MIKE KELLEY, 1954-2012

MOCAD is devastated to learn of the death of honored and valued artist Mike Kelley. His importance and generosity to Detroit, his birthplace, and to MOCAD, where he was working on a major project, cannot be overestimated. We will remember an impish, deeply thoughtful and provocative man whose art embraced all sides of the human psyche. Rest in peace, Mike. Rest in peace.

Image courtesy the artists
February 10-April 29, 2012
Joshua White and Gary Panter’s Light Show

Joshua White and Gary Panter’s Light Show is a new exhibition organized especially for the Museum by two great pioneers of multimedia art. White and Panter have been working together since the late 1990s, and this exhibition is their largest collaborative project to date.

Occupying nearly all of the Museum’s 22,000 square foot area, this immersive installation features a “permanent” light show designed by White (of Woodstock and Fillmore East fame) that will be on view through the entirety of the exhibition’s run. Panter, whose prolific output is most recognized in the set design for Pee-wee’s Playhouse, will construct a funhouse of his imagination. Bridging these two worlds is a historical corridor, filled with ephemera illuminating their long-running careers. Materials from the archives of both artists will be on display to illustrate the range and depth of their work.

As intended by White and Panter, the exhibition will serve as a platform for performances by guests working in a variety of media and disciplines, including musicians, video artists, comedians and engineers, who are invited to interact with the work and activate the space.

Joshua White and Gary Panter's Light Show is supported by a generous grant from The Taubman Foundation.

Additional funding for the exhibition and related programs is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Masco Corporation Foundation, McGregor Fund and Edith S. Briskin/Shirley K. Schlafer Foundation.

MOCAD CAFÉ NOW OPEN! Click here to learn more.

FAMILY DAY
Sunday, February 19, 12PM-4PM
I Love You and ha ha ha ha ha! with Chido Johnson
Admission: Free

Laugh, Detroit! A community extravaganza comprised of three unabashedly silly activities. “Laughter Ambassador” Sue Ansari, RN, will lead drop-in laughter yoga workshops.  She is among the first students of laughter guru and founder of laughter yoga, Dr. Kataria from India, and is enlisted to assist him in workshops. The laughter will be performatively encapsulated into a giant head, which will then be placed with another head in Johnson’s ongoing exhibit. Last but not least, we will be making our own smiley face “Laugh Detroit” t-shirts. Young and old alike are invited to not take themselves too seriously.

For more information in Chido Johnson and his artwork visit his website http://chidox.com

FARMER’S TALK
Saturday, February 25, 1PM
Winter Gardening, Rotational Grazing
Admission: Free

Homer Walden and Dru Peters from Sunnyside Farm in Dover, PA share their experiments and experiences with winter gardening, rotational grazing and growing a small tractor-less farm business. Sunnyside Farm is a pasture based, intensive-grazed family farm offering eggs, chicken, turkey, pork, beef and CSA subscriptions. Using only people and animal power on their property, their cows mow the grass, their chickens and turkeys follow behind and their pigs till the garden plots. They grow heritage breeds and make every effort to get GMO-free feed for their birds.

For more information visit http://www.sunny-side-farm.com/

TECHNOLOGY + COLLABORATION + COMMUNITY + CHANGE

WORKSHOP and DISCUSSION
Saturday, February 25, 5PM-9:30 PM
Initiate
Admission: Free

Initiate will explore creative uses of primarily open source technology and open source approaches to creating art and social change. Join us for short presentations and open dialogue featuring local, national and international artists, technologists and community organizers. Featuring members of openFrameworks.

Technology can be used to transform communities, empower people and create innovative works of art. This week long event series will explore how open source technology can be used to do that work within Detroit. This program features members of openFrameworks which is hosting their annual worldwide developers conference in Detroit. openFrameworks is an open source C++ toolkit designed to assist the creative process by providing a simple and intuitive framework for experimentation. 

Featuring openFrameworks in partnership with Emergence Media, rootoftwo, Artserve Michigan, Allied Media Projects, Work Department, MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit) and the Detroit Digital Justice Coalition.  

For more info email info@emergencemedia.org

Museum Tours
Please contact Katie McGowan, Curator of Education, at kmcgowan@mocadetroit.org to schedule a tour.

All MOCAD tours are free and open to the public

Museum Hours
Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday: 11 - 5 pm
Thursday & Friday: 11 - 8 pm
closed Monday & Tuesday

Café Hours
Tuesday & Wednesday: 9 - 5 pm
Thursday & Friday: 9 - 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday 11 - 5 pm
closed Monday

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