Dlectricity event organizers hope light draws attention to Detroit’s Midtown

By Michael H. Hodges, Detroit News Fine Arts Writer

Organizers of the Detroit’s new fall festival, Dlectricity – Detroit’s Nighttime Exhibition of Art + Light, said at a press conference this morning they’ve already gotten commitments from five sets of artists, both international and local, to create dazzling outdoor installations for the nighttime event that will take place Oct. 5 and 6.

In all, there will be about 30 art and light projects that planners say will turn Detroit’s Midtown into an illuminated urban spectacle.

The event is timed to coincide with similar light festivals that weekend in New York and Paris — Bring to Light in New York, and Nuit Blanche in Paris.

Dlectricity, which is the brainchild of members of Art Detroit Now, will take place between Kirby Street and Mack Avenue, and Cass Avenue to John R in Detroit’s Midtown. The plan is to focus activity and events at several major nodes that will attract enough in the way of crowds to draw attention.

“Our hope is that people will drive down to see the light,” said Dlectricity curatorial committee member Marc Schwartz, “see audiences in these two places, and feel comfortable parking their car and getting out.”

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120426/ENT01/204260451#ixzz1tFHo2IYn