Author: dlectricity

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.

MIDTOWN DETROIT, INC. UNVEILS 35 WORLD-RENOWNED AND EMERGING ARTISTS FOR DLECTRICITY AND ANNOUNCES DTE ENERGY AS PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR DETROIT’S NIGHTTIME FESTIVAL OF ART AND LIGHT

DLECTRICITY to Illuminate Midtown Detroit September 26 & 27, 2014

DETROIT (18 August 2014) – Inspired by nighttime art and light festivals from around the world, DLECTRICITY will once again illuminate Detroit this fall. Today, Midtown Detroit, Inc. (MDI) announced DTE Energy as presenting sponsor of this free illuminated urban spectacle featuring 35 world-renowned and emerging artists. The outdoor arts celebration will be held Sept. 26-27 in Midtown from 7 p.m. to midnight.

“DTE Energy is a tremendous corporate partner to our community and we are incredibly grateful to have them as our presenting sponsor for DLECTRICITY,” said Sue Mosey, president of MDI. “DTE Energy along with the support from all of our sponsors gives us the opportunity to create a world-class event, attracting high caliber artists and showcasing Midtown Detroit as an international art destination.”

“DTE Energy is proud to support DLECTRICITY as the presenting sponsor, bringing this spectacular nighttime festival of art and light to our community,” said Faye Nelson, vice president of Public Affairs for DTE Energy and president of the DTE Energy Foundation. “We are committed to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods and it will be thrilling to see Detroiters and visitors explore an illuminated Midtown full of public art and light showcasing our great city.”

DLECTRICITY presented by DTE Energy will commission and host 35 international, national and local artists whose art will illuminate the Midtown Woodward corridor, from the Detroit Institute of Arts to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with leading-edge installations of light, video, performance, interactive engineering and other unexpected works of art. A list of artists unveiled today is attached to this press release.

DLECTRICITY will feature artists from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden, as well as New York, Boston and Detroit’s own art community also will be well represented. Artists from 38 different countries submitted applications to DLECTRICITY, 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 quality of artists for this year’s DLECTRICITY is extraordinary,” said Michelle Perron, of the College for Creative Studies and head of the DLECTRICITY Curatorial Committee. “The city’s cultural center will literally light up with the creative energy that continues to put Detroit on the map with international artists and visitors.” Additional curatorial committee members include Larry Baranski of the Detroit Institute of Arts, Marsha Miro of Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), George N’Namdi of N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, Frank Arvan, of FX Architecture, and Marc Schwartz, co-chair of DLECTRICITY.

Of the 35 DLECTRICITY artists unveiled, 10 widely acclaimed and local artists have been invited to the festival to show a range of high-quality, light-based projects and video projections. Artists include:

Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg | The Black Pot | Video Projection | Will be shown in the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Loggia
The Black Pot showcases the artists’ experimentation with newly abstracted animations and ambient electronica within a darkened, womb-like environment, in order to depict the cycle of life. Berg will also perform live each night of DLECTRICITY at the DIA. Sponsored by the Detroit Institute of Arts.


Kelly Richardson | The Erudition | Video Projection | Will be shown on the façade of the Michigan Science Center
Canadian artist Kelly Richardson has been recognized as one of the leading representatives of a new generation of artists working with digital technologies to create hyper-real highly charged landscapes.

Sue de Beer | The Legendary Leland City Club| Video Projection | Will be shown in the Detroit Historical Museum Plaza
NY-based contemporary artist, Sue de Beer, uses multiple media including photography, video, installation, and sculpture, to explore the relationships between time and memory. This video has been created to honor Detroit’s Leland City Club, a Goth club located in the Leland Hotel, and is in part sponsored by the College for Creative Studies.

Shaun Gladwell | Broken Dance (Beatboxed) | 2-channel Synchronized Video Projection | Will be shown outside of MOCAD
Shaun Gladwell is an Australian contemporary artist who works in video, painting, photography and sculpture, and is famous for his video works which often feature him skateboarding, as well as documenting a range of street sub-culture arts such as breakdancing and BMX bike riding.

Mindfield | P.O.V. | 3D Mapping Video Projection | Will be shown on the façades of the Detroit Public Library and the Detroit Institute of Arts
Mindfield is a creative film, video and digital interactive media production house based in Detroit. Mindfield is developing a 3D mapping video experience that will fill the facades of the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Public Library on Woodward for DLECTRICITY.

Compagnia TPO | Kindur: The Adventurous Life of Icelandic Sheep | Interactive Theater Performances for Children | Will be performed in the Garden Theater
Under the direction of Francesco Gandi and Davide Venturini, Italy’s Compagnia T.P.O. (Teatro di Piazza o d’Occasione) is the world’s foremost pioneer in interactive performance media for all ages and melding astonishing digital imagery with multidisciplinary performance techniques in the use of music, dance, art, sculpture, digital media, computer technology, lighting and sound.

Jeff Sturges of Mt. Elliott Makerspace, Ralph Taylor of Caribbean Mardi Gras Productions and Sicari Ware of 5e Gallery and Piper Carter | Hyper Interactive Hip Hop Carnival | The C. H. Wright Museum of African American History
This is a participatory series of nightly performances that combine the talent, creativity and innovation of three unique Detroit cultures: the hackers and tinkerers of DIY making, the creators of Caribbean Mardi Gras parades, and the musical, visual, and performing artists of Hip Hop.

Osman Khan | House | Neon Sculpture | College for Creative Studies Sculpture Garden
Osman Khan is an artist interested in constructing artifacts and experiences for social criticism and aesthetic expression. His work plays and subverts the materiality behind themes of identity, communication, economics and public space through participatory & performative installations and site-specific interventions.

Steve Locke | Untitled | A collection of neon signs displayed in the windows of Midtown Detroit, Inc.
Steve Locke attended Boston University and received his M.F.A. at Mass. College of Art where he currently teaches in the painting department. He also attended Skowhegan School of painting, shortly after he became dean of the program and has continued this position for the last five years.

Casa Magica | Sound Spheres | Video Projection | Will be shown on the 71 Garfield Building
Friedrich Foerster and Sabine Weissinger form the team Casa Magica, and are known for their illumination art created within the built environment. Sound Spheres is a site-specific, animated audio-visual work that will explore basic elements of sustainability, while celebrating the green building practices and the energy reduction features of the 71 Garfield building.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra also returns to DLECTRICITY with another live video projection of the Pops performance, “Let’s Dance,” conducted by Jeff Tyzik. 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.

Debuting in the fall of 2012, DLECTRICITY presented by DTE Energy attracted 75,000 people to Midtown. Popular programs from the inaugural year are back including the Light Bike Parade on Saturday, September 27, where cyclists will bike a 4-mile route through Midtown, adding extra light and energy to the streets. The DLECTRICITY Light Bike Parade is sponsored by Shinola with support from Wheelhouse Bikes. Cyclists are encouraged to register for the Light Bike Parade in advance at: www.lightbikeparade.eventbrite.com

DLECTRICITY is also partnering with the Detroit Design Festival (DDF) this fall. By scheduling both festivals during the same week, we are able to showcase programming and conversations that mark the intersection of art and design. The DDF, North America’s Festival of Independent Design produced by Detroit Creative Corridor Center, is Tuesday, September 23 – Sunday, September 28.

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, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and The National Endowment for the Arts, Quicken Loans, Wayne State University, Detroit Institute of Arts, MASCO Foundation, the Marcia and Eugene Applebaum Family Foundation, Lauren and Phillip Fisher, Marc A. Schwartz, Alan and Marianne Schwartz, Flagstar Bank, College for Creative Studies, the Detroit Medical Center, The Kaufman Memorial Trust, Shinola Detroit, Wheelhouse Bikes, Northern Trust Bank, Fox 2 News, The Metro Times, and WDET.

Midtown Detroit, Inc. (MDI) is a nonprofit planning and development agency charged with revitalization of Detroit’s Woodward Corridor. Representing over 100 area stakeholders, including Detroit’s anchor educational, medical and cultural institutions, MDI provides public space maintenance and security services; marketing support; technical assistance; infrastructure and real estate development; grant administration; and arts programming for the district. Over the last decade, MDI and its predecessor organization, the University Cultural Center Association, have raised $56 million for a variety of initiatives including the Midtown Greenway Loop, restoration and conversion of six historic homes into a boutique hotel, the Woodward Avenue Streetscape Enhancement project, the creation of the Sugar Hill Arts District, the construction of two community gardens and a Green Alley, the renovation of many commercial facades throughout the district, and a matching grants security enhancement program for property and business owners. MDI has also facilitated funding for over 40 residential developments resulting in over 1500 new units of housing and has assisted over 40 local businesses with technical assistance and financing. MDI also manages Live Midtown, a successful initiative to increase population density through incentives to eligible anchor institution employees. Over 900 participants have taken advantage of the Live Midtown program to date. Additional initiatives include a comprehensive communication and marketing campaign to increase awareness of Midtown’s numerous qualities, stimulate population growth, and attract new businesses to the area. MDI additionally promotes local cultural events including three signature events – Noel Night, DLECTRICITY, and Art X Detroit along with New Center Park summer entertainment.

The 25 artists selected from the DLECTRICITY Open Call:

• Apetechnology | Detroit, MI | Project: MechanoShards | Location: The Horace H. Rackham Education Memorial Building southwest lawn, 100 Farnsworth, Detroit, MI 48202
• Charlotte Becket | Brooklyn, NY | Project: Light | Location: Cathedral Church of St. Paul Exterior Courtyard, 4840 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Zackery Belanger | Troy, NY | Project: Scale is Everything | Location: Cathedral Church of St. Paul Exterior Courtyard, 4840 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Rebekah Blessing | Kalamazoo, MI | Project: MINEDintervention:DETROIT2014| Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202
• Casa Magica featuring Sabine Weissinger and Friedrich Foerster| Tuebingen, Germany | Project: Sound Spheres | Location: 71 W. Garfield Building, Detroit, MI, 48201
• DMET Design | Detroit, MI | Project: Mike Teavee: “Am I coming in clear?” | Location: The Southwest Woodward/Warren Green Space, 4847 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Oren Goldenberg | Detroit, MI | Project: Time I Change | Location: The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 E. Warren, Detroit, MI 48202
• Mike Gould | Ypsilanti, MI | Project: Tetraptych: Four Panels, 12 Lasers, One Wall | Location: The Majestic Theater, 4120 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Megan Heeres | Detroit, MI | Project: Beacon | Location: The First Congregational Church, 33 E. Forest, Detroit, MI 48201
• Julie Hinzmann and Shawn Saharko | Richmond, VA | Project: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You | Location: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, 3711 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Cooper Holoweski | Brooklyn, NY | Project: Katabasis | Location: College for Creative Studies Ford Campus , 201 E. Kirby, Detroit, MI 48202
• Timothy Jones | Dexter, MI | Project: Wind to Color | Location: Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202
• Heidi Kumao | Ann Arbor, MI | Project: Egress | Location: Detroit Artists Market, 4719 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Nicola Kuperus and Adam Miller | Detroit, MI | Project: Porta-Privy | Location: The Southwest Woodward/Warren Green Space, 4847 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• David Leonard | Los Angeles, CA | Project: Zone | Location: The Southwest Woodward/Warren Green Space, 4847 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Cary Loren | Southfield, MI | Project: Atlantis Dance City | Location: The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit: Mobile Homestead, 4454 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Aric Miller and Molly Soda | Detroit, MI | Project: net trash | Location: The Southwest Woodward/Warren Green Space, 4847 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201. Other artists included in this .gif animation exhibition: Vince Mckelvie, Emilie Gervais, Arvida Bystrom, Cindy Suen, Alec Mackenzie, Sassydad, Austin Kinstler, Lorna Mills, Molly Soda, Rollin Leonard, Rafael Rozendaal, Petra Cortright, Jono Mi Lo, Jacob Ciocci, Sara Ludy, Yoshi Sodeoka, Anthony Antonellis, Eva Papamargariti, Terrell Davis, Max Capacity and Otto Splotch.
• Michaela Mosher | Detroit, MI | Project: Video Center | Location: The G.R. N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, 52 E Forest, Detroit, MI 48201. Other artists included in this video exhibition: Goran Butorac, Joseph Conder, Ellen Coons, Danny DeMaggio, Christina De Roos, Tony Hope/Marissa Jezak, Maddie Kuzak, Daniel Marchwinski, Cassie McQuarter, Michaela Mosher, Scott Northrup, Chris Samuels, Bailey Scieszka, Alexander Weyer, and Rachel Yezbick.
• nieDAsie Art Group featuring Pani Pawlowsky and Monika Szpener | Szczecin, Poland | Project: OMO TRIP | Location: Wayne State University Welcome Center, 42 W. Warren, Detroit, MI 48201
• Andrea Polli | Albuquerque, NM | Project: Particle Falls | Location: Bicentennial Tower – Woodward Ave. Façade, 4 E Alexandrine, Detroit, MI 48201
• Sameer Reddy | Brooklyn, NY | Project: Mother | Location: The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
• Scott Reeder | Detroit, MI | Project: Shhhhhhhhhhh | Location: The Wayne County Sheriff’s Building, 4747 Woodward, Detroit, MI, 48201
• Dennis Summers | Torreon, NM | Project: The Phase Shift Videos: Sash | Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202
• Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky | San Francisco, CA |Project: Late Night D-Lite | Location: Garfield Lofts Storefronts, 4600 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
• The WORK Collective featuring Mark Moffett, Tim Ide, Megan Bremer, Toby Grytafey and Joel Washing | Lafayette, CO and Toledo, OH |Project: CUbE x WORK feat. Paxahau | Location: The Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation, 4750 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201

The DLECTRICITY open call is officially closed. Thanks to everyone who shared their ideas with us! Since the last festival in 2012, we received a 40% increase in applications, making this a very competitive pool of ideas. We also received applications from 38 different countries which shows the international interest in Detroit and these type of nuit blanche festivals. We would also like to thank everyone who helped promote DLECTRICITY along with our current sponsors, including the Knight Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the College for Creative Studies. We now are going to have fun reading through all of these exciting applications! More to come…

OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS | Submission Deadline: March 31, 2014

This is the last week to apply for DLECTRICITY! We are still accepting proposals for high-quality projects that will activate the outdoor, nighttime landscape of Midtown Detroit’s Woodward Corridor including:

• Outdoor light installations and interactive light projects
• 3D video mapping projects and video art
• Multimedia installations
• Architectural lighting
• Light design objects
• Projects that use technology for interactivity and community engagement
• Works that utilize mobile platforms (smartphones, tablets)
• Performance (art, dance, theater, music)
• Talks and workshops
• Kid-friendly and/or educational projects
• The unexpected

Accepted proposals will be funded up to $2,500. Artists will also receive a $1,000 honorarium. To apply for the Open Call, please visit HERE.It’s also not too late to contact us with questions about your proposal. We encourage you to call us at 313.420.6000 or at [email protected]. Good luck everyone!

We’ve received some very interesting questions from potential Dlectricity applicants. Here’s what they asked, and our responses. Do you have a question about your project, how to apply, or anything else? Don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected]! You can also review other FAQ here: Apply

Q: I am interested in applying for Dlectricity with an outdoor video projection. I live in outside of Detroit, so I can only propose by the maps and pictures on your web site. My question is, do I have to contact all the buildings in advance, before submitting? How do I know the buildings have not been approached by other artists already, meaning how do I know which ones are available? Does the project have to go through two approvals, the building and the curating committee?

A: You do not need permission in advance of applying. We ask that you name a few locations for your piece and, if your project is selected, we will aid in placing it with the local business owners. The venues listed on our site have participated in the past Dlectricity and we have good relationships with local businesses and institutions, many of whom are our partners. It is important to name more than one location, however, for various reasons ranging from our curated placement, to technical concerns.

Q: Our project uses pyrotechnics. We wish to know if this effect, used in compliance with site specific safety and regulatory requirements, is disallowed by Dlectricity, since the light produced is not electric, but pyrotechnic in nature.

A: Fire is not allowed in Dlectricity projects due to stringent regulations by the Fire Marshall and the unpredictable nature of live events with a large, public audience. Unfortunately there will be no exceptions to this rule. We suggest you try to replace fire with another form of light, if possible.

Q: Regarding the projector rental info you provided, is installation included?

A: Only the rental amount (ie: $1400 for the weekend) needs to come out of your $2500 budget. We will cover additional costs for tech setup, tents, generators, security and projectionist crew. In fact, the artists will not actually touch or move the projectors, we’ll have crew for that and will handle everything from pick up to drop off and in between. This way our event insurance covers the rented equipment. We will work with you on positioning, etc.

Q: Are travel expenses, transportation of equipment, accommodation and food included in the project fund of $2500?

A: Yes, all your travel expenses will need to come from the $2500 in project funding. Please note that you may use the additional $1000 honorarium towards your project budget, for a total of $3500.

If travel expenses will take a large part of your budget, we suggest you look for additional forms of funding. Perhaps there are local artists grants in your area that fund travel for exhibitions? Or maybe you know of a business that wants to sponsor your project? These are good things to look into before you apply, and if you can get additional funds please make note of that in your application. If your project is selected, we can provide letters of invitation needed for these types of grants, as well as sponsor recognition in print and web materials.

Q: I was wondering if the $1000 honorarium is for each artist or for each project proposal. I would like to propose a group project which includes 3 of us.

A: The $1000 honorarium is for each project, not each artist involved.

Q: I have a sculpture that uses special materials. Since the materials and fabrication are expensive, Dlectricity’s $2500 budget wouldn’t allow me to make a new one. Can I propose using an existing piece?

A: It is OK to apply with pre-existing work if the work has not been displayed in Detroit before.

Q: I would like to ask you how many days are the artists are given to install their project on site.

A: We will have two install days on the Wednesday and Thursday before the event, with project testing happening on Thursday evening. In certain instances where the location and/or project calls for extra time, we will work with the artist to make arrangements. If you feel your project will need extra install time, please make note of this in your application along with a brief explanation of your project’s install process.

Q: I wish to propose two different projects (a solo and/or a group project) for DLECTRICITY. Is that possible?

A: Due to the large amount of proposals our curators will have to review, our preference is for each applicant to apply with only one project. If you are able to talk about both proposals within one application, please do so. Otherwise, if you applying with a group another member will need to create a Slideroom account and create a new application. Slideroom accounts are free of charge, as is applying.

Q: Could DLECTRICITY write me a letter for visa purposes?

A: If your project is selected by our curators through the Open Call process, we will work with you to arrange necessary paperwork for your visa process.

Q: When will selected projects be announced?

A: We will announce selected projects by mid-May.

Q: Can I email my application to you?

A: We are only accepting applications through the Slideroom website. Please visit https://midtowndetroitinc.slideroom.com/ to apply.

Q: Is there power at all project locations?

A: We will supply power including generators at all locations throughout the event. This keeps those costs from taking up too much of the budget, and also helps with safety and efficiency.

Q: I’m a local musician/dj. I would love to be play a part in this years event. Are you looking for musicians/djs? Are there any artists who are looking for a musician to work with?

A: While we expect music to be a part of many projects, this is mainly a visual art event and open call applications will be largely selected based on their visual impact. We suggest you partner with a visual artist who may be looking for someone who can provide sound and music. We aren’t able to place you with any artists but Facebook may be a good place to start, otherwise try asking around at local galleries, art schools, museums, etc.

Get the details on applying, including projector rental costs and more! Download the Open Call FAQ directly or find the link on the Open Call info page.

DLECTRICITY will hold an info session on Saturday, February 22nd, at 1:00 pm at MOCAD. We’ll be going over the event, the open call process, the guidelines, and answering your questions. Please attend if you are in Detroit and interested in applying for DLECTRICITY.

Please RSVP by February 20th to:  [email protected], or “join” on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Dlectricity. The MOCAD Cafe will be open if you wish to purchase coffee or snacks.

MOCAD is located at 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.

DLECTRICITY is Detroit’s Nuit Blanche exhibition of art + light, and features artistic projects that incorporate light, including film/video, sculpture, installation and performance. DLECTRICITY takes place during two evenings throughout Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood, home to the Cultural Center. Our 2012 event included works by ten invited artists, as well as 25 projects selected from an open call, and brought over 75,000 people into Midtown Detroit.

DLECTRICITY 2014 will happen September 26 & 27.

The DLECTRICITY 2014 Open Call for Entries is ready, click here to apply!

We want to see your best proposals for light-based art suitable for outdoor installation. We will consider existing works that can be adapted for display in Midtown Detroit, as well as new projects. To learn more, check out the Guidelines and attend our Open Call Info Session, February 22 at MOCAD, 4454 Woodward Ave.