Month: September 2014

DLECTRICITY is an exciting evening and we expect record-breaking crowds. This may lead to heavy traffic, congested streets and confusion about parking. To make the experience easier, we have a few recommendations for the best parking structures throughout the area, listed below. However, we strongly suggest visiting Wayne State University’s link, here, which features an interactive and highly detailed map for more parking options.

– Structure 1 on Palmer (at the corner of Cass)
– Structure 3 on Warren Ave. (at Woodward Ave. & John R)
– Structure 6 on Putnam (at Cass Ave. & Woodward Ave.)
– Structure 8 on Forest Ave. (at Cass Ave. & Woodward Ave.)
– The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Structure (on Parsons St.)

Parking will range from $7- $10, so please be prepared with cash and in some circumstances, credit card. As a reminder, there will be no parking along Woodward Avenue due to M1-Rail construction. For more information about this process, please refer to the M1-Rail website, found here.

We do have a map of the DLECTRICITY projects which also indicates parking structures, restroom locations, ATMs, and the Light Bike Parade Route. You may find it beneficial to park close to the Zone you would most like to explore or the project you would most like to see; you can find this map here.

Due to traffic congestion on Woodward, the Dlectricity shuttles are taking 30 minutes and longer. It is highly recommended that you walk or bike through the festival foot print, if possible. Thank you for your patience!

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) MaxCast has been relocated from the Carpenter’s Building on Woodward to the wall of the DSO facing Parson’s Street. The MaxCast is still scheduled to begin at 8pm each night of DLECTRICITY.

Now on the Carpenter’s Building will be a new video from returning DLECTRICITY artist Dawn of Man. This is an exciting new addition to the DLECTRICITY program this year!

DLECTRICITY, Detroit’s nighttime festival of art and light, features 39 art and light installations, family programming, performances, Light Bike Parade and more

This weekend Midtown Detroit will light up with DLECTRICITY, presented by DTE Energy, where thousands are expected to walk, bike and explore an illuminated Woodward Corridor for the nighttime festival of art and light. The two-day free, outdoor Nuit Blanche festival features artists from around the world and Detroit whose works of art and light will span more than 1 mile from the Detroit Institute of Arts to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, September 26–27, from 7 p.m. to midnight. A complete listing of DLECTRICITY programming is available at DLECTRICITY.com.

“We are privileged to have some of the city’s most remarkable cultural and architectural gems in Midtown that will serve as the backdrop for DLECTRICITY,” said Sue Mosey, president of Midtown Detroit, Inc. “DTE Energy along with the generous support from foundations, cultural institutions and our corporate and community partners make this world-class event possible, showcasing Midtown Detroit as an international arts destination.”

Produced by Midtown Detroit, Inc., DLECTRICITY is modeled after other Nuit Blanche festivals known for bringing the best of contemporary light and technology-based arts to the streets of major cities like Paris, Rome, Toronto, Minneapolis and New York.

The Woodward Corridor will be transformed into an urban spectacle with art installations of light, video, performance, interactive engineering and other unexpected works of art. Venues hosting installations include: Detroit Institute of Arts, College for Creative Studies, Michigan Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum Plaza, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Detroit Public Library, C.H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and more.

For two-electrifying nights, visitors can walk, bike or take a free shuttle along the festival route to explore DLECTRICITY presented by DTE Energy:

World-Renowned International and Local Artists
DLECTRICITY features artists from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Sweden, New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Detroit. The collection of acclaimed international and local artists will illuminate the city with 39 art and light installations: Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg | The Black Pot; Sue de Beer | The Legendary Leland City Club; Shaun Gladwell | Broken Dance (Beatboxed); Mindfield | P.O.V.; Compagnia T.P.O. | Kindur: The Adventurous Life of Icelandic Sheep; Osman Khan | House; Casa Magica | Sound Spheres and more.

Sparking Imaginations of All Ages
The DLECTRICITY Family Zone at Woodward and Warren will spark the imagination with interactive art installations the entire family will enjoy. Jump into D MET Design’s “Mike Teavee” stage set, allowing children and kids-at-heart to fulfill the ubiquitous fantasy of being ‘sent by television.’ Also don’t miss the children’s performance by Compagnia T.P.O. of Italy at the Garden Theater (performances at 7 and 9 p.m. each night) and MineD Intervention by Rebekah Blesing at the Detroit Institute of Arts where this Minecraft-inspired project has Detroit’s children reimagine the city’s urban landscape. Check out
http://mined2014.org for more information.

Special Events and Performances throughout the Weekend
There are many special events happening before and during DLECTRICITY, including:

• In partnership with the College for Creative Studies, DLECTRICITY artist Sue de Beer will present a public lecture on her work and ideas as part of the Woodward Lecture Series, Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m., in CCS’ Walter B. Ford II Building, Wendell W. Anderson Jr. Auditorium.
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will feature a live video projection of the Pops performance, “Let’s Dance,” conducted by Jeff Tyzik, at 8 p.m. each night. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy this celebration of the art of dance as tango, tap and ballroom dancers are projected onto the façade of the Carpenter’s Building on Woodward.
• The Hyper Interactive Hip Hop Carnival is a participatory performance featuring Hip Hop, Caribbean costume design and interactive technology produced by Jeff Sturges, Ralph Taylor, Sicari Ware and Piper Carter. Performances each night at 8 and 10 p.m. outside of the Museum of African American History.
• Musician, producer and composer Hans Berg will perform a live set of electronic music set to animations created by Nathalie Djurberg in the Detroit Institute of Arts Loggia, 10 p.m. each night.
• Sameer Reddy’s Mother is a two-night performance at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Café, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. – midnight.
• Many DLECTRICITY artists will give talks about their works and creative practices throughout the weekend. Casa Magica (6 p.m., Friday, 9/26, Socra Tea), Andrea Polli (3 p.m., Saturday, 9/27, Cathedral Church of St. Paul), Zackery Belanger (4 p.m., Saturday, 9/27, Cathedral Church of St. Paul), Shaun Gladwell (5 p.m., Saturday, 9/27, MOCAD), and Heidi Kumao (6 p.m., Saturday, 9/27, Detroit Artists Market).
• The Unofficial DLECTRICITY After Party is on Saturday, Sept.27 from 11 p.m. and beyond at the Lincoln Street Art Park, 5926 Lincoln Street in Detroit. The party is an explosion of sight and sound that incorporates the structures and paintings at the Art Park.

DLECTRICITY Light Bike Parade
Light up your wheels. The DLECTRICITY Light Bike Parade is on Saturday, September 27 at 8 p.m., where cyclists will bike a 4-mile route through Midtown, adding extra light and energy to the streets. There are three different start times: Quick Riders, Moderate Riders and Family Riders. Cyclists are encouraged to register for the Light Bike Parade in advance at: www.lightbikeparade.eventbrite.com.

Intersection of Arthttp://www.eventbrite.com/e/dlectricity-light-bike-parade-registration-12609012897 + Design
DLECTRICITY is pleased to join forces with the Detroit Design Festival (DDF) this year to explore the juxtaposition between art and design when these two distinct festivals intersect September 26-27. At the center of DLECTRICITY’s footprint, the DDF will host a Design Village, featuring the work of dozens of Detroit’s independent designers and a range of displays from furniture, interior, and graphic and fashion design. The Midtown Design Village will be located at the southwest corner of Woodward and Warren, September 26-27, 7:00 p.m. – midnight.

Debuting in the fall of 2012, DLECTRICTY attracted 75,000 people to Midtown. To experience DLECTRICITY presented by DTE Energy, visitors can walk, bike or take a free shuttle bus with three stops along the festival route: Woodward and Kirby, Woodward and Garfield, and Woodward and Selden. Free bike valet is available to the public at Woodward and Warren. New this year, visitors will find a food truck rally on Kirby outside of the Park Shelton and a beer garden on the lawn of the Hellenic Museum. Visit
DLECTRICITY.com to download the program guide, event map, details on parking and more.

DLECTRICITY Program Update: The Scott Reeder “Shhhh” neon artwork has been relocated to the façade of the G.R. N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art.

DLECTRICITY is presented by DTE Energy, and supported by the following foundations and organizations: The Kresge Foundation, The Knight Foundation, The William Davidson Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Quicken Loans, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and The National Endowment for the Arts, Detroit Institute of Arts, MASCO Foundation, the Marcia and Eugene Applebaum Family Foundation, Lauren and Phillip Fisher, Shinola, Flagstar Bank, Northern Trust Bank, College for Creative Studies, the Detroit Medical Center, Wheelhouse Bikes, Marc A. Schwartz, Alan and Marianne Schwartz, The Kaufman Memorial Trust, Wayne State University, Midtown Detroit, Inc., Fox 2 News, The Metro Times, and WDET.

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The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will open its Pops season with “Let’s Dance” conducted by Jeff Tyzik featuring tango, tap and ballroom dancers who will electrify this celebration of the art of dance. The Pops opening weekend concert also marks the DSO’s return to DLECTRICITY through a MaxCast live video projection of the Pops performance onto the Carpenter Building on Woodward Avenue.

Let’s Dance will be performed live in Orchestra Hall on Fri., September 26 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m., as well as Sat., September 27 at 8 p.m. and Sun., September 28 at 3 p.m. The 8 p.m. performances on Friday and Saturday will be video projected onto the façade of the Carpenter Building on Woodward Avenue as the performance happens live in Orchestra Hall. Those attending DLECTRICITY are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and enjoy this performance outside.

Tyzik’s exciting Let’s Dance program features American Idol season nine finalist Michael Lynche, vocalist Julie Jo Hughes and a stellar cast of swing, tango, ballroom and tap dancers. The program opens with Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to West Side Story adapted by Maurice Peress and includes Reinhold Glière’s “Russian Sailor’s Dance” from The Red Poppy, Camille Saint- Saëns’ “Bacchanale” from Samson and Delilah and Alfredo le Pera’s Tango (Por una Cabeza) arranged by John Williams, as well as several pieces arranged by Tyzik.

Following the performance, footage from previous classical concerts will be projected until midnight onto the Carpenter Building.

“Our state-of-the art robotic camera system in Orchestra Hall typically broadcasts performances live across the world. We’re bringing that experience from the small screens of phones, tablets and computers to the big screen on Woodward Avenue, right here in Midtown on the Carpenter Building,” said Scott Harrison, DSO Executive Producer of Digital Media. “There’s no better way to celebrate the opening weekend of our Pops season than by making this larger-than-life performance accessible to our entire local community.”

The MaxCast is made possible by a generous gift from Phillip and Lauren Fisher. Additional DLECTRICITY activities are made possible with the support of Princeton Enterprises and Marc Schwartz.

“We’re so excited that thousands of people will be able to enjoy a free, live performance of the DSO projected from The Max onto the Carpenter Building, at the southern gateway to our event,” said Marc Schwartz, Chairman of DLECTRICITY. “This will be one of the great highlights of Midtown’s nighttime festival of light and art.”

The Music Box within the Max M. Fisher Music Center will also be buzzing throughout the festival with a Chamber Music Society presentation of the Cavani String Quartet with poet Mwatabu Okantah on Fri., September 26 at 8 p.m. and Mix @ The Max on Sat., September 27 at 9 p.m. featuring the Fifth House Ensemble. The Max’s front façade will also shine a spotlight on a special sculpture installation.

For the duration of DLECTRICITY, the Max M. Fisher Music Center will offer paid parking at its garage on Parsons Street, as well as concessions and public restrooms.

Ticket Information
Tickets to Let’s Dance in Orchestra Hall start at $19 and may be purchased at dso.org, via the free DSO to Go mobile app, in-person at the Max M. Fisher Music Center Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit), or by calling (313) 576-5111. For group discount information (10 people or more), please contact Chuck Dyer at (313) 576-5130 or [email protected].

Performance
Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Jeff Tyzik, conductor
Diego Di Falco, dancer
Julie Jo Hughes, vocalist
Ted Louis Levy, dancer & vocalist
Michael Lynche, vocalist
Chandrae Roettig, dancer
Stephen Sayer, dancer
Melissa Shahin, dancer
Forrest Walsh, dancer
Carolina Zokalski, dancer

Fri., Sept. 26 at 10:45 a.m. & 8 p.m.*
Sat., Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.*
Sun., Sept. 28 at 3 p.m.

*Performance in Orchestra Hall will also be live video projected onto the Carpenter Building on Woodward

Leonard Bernstein; adapted Maurice Peress | Overture to West Side Story
Johann Strauss Jr. | On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314
Johann Strauss Jr.; arr. Jeff Tyzik | Charleston/Shimmy
Johann Strauss Jr.; arr. Jeff Tyzik | Kiss of Fire
Johann Strauss Jr.; arr. Jeff Tyzik | Sway
Reinhold Glière | “Russian Sailor’s Dance” from The Red Poppy
Reinhold Glière ; arr. Jeff Tyzik | 1950’s Dance Medley
Intermission
Reinhold Glière ; arr. Jeff Tyzik | Swing Dance Medley
Camille Saint-Saëns | “Bacchanale” from Samson and Delilah
Camille Saint-Saëns; arr. Jeff Tyzik | Fever
Alfredo le Pera; arr. John Williams | Tango (Por una Cabeza)
Alfredo le Pera; arr. Jeff Tyzik | Cute/ Sing Sing Sing
Alfredo le Pera; arr. Jeff Tyzik | I’ve Had the Time of My Life

M-1 Rail Construction
Attendees can find up-to-date details about the best route to take to Orchestra Hall during construction of the M- 1 Rail streetcar in Midtown at dso.org/m1 and m-1rail.com. Woodward will always remain open in Midtown throughout the construction period. Complete closures are restricted to the downtown section of the rail line. Work has commenced on the north bound track between Temple and Canfield streets, shifting traffic to the southbound side of Woodward. There is one north bound, one south bound and one turn lane open on this stretch. Coming in to Midtown, an extra 15 minutes for travel time is recommended, as well as using Cass Avenue, instead of Woodward Avenue when possible.

DSO Pops Season
Acclaimed DSO Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik returns with a Pops season full of classics in every genre: dance, rock, jazz and Broadway. Audiences will enjoy a medley of ballroom, Celtic, tango and tap music; Simon and Garfunkel’s hits backed by the DSO;; a celebration of Nat King Cole;; music from Gershwin’s iconic Porgy and Bess; a return of the acrobatic Cirque de la Symphonie and much more. A DSO tradition will also return to Orchestra Hall as Tyzik conducts the DSO patrons’ annual favorite, Home for the Holidays, in December.

About The DSO
Hailed by The New York Times as “cutting edge,” the internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra, is known for trailblazing performances, visionary maestros, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and an unwavering commitment to Detroit. Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin, called “America’s Music Director” by the Los Angeles Times, became the 12th Music Director of the DSO during the 2008-09. Acclaimed conductor, arranger, and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik serves as Principal Pops Conductor while celebrated trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard holds the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair. The DSO’s performance schedule includes Classical, Pops, Jazz, Young People’s, Neighborhood concerts, and collaborations with chart-topping musicians from Smokey Robinson to Kid Rock. A commitment to broadcast innovation began in 1922 when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today with the free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series. Making its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. Fisher Music Center, one of America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact and serve the community through music. For more information visit the newly updated dso.org or download the free DSO to Go mobile app.

We love that you love DLECTRICITY. In the last few months, phone calls, emails and Facebook posts have been pouring in all with the same request:  when are DLECTRICITY and the Light Bike Parade happening next?

Unfortunately, not this year. DLECTRICITY has always been a biennial festival. It was first held in 2012, then 2014, and will hopefully happen again in 2016. We will be making an announcement soon about dates for the next festival, so stay tuned…

Until then, you can get your DLECTRICITY fix by watching the 2014 Retrospective Video HERE.