The two links below go to related stories that include a few examples of the types of artwork which will be displayed.
January 8th and January 21 will include some of the artists.
Opening Reception | Friday, January 8, 5-8 pm
Gallery Talk | Thursday, January 21, 7-9 pm
Detroit -- American Dreaming: Car Style Detroit, an exhibit showcasing the ground-breaking talent of the artists who shaped Detroit's automobiles in the 20th century, will be featured at The Scarab Club January 6 to February 13, 2016.
Several notable automotive designers of this period have loaned their original art to this show and will be in attendance at the opening reception on Friday, January 8 from 5-8 p.m.
The public is invited to view the special exhibit Wednesdays through Sundays between noon and 5 p.m. Admission is free. The Scarab Club is located at 217 Farnsworth, Detroit, just east of the Farnsworth entrance to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
On Thursday, January 21 from 7-9 p.m., a walking tour of the exhibit will be conducted by artists whose work is featured, art historians, and the curators of the exhibit, Robert Edwards and Greg Salustro. They will discuss the art of the automotive industry and its place in American art history.
American Dreaming: Car Style Detroit presents more than 50 works of art created in Detroit's automotive studios from the middle decades of the 20th century, a period considered the "Golden Age" of automotive design. In the post-World War II era, Detroit-based automakers hired university-trained artists to produce the most visually appealing cars in an effort to gain market share. This was a time when styling and design were highly valued by carmakers, and artists shaped an industry and changed the look of our country.
Automotive company policies mandated that preliminary artwork be destroyed when the final designs were selected for production, so the vast majority of this artwork has disappeared. Consequently, this exhibit features rare drawings that survived that era.
Until recently, the design work of these artists has been viewed in the context of automotive history, not "high" art. Fortunately, a re-evaluation of this artwork is taking place with increased recognition by mid-century design enthusiasts, car collectors, and art historians.
In connection with this exhibit, a feature-length documentary film, "American Dreaming" is being produced by native Detroiters and exhibit curators Edwards and Salustro. Their film tells the story of Detroit's leadership in the energy, optimism, and economic growth that fueled the world during the mid 20th century - and the role artists played in creating that excitement through automotive design.
"By acknowledging the artists and the art behind the automobile, we arrive at a deeper appreciation of our heritage and the immensely important cultural role Detroit played in the art and culture of the 20th century," said Salustro.
"Through both the exhibition and the film, we want to recognize the artists who shined a bright light into the world from Detroit's great automotive design studios from this era," explained Edwards.
Additional information on the artists, exhibit and documentary are at:
New York Times story on first American Dreaming
PBS New Hour story on American Dreaming documentary
Facebook: American Dreaming
Documentary trailer: AmericanDreamingfilm.com
Questions?
Pleases contact Treena Flannery Ericson at: tericson@scarabclub.org
The Scarab Club
217 Farnsworth
Detroit, MI 48202
313-831-1250
scarabclub.org
Regular gallery hours:
Wednesday-Sunday, Noon-5 pm
The Scarab Club | 217 Farnsworth | Detroit | MI | 48202
January 8th and January 21 will include some of the artists.
Opening Reception | Friday, January 8, 5-8 pm
Gallery Talk | Thursday, January 21, 7-9 pm
Detroit -- American Dreaming: Car Style Detroit, an exhibit showcasing the ground-breaking talent of the artists who shaped Detroit's automobiles in the 20th century, will be featured at The Scarab Club January 6 to February 13, 2016.
Several notable automotive designers of this period have loaned their original art to this show and will be in attendance at the opening reception on Friday, January 8 from 5-8 p.m.
The public is invited to view the special exhibit Wednesdays through Sundays between noon and 5 p.m. Admission is free. The Scarab Club is located at 217 Farnsworth, Detroit, just east of the Farnsworth entrance to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
On Thursday, January 21 from 7-9 p.m., a walking tour of the exhibit will be conducted by artists whose work is featured, art historians, and the curators of the exhibit, Robert Edwards and Greg Salustro. They will discuss the art of the automotive industry and its place in American art history.
American Dreaming: Car Style Detroit presents more than 50 works of art created in Detroit's automotive studios from the middle decades of the 20th century, a period considered the "Golden Age" of automotive design. In the post-World War II era, Detroit-based automakers hired university-trained artists to produce the most visually appealing cars in an effort to gain market share. This was a time when styling and design were highly valued by carmakers, and artists shaped an industry and changed the look of our country.
Automotive company policies mandated that preliminary artwork be destroyed when the final designs were selected for production, so the vast majority of this artwork has disappeared. Consequently, this exhibit features rare drawings that survived that era.
Until recently, the design work of these artists has been viewed in the context of automotive history, not "high" art. Fortunately, a re-evaluation of this artwork is taking place with increased recognition by mid-century design enthusiasts, car collectors, and art historians.
In connection with this exhibit, a feature-length documentary film, "American Dreaming" is being produced by native Detroiters and exhibit curators Edwards and Salustro. Their film tells the story of Detroit's leadership in the energy, optimism, and economic growth that fueled the world during the mid 20th century - and the role artists played in creating that excitement through automotive design.
"By acknowledging the artists and the art behind the automobile, we arrive at a deeper appreciation of our heritage and the immensely important cultural role Detroit played in the art and culture of the 20th century," said Salustro.
"Through both the exhibition and the film, we want to recognize the artists who shined a bright light into the world from Detroit's great automotive design studios from this era," explained Edwards.
Additional information on the artists, exhibit and documentary are at:
New York Times story on first American Dreaming
PBS New Hour story on American Dreaming documentary
Facebook: American Dreaming
Documentary trailer: AmericanDreamingfilm.com
Questions?
Pleases contact Treena Flannery Ericson at: tericson@scarabclub.org
The Scarab Club
217 Farnsworth
Detroit, MI 48202
313-831-1250
scarabclub.org
Regular gallery hours:
Wednesday-Sunday, Noon-5 pm
The Scarab Club | 217 Farnsworth | Detroit | MI | 48202
