Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit
Click photo to enlarge
This photograph of the Tiger Stadium demolition is from Myett Risker's presentation. She was one of 13 creatives to present work samples to around 250 people at Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit Volume 4.
Photo: Myett Risker
Twenty slides. Twenty seconds each.
Pecha Kucha Night crosses the corporate PowerPoint presentation with speed dating. Each presenter displays 20 slides for 20 seconds each; you get six minutes and 40 seconds to perk interest.
The international phenomenon was developed in 2003 by two Tokyo-based architects. The event provides a forum for creatives to meet, network and showcase their work. Through word of mouth and the Internet, Pecha Kucha (which refers to the sound of conversation in Japanese and is pronounced “peh-chak-cha”) has spread virally to 132 cities worldwide.
Detroit jumped aboard last fall.
The quarterly event is organized by the Emerging Professionals Committee of the American Institute of Architects Detroit chapter and Detroit Synergy, a nonprofit group that organizes events to promote the city. Detroit Make it Here is the official media sponsor.
Anyone interested in sampling what is happening in Detroit’s creative scene is welcome to attend Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit Volume 5. More details to come.
If you're interested in being a presenter, click here for details.
Organizers will select 12 compelling presenters, usually from creative fields such as design, architecture, photography and art. The event normally attracts 250 guests.
Detroit Make it Here will post presentations and presenter profiles after every event. To view presentations from Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit Volume 4, click on the presenter's name below. For presenter profiles and video coverage from Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit Volume 3, click here.
Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit Volume 4 presenters
Age: 53.
Job: Architect and proprietor, FX Architecture L.L.C.
Residence: Royal Oak.
Presented: Architecture and design. Specifically, a transit-oriented urban proposal for Royal Oak; an urban market center for Charlottesville, Va.; two minor-league ballpark proposals; the Pipefitters’ Union Hall offices in Farmington Hills; three houses in metro Detroit; and three exhibit designs for the DIA.
What makes your work interesting? The complexity of ideas and innovative use of form and materials.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? It's open to the new and reliant on the industrial history.
What’s up next? “Avedon Photography” exhibit and “Through African Eyes” exhibit, both at the DIA. Hopefully the construction of the new minor league ballpark in Waterford Township.
Denise Abrash and Mike Stapleton
Age: 56 and 50, respectively.
Job: Co-owners, Prop Art Studio Inc.
Residence: Bloomfield Hills and Grosse Pointe Woods.
Presented: Costumes, 3D billboards, exhibits, set designs and props.
What makes your work interesting? Every day is different. Challenges are daily.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? Detroit's creative scene is the best-kept secret in North America. There is so much talent here.
What’s up next? We are currently working on a 10-location mall installation in Los Angeles for a major burger company.
Age: 48.
Job: Visual artist.
Residence: Royal Oak.
Presented: Acrylic paintings, representational paintings done live in front of an audience, three-dimensional pieces (one was a cow commissioned by McDonald's but later given to the Heritage Park Petting Farm in Taylor), and costumes for a Detroit Institute of Arts event in 2000.
What makes your work interesting? My style is based on uninhibited spontaneous expression, meaning I try to focus on the emotional rather than the technical aspect of creating.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? Detroit has the potential to do great things, especially in these challenging economic times. The art scene is not about vanity and the whims of the elite; it's raw, expressive, socially conscious and pure. The creative community here is up for the challenge.
What’s up next? I have a show, running through June 30 at Amici’s Living Room in Berkley. It’s called “Out of the Box!” and features pizza box art. I have a couple of murals in the pipeline, one at the Coalition on Temporary Shelter in Detroit and the other in downtown Ferndale.
Age: 34.
Job: Architect, Hamilton Anderson.
Residence: Detroit.
Presented: Renovation of the children’s section in the north wing at the Detroit Public Library.
What makes your work interesting? It’s crucial that the design of the Children’s Library doesn’t underestimate the intelligence of its primary users. The proposed space allows for expanded investigation and collaboration, where each child can have a completely different experience in different areas of the library. More importantly, we wanted to create an environment that inspires; where learning and social development are associated with a thoughtful and compelling design.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? Detroit’s creative scene is very open and democratic. There is no secrecy among its participants, which leads to collaboration.
What’s up next? The children’s section is about to enter the bid process; Construction will hopefully begin at the end of this year. With the development of our design blog and various design articles, I’ve been researching viable urban design strategies for the city of Detroit. I’ve also been working on several urban design projects for the city of New Orleans.
Age: 27.
Job: Photographer and proprietor, Howrani Studios.
Residence: Detroit.
Presented: Images of two urban cultures in Detroit: the hip-hop culture and the contemporary, urban-hippie culture.
What makes your work interesting? The majority of my images have the scent of Detroit because of the subjects I shoot. I make sure the compositions are unique and real, which helps spark viewer interest.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? It's open, not overly saturated. I hope to consider it my home for life.
What’s up next? I’ll be taking jobs as they come, but I’m eager to get into motion-picture production, montages and music videos. I also hope to work with local schools to create art and lifestyle programs.
Age: 49.
Job: Architect, Hamilton Anderson Associates Inc.
Residence: Detroit.
Presented: Development of the Kales Building on West Adams Avenue in downtown Detroit. Everything from financing to design and construction.
What makes your work interesting? The development process is often misinterpreted as very simple. I will be showing the great difficulties of development.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? The variety and the readily accessible viewing and performance opportunities.
What’s up next? I’m looking forward to a creative, rewarding, yet relaxing summer in the city.
Age: 46.
Job: President and architect, McIntosh Poris Associates.
Residence: Birmingham.
Presented: Detroit projects we’ve worked on since 1995, including master plans for North Corktown and the Corktown-Mexicantown Greenlink, multi-family condo conversions, lofts and townhomes. Arts projects included Museum of New Art and 4731 Gallery. I also presented projects we worked to save over the years, including the Book Cadillac.
What makes your work interesting? We’re socially conscious, diverse and budget-driven, without compromising good design.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? Detroit has an authenticity that was lost or never existed in many other cities. We can make a difference here.
What’s up next? We’re in talks to do a couple of adaptive reuse projects in Detroit.
Age: 38.
Job: Artist and proprietor, Svasara Inc.
Residence: Leonard.
Presented: Elephant treasure chests (abstract-shaped steel trunks).
What makes your work interesting? The treasure chests are an extraordinary take on the typical storage trunk.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? This part of Michigan is dense with talented craftsmen. I believe that the auto industry has bred a natural openness in people to foster different creative skills. It feels great to find people’s lives enriched by what they create.
What’s up next? Working on my next series of treasure chests made of wood.
Age: 35.
Job: Freelance photographer.
Residence: Detroit.
Presented: Photography from my senior thesis, printed on papyrus paper. The pieces affirm that even if you’re not considered an American beauty, you can still be beautiful.
What makes your work interesting? I use photography to tell stories using different cameras — from digital to the first Kodak Polaroid. I like to challenge myself by using techniques that aren’t often associated with traditional photography.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? It’s small yet vibrant.
What’s up next? I’m looking to collaborate with like-minded people to connect and expand the artist community in Detroit.
Age: 50.
Job: Artist and proprietor of Dasa Designs.
Residence: Berkley.
Presented: A variety of mixed-media work from over the past 10 years.
What makes your work interesting? I combine steel with stone, old wood and glass. I sometimes forge the stuff using a hammer and anvil. Other times, I’ll go for a very contemporary look and use stainless steel. I love to make bud vases because the contrast between the delicate flower and raw steel is stunning. What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? The variety and the surprises that you’ll find when you dig around a little.
What’s up next? I’ll continue to make art.
Age: 45.
Job: Detroit greenways coordinator, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.
Residence: Royal Oak.
Presented: A collection of photographs and stories with two common threads: Detroit and bicycles. This includes coverage of efforts to build a citywide trail and greenway network.
What makes your work interesting? Many cities are building these networks, but few are doing so in such a challenging and unique environment. That said, it’s interesting because we’re learning and making the rules as we go.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? I like that it’s energetic, engaging and reflects Detroit’s hardworking, gritty and unpretentious persona. I love the museums, the events (like Theatre Bizarre) and the great music.
What’s up next? We’re looking for major financing to get our trail and greenway network built and maintained.
Age: 38.
Job: Proprietor, Zoyes East Inc.
Residence: Grosse Pointe Farms.
Presented: Images of architectural models, miniatures and other projects.
What makes your work interesting? I think that architects, developers and designers find our models useful, but what’s really unique is their ability to speak to the general public; the way a display model can stop someone, get them to move around it for a second look, or see something in a different way. Not too many artistic mediums can do that as well as models can.
What do you like about Detroit’s creative scene? The body of work is so varied and thoughtful. I get the sense that artists working here draw a lot from the city’s history but also from the culture and the future.
What’s up next? I want to use my experience in model making to focus on the fine details of architectural design.
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