create the book. There will be an excellent opportunity to meet the artists at the Lecture/Book Signing: Thursday, June 7th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm (lecture from 6:30pm - 7:15pm). The book may be ordered by visiting.

Then in July, the Historic Scarab Club is hosting Detroit 300: Paintin' in the Streets, a creative celebration of the city which will place artists outdoors, to create artwork and allow spectators to view the artistic process up close and personal. Each Saturday in May, over 30 local artists have taken to the streets, documenting their vision of Detroit's architecture and street scenes. These artworks will be presented to the public in an exhibition and sale at The Scarab Club from June 29th through July 29th. Everyone is invited to meet the artists at a Preview and Sale at the Scarab Club on June 29th, from 6-9 p.m. A second reception will be held at the Scarab Club on Friday, July 6th, from 6-10 p.m., and will feature entertainment by local musicians. This event is sponsored in part by the Detroit Cultural Affairs and the Wayne County Council for Arts History and Humanities.

What a perfect marriage between our history, our heritage and the arts!

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