Art installations at DELECTRICITY include pieces for outdoor viewing.
Photo provided by DELECTRICITY Staff
Stephanie Dinkins is all about the here and now for Black and Brown people – and what present-day ideals could look like for this marginalized group, which she unpacks through her work.
In her artistic work, she brings those hard-to-swallow concepts to life in what she calls “afronowism,” which defines what Black people, in particular, want to see today, and the steps it takes to make that a reality.
She added that Black people are often told to sit tight on things to come.
“Wait — don’t worry, it will come,” she said adding that the question then turns into if it doesn’t come, what’s next? If nobody is giving it to me, how do I make it?”
In her upcoming installation, “Secret Garden,” at Beacon Park on September 24-25 her artistic, technology-fueled work will be brought to life during DLECTRICITY, the outdoor festival of light and art.
Dinkins, a transmedia artist, will be one of more than 40 artists participating in the event. Dinkins’ work is a video projection that invites viewers to step into a garden and encounter oral histories spanning generations of Black women. It is presented by Stamps Gallery, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan, according to a press release.
Her work is a “mashup” of two projects that revolve around some thoughts she has had on “the way our stories operate in the world of Black and Brown folks.”
“We’ll hear some of their stories, the power of Black women stories [of] resilience – how we stand on each other’s shoulders. The good, bad and beautiful.”
The other artists representing Detroit and around the world were commissioned to create art, light and technology installations for the highly-anticipated return of DLECTRICITY, according to the press release.
The nighttime outdoor festival of art and light is free to the public and will showcase new works of art.
The event is inspired by other international festivals known for bringing the best of contemporary light and technology-based arts to the streets of major cities from all over the world. DLECTRICITY features artists from Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Detroit.
“DLECTRICITY celebrates the immense power of art and culture in bringing us together,” Susan Mosey, executive director, Midtown Detroit, Inc., (MDI) was quoted in a press release. “We are grateful to our incredible partners whose support makes it possible to bring these world-class artists and projects to Detroit and produce a beautiful outdoor event that allows us to safely connect with art and one another.”
DLECTRICITY 2021 marks the fourth edition and includes the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, College for Creative Studies, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Public Library, Michigan Science Center, Scarab Club and the University of Michigan’s Rackham Building. DLECTRICITY has presented major light-based festivals in 2012, 2014, and 2017.
DLECTRICITY will host internationally acclaimed artists including Yann Nguema and Amanda Parer, among others, to show a range of high-quality light-based projects. Art installations include “The Scene“ with Nat Morris and friends — a programmed music stage and dance floor based on Detroit’s popular televised dance show from the 1970s and 80s.
MDI announced the Light Bike parade is returning on September 25. Starting at Traffic Jam & Snug Restaurant, the electrifying three-mile route will include Midtown and Beacon Park. The public is invited to participate, and registration is now open at https://dlectricity.com/.
MDI is working with health and safety experts, including the global public health organization NSF International, to develop public health and safety protocols for DLECTRICITY. Face masks are encouraged for festival attendees with mask-required zones for specific experiences; hand sanitizing stations will be found throughout the festival footprint, and open spaces will encourage social distancing.
A complete list of artists and event details is available at https://dlectricity.com/.
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