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Tag: Visual Art

  • Free Will Astrology (July 3-9)

    Free Will Astrology (July 3-9)

    ARIES (March 21-April 19): The “nirvana fallacy” is the belief that because something is less than utterly perfect, it is gravely defective or even irredeemably broken. Wikipedia says, “The nirvana fallacy compares actual things with unrealistic, idealized alternatives.” Most of us are susceptible to this flawed approach to dealing with the messiness of human existence. But it’s especially important that you avoid such thinking in the coming weeks. To inspire you to find excellence and value in the midst of untidy jumbles and rumpled complexities, I recommend you have fun with the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi. It prizes and praises the soulful beauty found in things that are irregular, incomplete, and imperfect.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are coming to a fork in the road — a crux where two paths diverge. What should you do? Author Marie Forleo says, “When it comes to forks in the road, your heart always knows the answer, not your mind.” Here’s my corollary: Choose the path that will best nourish your soul’s desires. Now here’s your homework, Taurus: Contact your Future Self in a dream or meditation and ask that beautiful genius to provide you with a message and a sign. Plus, invite them to give you a wink with either the left eye or right eye.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Last year, you sent out a clear message to life requesting help and support. It didn’t get the response you wished for. You felt sad. But now I have good news. One or both of the following may soon occur. 1. Your original message will finally lead to a response that buoys your soul. 2. You will send out a new message similar to the one in 2023, and this time you will get a response that makes you feel helped and supported. Maybe you didn’t want to have to be so patient, Gemini, but I’m glad you refused to give up hope.

    CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Fates have authorized me to authorize you to be bold and spunky. You have permission to initiate gutsy experiments and to dare challenging feats. Luck and grace will be on your side as you consider adventures you’ve long wished you had the nerve to entertain. Don’t do anything risky or foolish, of course. Avoid acting like you’re entitled to grab rewards you have not yet earned. But don’t be self-consciously cautious or timid, either. Proceed as if help and resources will arrive through the magic of your audacity. Assume you will be able to summon more confidence than usual.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): All of us, including me, have aspects of our lives that are stale or unkempt, even decaying. What would you say is the most worn-out thing about you? Are there parts of your psyche or environment that would benefit from a surge of clean-up and revival? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to attend to these matters. You are likely to attract extra help and inspiration as you make your world brighter and livelier. The first rule of the purgation and rejuvenation process: Have fun!

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): On those rare occasions when I buy furniture from online stores, I try hard to find sources that will send me the stuff already assembled. I hate spending the time to put together jumbles of wood and metal. More importantly, I am inept at doing so. In alignment with astrological omens, I recommend you take my approach in regard to every situation in your life during the coming weeks. Your operative metaphor should be this: Whatever you want or need, get it already fully assembled.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When Adragon De Mello was born under the sign of Libra in 1976, his father had big plans for him. Dad wanted him to get a PhD in physics by age 12, garner a Nobel Prize by 16, get elected President of the United States by 26, and then become head of a world government by 30. I’d love for you to fantasize about big, unruly dreams like that in the coming weeks — although with less egotism and more amusement and adventurousness. Give yourself a license to play with amazing scenarios that inspire you to enlarge your understanding of your own destiny. Provide your future with a dose of healing wildness.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Your horoscopes are too complicated,” a reader named Estelle wrote to me recently. “You give us too many ideas. Your language is too fancy. I just want simple advice in plain words.” I wrote back to tell her that if I did what she asked, I wouldn’t be myself. “Plenty of other astrologers out there can meet your needs,” I concluded. As for you, dear Scorpio, I think you will especially benefit from influences like me in the coming weeks — people who appreciate nuance and subtlety, who love the poetry of life, who eschew clichés and conventional wisdom, who can nurture your rich, spicy, complicated soul.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The coming weeks will be prime time for you to re-imagine the history of your destiny. How might you do that? In your imagination, revisit important events from the past and reinterpret them using the new wisdom you’ve gained since they happened. If possible, perform any atonement, adjustment, or intervention that will transform the meaning of what happened once upon a time. Give the story of your life a fresh title. Rename the chapters. Look at old photos and videos and describe to yourself what you know now about those people and situations that you didn’t know back then. Are there key events from the old days that you have repressed or ignored? Raise them up into the light of consciousness.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1972, before the internet existed, Capricorn actor Anthony Hopkins spent a day visiting London bookstores in search of a certain tome: The Girl from Petrovka. Unable to locate a copy, he decided to head home. On the way, he sat on a random bench, where he found the original manuscript of The Girl of Petrovka. It had been stolen from the book’s author George Feifer and abandoned there by the thief. I predict an almost equally unlikely or roundabout discovery or revelation for you in the coming days. Prediction: You may not unearth what you’re looking for in an obvious place, but you will ultimately unearth it.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarius-born Desmond Doss (1919–2006) joined the American army at the beginning of World War II. But because of his religious beliefs, he refused to use weapons. He became a medic who accompanied troops to Guam and the Philippines. During the next few years, he won three medals of honor, which are usually given solely to armed combatants. His bravest act came in 1944, when he saved the lives of 70 wounded soldiers during a battle. I propose we make him your inspirational role model for the coming weeks, Aquarius. In his spirit, I invite you to blend valor and peace-making. Synergize compassion and fierce courage. Mix a knack for poise and healing with a quest for adventure.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): What types of people are you most attracted to, Pisces? Not just those you find most romantically and sexually appealing, but also those with whom a vibrant alliance is most gracefully created. And those you’re inclined to seek out for collaborative work and play. This knowledge is valuable information to have; it helps you gravitate toward relationships that are healthy for you. Now and then, though, it’s wise to experiment with connections and influences that aren’t obviously natural — to move outside your usual set of expectations and engage with characters you can’t immediately categorize. I suspect the coming weeks will be one of those times.

    Homework: Who is the most important person or animal in your life? I invite you to give them a surprising gift.

    Rob Brezsny

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  • Best Dating Sites – Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match

    Best Dating Sites – Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match

    Finding the right adult dating site can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve worked hard to bring you the best adult dating sites to connect with the perfect match.

    Our top pick is Adult Friend Finder, known for its vast user base and various dating options. We’ll also feature other great dating sites to suit different needs and preferences. Let’s get started!

    Best Adult Dating Sites

    1. ⭐Adult Friend Finder – Editor’s choice as the Best dating Site Overall
    2. Ashley Madison – Best for Affairs
    3. Seeking – Best for a Luxurious Dating Experience
    4. Eharmony – Best for Long-term Relationships
    5. Elite Singles – Best for Ambitious Professionals
    6. Zoosk – Best for Versatile Dating
    7. Hinge– Best for Fun and Versatile Dating
    8. Bumble – Best for Empowering and Interactive Dating
    9. OK Cupid – Best for Embracing a Diverse Community
    10. The League – Best For Elite Professionals
    11. Happn – Best for Real-life Connections
    12. Her – Best for LGBTQ+ Dating
    13. Silver Singles – Best for Focused on Mature Relationships
    14. Coffee Meets Bagel – Best for Thoughtful Connections
    15. Plenty of Fish – Best for a Wide Range of Options
    16. Match – Best for Trusted for Serious Dating
    17. Tinder – Best for Quick and Casual Hookups

    17 Best Adult Dating Sites

    Let’s examine our top 17 picks for the best adult dating sites.

    Adult Friend Finder – Best Dating Site Overall

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (2)

    Pros

    • Huge user base
    • Variety of dating options
    • Easy-to-navigate interface
    • Numerous communication tools
    • Frequent updates and features

    Cons

    • Some profiles may be spam
    • Free version has limited features

    Adult Friend Finder was launched in 1996 and is among the oldest and most popular online dating sites. It caters to individuals seeking casual encounters, hookups, and open-minded connections. With over 80 million members worldwide, it offers a diverse and active community for great connections.

    Top Features

    • Live Chat: Real-time interaction with potential matches.
    • Video Profiles: Add a personal touch to your profile.
    • Groups and Blogs: Join communities and engage in discussions.
    • Advanced Search: Find matches based on specific criteria.
    • Mobile App: Stay connected on the go.

    Why Adult Friend Finder Stands Out

    Adult Friend Finder stands out for its long-standing reputation and excellent features. It offers a comprehensive platform for those seeking no-strings-attached fun.

    Pricing

    • 1-Month Gold Membership: $39.95/month
    • 3-Month Gold Membership: $26.95/month ($80.85 billed quarterly)
    • 12-Month Gold Membership: $19.95/month ($239.40 billed yearly)

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the site’s variety of communication tools and active community. However, some users note there are several spam profiles and limited free features.

    Sign Up to Adult Friend Finder

    Ashley Madison – Best for Affairs

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (17)

    Pros

    • Ideal for discrete connections
    • Large user base
    • Easy-to-use interface
    • Comprehensive privacy features
    • Active community

    Cons

    • Extra charges for certain features
    • Limited features for free users

    Ashley Madison was launched in 2001 and is renowned for facilitating discreet relationships. The site is popular, especially among married individuals, and has over 50+ million active members. It provides a secure platform for those seeking extramarital connections without fear of exposure.

    Top Features

    • Discreet Browsing: Advanced privacy options to keep your activities confidential.
    • Large User Base: Over 50+ million active members globally.
    • Priority Messaging: Stand out in someone’s inbox with priority messages.
    • Travelling Man Feature: Connect with potential matches in different locations.
    • Virtual Gifts: Enhance your profile and interactions with virtual gifts.

    Why Ashley Madison Stands Out

    Ashley Madison stands out for its unique niche in facilitating discreet, extramarital affairs. Its extensive privacy features and large user base make it a trusted choice.

    Pricing

    • Free for women
    • Basic (100 Credits): $49 ($0.49 per credit)
    • Classic (500 Credits): $149 ($0.30 per credit)
    • Elite (1,000 Credits): $249 ($0.25 per credit)

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the site’s privacy features and large, active community. However, some express concerns about its controversial reputation.

    Sign Up for Ashley Madison

    Seeking – Best for a Luxurious Dating Experience

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (8)

    Pros

    • High-quality profiles
    • Transparent arrangements
    • Large user base
    • User-friendly interface
    • Exclusive events

    Cons

    • Premium membership required for full features
    • Some profiles may not be genuine

    Seeking is a premium dating site that launched in 2006. It connects attractive individuals with successful people looking for luxurious engagements

    Top Features

    • Profile Verification: Ensures authenticity and safety.
    • Advanced Search: Helps find matches based on detailed criteria.
    • Exclusive Events: Invitations to private parties and events.
    • Messaging System: Secure and private communication.
    • Income and Net Worth Display: Transparency in profiles.

    Why Seeking Stands Out

    Seeking stands out for its focus on high-end, mutually beneficial relationships. The site’s emphasis on transparency and quality ensures members’ needs are met.

    Pricing

    • 1-Month Premium Membership: $109.99/month
    • 3-Month Premium Membership: $96.66/month ($289.99 billed quarterly)
    • 1-Month Diamond Membership: $274.99/month
    • Premium One-Time Purchase: $289.99 for 90 days
    • Diamond One-Time Purchase: $274.99 for 30 days

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users highlight the quality of profiles and the site’s focus on transparency. Some concerns include the cost of premium membership and occasional fake profiles.

    Sign Up to Seeking

    Eharmony – Best for Long-term Relationships

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (5)

    Pros

    • Comprehensive matching algorithm
    • Detailed profiles
    • High success rate for long-term relationships
    • Secure platform
    • Mobile app available

    Cons

    • Time-consuming signup process
    • Expensive compared to other sites

    Brief Site Overview

    Eharmony was launched in 2000 and is one of the most trusted dating sites for serious relationships. It uses a detailed personality test and compatibility matching system to connect users. You can easily find a compatible partner for a long-term relationship.

    Top Features

    • Compatibility Quiz: In-depth personality test to find the best matches.
    • Secure Messaging: Safe communication within the platform.
    • Video Date: Virtual dates for better connections.
    • Profile Insights: Detailed analysis of compatibility.
    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners.

    Why Eharmony Stands Out

    Eharmony stands out for its rigorous matching algorithm and focuses on serious relationships. The detailed profiles and high success rate make it a preferred choice for those looking for lasting love.

    Pricing

    • Basic: Free
    • Premium Light (6 Months): $65.90/month or $395.40 total
    • Premium Plus (12 Months): $45.90/month or $550.80 total
    • Premium Extra (24 Months): $35.90/month or $861.60 total
    • *Prices may vary based on location

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users praise the site for its effective matching system and focus on serious relationships. However, some find the signup process lengthy and the cost relatively high.

    Sign Up to Eharmony

    Elite Singles – Best for Ambitious Professionals

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (11)

    Pros

    • Professional dating
    • High-quality matches
    • Verified profiles
    • Detailed profiles
    • Secure platform

    Cons

    • Premium features require payment
    • Limited free access

    Elite Singles, launched in 2013, caters to professionals seeking meaningful relationships. It has over 12.5+ million active members worldwide. The site offers high-quality matches and verified profiles for serious connections.

    Top Features

    • Professional Dating: Connects professionals with like-minded individuals.
    • High-Quality Matches: Focuses on serious, meaningful relationships.
    • Verified Profiles: Ensures all profiles are authentic.
    • Detailed Profiles: Comprehensive profiles for better matching.
    • Secure Platform: Protects user data and privacy.

    Why Elite Singles Stands Out

    Elite Singles stands out for its focus on professional dating and high-quality matches. The verified and detailed profiles enhance the matching process for serious connections.

    Pricing

    • Premium Classic (1 Month): $59.95/month.
    • Premium Light (3 Months): $57.95/month or $173.85 total.
    • Premium Comfort (6 Months): $44.95/month or $269.70 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users commend the site for its focus on professional dating and high-quality matches. They also praise their verified profiles and secure platform.

    Sign Up for Elite Singles

    Zoosk – Best for Fun and Versatile Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (13)

    Pros

    • Large and active user base (over 40+ million)
    • Behavioral matchmaking technology
    • Easy-to-use interface
    • Variety of communication tools
    • Available in multiple languages

    Cons

    • Some features require payment
    • Free version has limited access

    Brief Site Overview

    Zoosk is a popular dating platform known for its fun and versatile approach to online dating. It was launched in 2007 and uses behavioral matchmaking technology to suggest compatible matches. This makes it easier for users to find potential partners based on their preferences and activity.

    Top Features

    • Behavioral Matchmaking: Uses user activity to suggest compatible matches.
    • SmartPick: Daily curated matches based on compatibility.
    • Carrousel: Quickly browse through potential matches.
    • Messaging System: Multiple communication tools to interact with matches.
    • Verification System: Ensures the authenticity of profiles.

    Why Zoosk Stands Out

    Zoosk stands out for its innovative behavioral matchmaking technology and large user base. It offers a variety of features that cater to different dating preferences.

    • Free Membership: Limited access to features.
    • Premium Membership (1 Month): $29.95/month.
    • Premium Membership (3 Months): $19.98/month or $59.95 total.
    • Premium Membership (6 Months): $12.49/month or $74.95 total.
    • 12-Month Plan: $10.00/month or $120 total

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the site’s user-friendly interface and effective matchmaking technology. However, some users note the limited access to free members and the cost of premium features. The site also does not conduct criminal background checks, but users love its security.

    Sign Up for Zoosk

    Hinge – Best for Fun and Versatile Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (6)

    Pros

    • Detailed profiles
    • Focus on meaningful connections
    • Innovative features
    • Active user base
    • 23+ million US-based members

    Cons

    • Premium features can be expensive
    • Some users experience fewer matches

    Hinge was launched in 2012 and focuses on fostering genuine relationships rather than casual hookups. It uses detailed profiles and prompts to encourage meaningful conversations and connections.

    Top Features

    • Detailed Profiles: Encourages users to share more about themselves.
    • Prompt Questions: Ice-breaker questions to start conversations.
    • We Met: Feedback feature to improve matching.
    • Video Chat: Virtual dates for better connections.
    • Discover: Explore potential matches outside daily recommendations.

    Why Hinge Stands Out

    Hinge stands out for its focus on creating meaningful connections and innovative dating approaches. The detailed profiles and prompt questions help users to get to know each other better.

    Pricing

    • Free Version: Up to 8 profile likes per day
    • Hinge+: $30/month
    • HingeX: $50/month or $600/year

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users praise Hinge for its focus on authentic relationships and detailed profiles. Some users, however, mention the high cost of premium features and fewer matches in certain areas.

    Sign Up to Hinge

    Bumble – Best for Empowering and Interactive Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (15)

    Pros

    • Women make the first move
    • Multiple modes (dating, BFF, Bizz)
    • Emphasis on respect and safety
    • User-friendly interface
    • Free version available

    Cons

    • Limited features for free users
    • Some matches expire quickly

    Bumble was launched in 2014 to empower women to make the first move. It offers an interactive platform for romantic relationships, friendships, and professional networking. Bumble’s unique approach encourages equality and safety in online interactions.

    Top Features

    • Women First: Women initiate conversations.
    • BFF Mode: Find new friends.
    • Bizz Mode: Professional networking.
    • Video Chat: Virtual dates and meetings.
    • SuperSwipe: Show extra interest in potential matches.

    Why Bumble Stands Out

    Bumble stands out for its women-first approach and emphasis on respect and safety. The app’s multiple modes allow users to use it for various purposes.

    Pricing

    1 Week: $8.99/week
    1 Month: $16.99/month
    3 Months: $33.99 for three months paid upfront
    6 Months: $54.99 for six months paid upfront

    1 Week: $19.99/week
    1 Month: $39.99/month
    3 Months: $76.99 for three months paid upfront
    Lifetime: $229.99

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate Bumble’s empowering approach and multiple modes. However, some users find the monthly subscription cost costly and the match expiration times restrictive.

    Sign Up to Bumble

    OK Cupid – Best for Embracing a Diverse Community

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (14)

    Pros

    • Inclusive and diverse user base
    • Detailed profiles and questions
    • Variety of communication options
    • Free version with ample features
    • Compatibility scores

    Cons

    • Some profiles may not be active
    • Ads in free version

    Brief Site Overview

    OK Cupid, launched in 2004, is known for its inclusive and diverse community. It uses a unique questionnaire and compatibility scores to match users with potential partners. This ensures you find someone who shares your interests and values.

    Top Features

    • Compatibility Questions: Detailed questionnaire for better matches.
    • Double Take: Browse potential matches with detailed profiles.
    • Messaging: Various ways to communicate with matches.
    • Profile Prompts: Encourage users to share more about themselves.
    • Open Messaging: Anyone can message, but prioritized for mutual likes.

    Why OK Cupid Stands Out

    OK Cupid stands out for its inclusivity and detailed matching system. The compatibility questions help users find like-minded partners. The site also offers various communication options, making interactions easier.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features with ads.
    • A-List Basic (1 Month): $19.95/month.
    • A-List Basic (3 Months): $14.95/month or $44.85 total.
    • A-List Basic (6 Months): $9.95/month or $59.70 total.
    • A-List Premium (1 Month): $34.90/month.
    • A-List Premium (3 Months): $29.90/month or $89.70 total.
    • A-List Premium (6 Months): $24.90/month or $149.40 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users love the site’s inclusivity and detailed profiles. However, some users note the presence of inactive profiles and ads in the free version.

    Sign Up to OK Cupid

    The League – Best for Elite Professionals

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (7)

    Pros

    • High-quality, professional members
    • Exclusive and selective
    • Detailed profiles
    • Networking opportunities
    • Event Invitations

    Cons

    • Expensive premium membership
    • Limited matches for free users

    Brief Site Overview

    The League was launched in 2015 and is an exclusive dating app designed for elite professionals. It ensures a high standard of members through a rigorous selection process.

    Top Features

    • Profile Verification: Ensures high-quality, professional members.
    • Selective Matching: Curated matches to ensure quality.
    • Video Dating: Virtual dates with potential matches.
    • Networking Events: Invitations to exclusive events and mixers.
    • LinkedIn Integration: Connects with professional profiles for authenticity.

    Why The League Stands Out

    The League stands out for its exclusivity and focus on elite professionals. The selective matching process ensures high-quality matches for singles.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Limited access with few matches.
    • Member (1 Month): $99/month.
    • Member (6 Months): $67/month or $399 total.
    • Member (12 Months): $33/month or $399 total.
    • Owner (1 Month): $199/month.
    • Owner (6 Months): $83/month or $499 total.
    • Owner (12 Months): $42/month or $499 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the high-quality matches and networking opportunities. However, some find the cost of premium membership high and the number of matches for free users limited.

    Sign Up to The League

    Happn – Best for Real-life Connections

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (12)

    Pros

    • Connects with people you cross paths with
    • Unique concept
    • Detailed profiles
    • Free version available
    • Real-time interactions

    Cons

    • Limited matches in less populated areas
    • Some features require payment

    Happn is a unique dating app that connects users with people they’ve met in real life. It was launched in 2014 and uses real-time location data to show potential matches.

    Top Features

    • Real-Time Matches: Connect with people you’ve crossed paths with.
    • Detailed Profiles: Allows users to share more about themselves.
    • Hello Feature: Express interest in potential matches.
    • In-App Messaging: Communicate with matches within the app.
    • Instagram Integration: Connects with social media profiles for more information.

    Why Happn Stands Out

    Happn stands out for its unique approach to dating, which focuses on real-life connections. The real-time matching feature creates opportunities for spontaneous encounters.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features and limited likes.
    • Premium Membership (1 Month): $24.99/month.
    • Premium Membership (6 Months): $15/month or $89.99 total.
    • Premium Membership (12 Months): $10/month or $119.99 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users love the unique concept and the opportunity to connect with people they’ve crossed paths with. However, some note the limited matches in less populated areas and the cost of premium features.

    Sign Up to Happn

    Her – Best for LGBTQ+ Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (16)

    Pros

    • LGBTQ+ friendly
    • Inclusive community
    • Variety of social features
    • Free version available
    • 10+ million users in over 125 different countries

    Cons

    • Limited features for free users
    • Some users experience fewer matches

    Her was launched in 2013 and is specifically designed for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary individuals. It offers a safe and inclusive space for dating, making friends, and engaging with the community.

    Top Features

    • Community Feed: Share updates and engage with other users.
    • Events: Invitations to LGBTQ+ events and meetups.
    • In-App Messaging: Communicate with matches within the app.
    • Photo Sharing: Share photos and moments with the community.
    • Profile Verification: Ensures authenticity of profiles.

    Why Her Stands Out

    Her stands out for creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary individuals. The community features, and event invitations make it more than just a dating app.

    Pricing

    • 1-Month Premium Membership: $14.99/month
    • 6-Month Premium Membership: $59.99 total
    • 12-Month Premium Membership: $89.99 total

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the inclusive community and social features. However, some users mention the limited features for free members and fewer matches in certain areas.

    Sign Up to Her

    Silver Singles – Best for Focused and Mature Relationships

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match

    Pros

    • Targeted at mature singles
    • Detailed profiles
    • Comprehensive personality test
    • Secure platform
    • User-friendly interface

    Cons

    • Premium membership required for full features
    • Limited matches for free users

    Brief Site Overview

    Silver Singles was launched in 2002 to cater to singles over 50 looking for meaningful relationships. It uses a detailed personality test to match users with compatible partners.

    Top Features

    • Personality Test: In-depth test for accurate matching.
    • Profile Verification: Ensures authenticity and security.
    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners.
    • Secure Messaging: Safe communication within the platform.
    • Mobile App: Stay connected on the go.

    Why Silver Singles Stands Out

    Silver Singles stands out for its focus on mature singles and detailed personality matching. The secure platform and user-friendly interface make it a trusted choice.

    Pricing

    • Basic Membership: Free
    • Premium Light: $44.95/month for three months
    • Premium Classic: $34.95/month for six months
    • Premium Comfort: $24.95/month for 12 months

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users commend the site for its focus on mature singles and effective matching systems. Some users, however, find the premium membership necessary for full access.

    Sign Up to Silver Singles

    Coffee Meets Bagel – Best for Thoughtful Connections

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (19)

    Pros

    • Quality over quantity
    • Daily curated matches
    • Detailed profiles
    • Free version available
    • User-friendly interface

    Cons

    • Limited matches per day
    • Some features require payment

    Brief Site Overview

    Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app launched in 2012; it focuses on quality over quantity. It sends users limited curated matches daily to encourage thoughtful and meaningful interactions.

    Top Features

    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners each day.
    • Detailed Profiles: Allows users to share more about themselves.
    • Photo Sharing: Share photos with matches.
    • In-App Messaging: Communicate within the app.
    • Beans: In-app currency to unlock features and boost profiles.

    Why Coffee Meets Bagel Stands Out

    Coffee Meets Bagel stands out for its focus on quality matches and thoughtful connections. The limited daily matches encourage users to take their time and get to know each other better.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features with daily matches.
    • Premium Membership (1 Month): $34.99/month.
    • Premium Membership (3 Months): $25/month or $74.99 total.
    • Premium Membership (6 Months): $20/month or $119.99 total.
    • Beans: In-app currency starting at $1.99.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the thoughtful matching process and quality connections. Some users, however, find the limited daily matches restrictive and the cost of premium features high.

    Sign Up for Coffee Meets Bagel

    Plenty of Fish – Best for a Wide Range of Options

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (10)

    Pros

    • Large dating pool
    • Free to use
    • Variety of communication tools
    • Detailed profiles
    • Advanced search options

    Cons

    • Ads in free version
    • Some profiles may be inactive

    Plenty of Fish (POF) was launched in 2003 and is one of the largest free dating sites. It offers many options for singles looking for casual dates, relationships, or even friendships. With its large user base and detailed profiles, POF provides ample opportunities to meet new people.

    Top Features

    • Free Messaging: Communicate with other members for free.
    • Detailed Profiles: Comprehensive profiles for better matches.
    • Advanced Search: Find matches based on specific criteria.
    • Chemistry Test: Personality test for better compatibility.
    • Meet Me: Feature to browse potential matches quickly.

    Why Plenty of Fish Stands Out

    Plenty of Fish stands out for its large user base and free messaging. The variety of communication tools and advanced search options make connecting with matches easy.

    Pricing

    • Free Account: Send messages to potential matches and add photos to your profile
    • 3-Month Premium Membership: $20.94/month or $62.82 total
    • 6-Month Premium Membership: $15.70/month or $94.23 total
    • 12-Month Premium Membership: $10.47/month or $125.64 total
    • 1 Token: $3.99
    • 5 Tokens: $14.95
    • 10 Tokens: $19.90

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users love the site’s free messaging and large user base. However, some users note the presence of ads and inactive profiles.

    Sign Up for Plenty of Fish

    Match – Best for Trusted and Serious Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (18)

    Pros

    • Established and reputable
    • High success rate
    • Detailed profiles
    • Advanced search options
    • Events and activities

    Cons

    • Premium membership required for full features
    • Some profiles may be inactive

    Match was launched in 1995 and is one of the oldest and most trusted dating sites. It focuses on serious relationships and has a high success rate for long-term connections. Match offers detailed profiles and advanced search options.

    Top Features

    • Detailed Profiles: Allows users to share extensive information about themselves.
    • Advanced Search: Find matches based on specific criteria.
    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners.
    • Events and Activities: Invitations to local events and meetups.
    • MatchPhone: Safe and secure phone calls with matches.

    Why Match Stands Out

    Match stands out for its long-standing reputation and focus on serious relationships. The detailed profiles and advanced search options make it easy to find long-term partners.

    Pricing

    Standard Membership:

    • 3 Months: $34.45/month
    • 6 Months: $24.48/month
    • 12 Months: $21.84/month

    Premium Membership:

    • 3 Months: $40.41/month
    • 6 Months: $26.51/month
    • 12 Months: $23.11/month

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users commend the site for its detailed profiles and high success rate. Users note that a premium membership is needed for full access and that inactive profiles are present.

    Sign Up to Match

    Tinder – Best for Quick and Casual Hookups

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (3)

    Pros

    • Fast and easy to use
    • Large user base
    • Free version available
    • Geolocation feature
    • Instant matches

    Cons

    • High competition
    • Some profiles may be fake

    Tinder was launched in 2012 and is one of the most popular dating apps for quick and casual hookups. It uses a simple swipe mechanism to match users based on mutual interest. With its large user base and geolocation feature, Tinder makes it easy to find potential matches nearby.

    Top Features

    • Swipe Right/Left: Quick matching based on mutual interest.
    • Super Like: Show extra interest in a potential match.
    • Passport: Connect with users from different locations.
    • Boost: Increase profile visibility for a limited time.
    • Tinder U: Exclusive feature for college students.

    Why Tinder Stands Out

    Tinder stands out for its simplicity and large user base. The quick matching system and geolocation feature make it ideal for users looking for instant connections and casual hookups.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features with ads.
    • Tinder Plus (1 Month): $9.99/month.
    • Tinder Plus (6 Months): $5.99/month or $35.94 total.
    • Tinder Plus (12 Months): $4.58/month or $54.96 total.
    • Tinder Gold (1 Month): $14.99/month.
    • Tinder Gold (6 Months): $8.83/month or $52.98 total.
    • Tinder Gold (12 Months): $6.92/month or $82.98 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users enjoy Tinder’s fast and easy-to-use interface. However, some users note the high competition and presence of fake profiles.

    Sign Up for Tinder

    What Are Dating Sites?

    Dating sites are online platforms that help singles connect with potential partners. These websites and apps offer various tools and features to help you meet people based on your preferences. They also help you build relationships, whether you’re into casual dating or serious relationships.

    How Do Dating Sites Work?

    Most dating apps and websites require you to create a profile with personal info and preferences. They use algorithms to match you with others based on compatibility, interests, and location. Features like messaging, video calls, and virtual gifts make interacting with potential matches easier.

    Paid vs. Free Dating Sites

    Here are the significant differences between Paid vs. Free dating apps and sites.

    Paid dating sites:

    • Offer advanced matchmaking algorithms.
    • Provide more features like personality tests and compatibility assessments.
    • Often, they have better security measures to protect user data.
    • May offer better customer support.
    • Usually attracts users seeking serious relationships.
    • Require a subscription fee or payment for premium features.
    • Generally, they have a smaller but more engaged user base.

    Free dating sites:

    • Have a more extensive user base due to accessibility.
    • Can be full of inactive or fake profiles.
    • Rely on advertisements for revenue.
    • May lack advanced matchmaking algorithms.
    • Often used for casual dating or hookups.
    • Provide basic features without requiring payment.
    • Tend to have fewer privacy controls.
    • Might offer limited customer support options.

    How to Avoid Fake Dating Profiles and Scams

    Online dating can be exciting, but it’s essential to stay vigilant. Here are some key tips to protect yourself from fake profiles and scams.

    Use Secure Payment Methods

    Always use secure payment methods for subscriptions or in-app purchases. Avoid using direct bank transfers or other non-traceable methods. This will help you protect your financial information.

    Watch Out for Red Flags

    Be cautious of profiles with limited information, overly flattering messages, or requests for money. Always trust your instincts and proceed with caution if something feels off.

    Verify Profiles

    Look for verified profiles or use platforms offering profile verification features. Verified profiles usually have a badge indicating their authenticity.

    Report Suspicious Activity

    Most dating platforms have features to report suspicious profiles or activities. By reporting, you help maintain the safety and integrity of the dating community.

    Choose Reputable Dating Platforms

    Stick to well-known and reputable dating sites with good user reviews and security measures. These platforms invest in safety features to protect their users.

    Use Reverse Image Search

    Use reverse image search to check if a profile picture is used elsewhere on the internet. This can help you identify potential catfishers.

    Avoid Sharing Personal Information

    Never share personal information like your address, financial details, or other sensitive data. Protect your privacy until you feel confident in your connection.

    What to Consider When Choosing the Best Dating Sites

    Choosing the right dating site can significantly impact your online dating experience. Here are some key factors to remember when selecting the best dating apps for you.

    Privacy and Safety Features

    Ensure the platform values your privacy and has robust safety features like profile verification. This ensures your personal information stays secure.

    Cost and Payment Options

    Consider your budget and the payment options available. While some of the best dating apps require a subscription, free dating apps can also offer limited features.

    Features and Functionality of the Site

    Look for user-friendly interfaces, efficient matchmaking algorithms, and efficient features. These can make your dating experience more enjoyable and effective.

    Matching Algorithms

    Effective matching algorithms can significantly enhance your online dating experience. They help suggest compatible matches based on your preferences and behavior. The better the algorithm, the higher your chances of finding a good match.

    Success Stories and Reputation

    Research the platform’s reputation and read success stories from other users. Positive testimonials can give you confidence in the site’s ability to help you find a meaningful connection.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    We now address some of the most frequently asked questions about dating sites:

    Which Dating Site Is the Most Effective?

    The most effective dating site depends on what you’re looking for. Adult Friend Finder is excellent for casual encounters and has a vast user base. Ashley Madison is ideal for discreet affairs, while Seeking is perfect for luxurious arrangements.

    What Is the Number 1 Dating App Right Now?

    While personal preference varies, Adult Friend Finder is the top choice for casual dating. It has extensive features and an active community of diverse members.

    What Dating Site Is Totally Free?

    None of these sites are totally free, but they offer free trials or basic memberships. For example, Adult Friend Finder and Ashley Madison provide free account setups with limited features. This allows you to explore before committing to a paid plan.

    Which Dating Site Leads to the Most Marriages?

    While these sites are primarily for casual encounters and discreet relationships, many have found lasting connections. However, for traditional marriages, other platforms might be more suitable.

    Are Paid Dating Sites Worth It?

    Yes, paid dating sites often offer enhanced features, better security, and higher success rates. Dating sites like Adult Friend Finder, Ashley Madison, or Seeking can provide a more tailored dating experience.

    Can I Find a Serious Relationship on a Dating Site?

    While these sites focus more on casual and discreet relationships, many have found serious connections. If you’re open to different types of relationships, these platforms can still be effective.

    What’s the Best Dating Site for You?

    The best dating site for you depends on your needs:

    • Adult Friend Finder is best for casual encounters and adventurous connections.
    • Ashley Madison is ideal for those seeking discreet affairs.
    • Seeking is perfect for luxurious arrangements.

    Final Note

    Choosing the right adult dating site can make all the difference in your online dating experience. Our top pick is Adult Friend Finder, which stands out for its vast user base and various dating options. It is an excellent choice for casual encounters and adventurous connections.

    Remember, online dating is about having fun and meeting new people. Take your time and enjoy the process. And if nothing else, think of it as a great way to improve your profile writing skills!

    Happy dating!

    Disclaimer This content was commissioned by UP Venture Media in a partnership with the Metro Times. A few of the links on this page may be affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase within a specific time period, said party may earn a commission. Affiliate compensation does not influence our rankings or evaluations.


    Morris Munene of UP Venture Media

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  • Detroit gearing up for ‘The World’s Wildest Hair Party’

    Detroit gearing up for ‘The World’s Wildest Hair Party’

    Detroit is known for many things, but most people might not know that the Motor City is also considered by some to be the Hair Capital of the World.

    Starting at Detroit nightclubs in the 1980s, local stylists have been showcasing wild and out-of-this-world hair creations at events around the city dubbed “Hair Wars.” What began as a concept by DJ David Humpries aka “Hump The Grinder” to keep things interesting in local clubs turned into an annual tradition that has lasted decades.

    Now, several of America’s greatest hair entertainers, mostly from metro Detroit, are preparing for another year of outrageous sculpture-like hairdos that will hit the stage on July 20 at Artist Village Detroit.

    The event is coined as “The World’s Wildest Hair Party.”

    Detroit-based Starz series BMF (Black Mafia Family) showcased a Hair Wars party in Season 2, Episode 10, and the upcoming indoor and outdoor event aims to bring back the party element of the tradition as depicted on the show.

    The upcoming party will kick off at 6:05 p.m. with Hump the Grinder’s Reunion Day Party featuring old-school party tracks. When the sun sets, the Strolling Hair Show begins on stage, with DJs playing party music all night long of funk, house, hip-hop, and techno. The event will also feature live photo shoots, circus acts, hot food off the grill, and more.

    Attendees are encouraged to bring their own drinks and style their hair in fun and wild ways too.

    More information and tickets are available at hairwarsustour.com.

    Layla McMurtrie

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  • Best Bets: Barricade Boys, mutability and Apollo 10 ½

    Best Bets: Barricade Boys, mutability and Apollo 10 ½

    We’re officially into June, and the month of June – if you didn’t know – is National Outdoors Month. There’s been very little reason to want to be outdoors so far this month, so rest assured that most of this week’s best bets will keep you in a nice, air-conditioned, rain-free building. Keep reading for our picks, which include jazzy films, glow-in-the-dark art, and a “scandal” at the Symphony.

    The Barricade Boys are coming to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, June 6, at 7 p.m. to sing songs from musicals like Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked, as well as pop tunes, Motown hits and even “Bohemian Rhapsody” during for The Barricade Boys West End Party! Barricade Boys Kieran Brown and Scott Garnham recently described their show to Broadway World Houston, with Brown saying the set is a mix “of pretty much everything” and Garnham noting that it’s “called a Broadway party, and there’s a reason for that,” adding that they want “people to come and get involved” with singing, dancing and cheering. The show will be performed a second time at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7. Tickets for either performance can be purchased here for $54 to $124.

    click to enlarge

    Artists of Houston Ballet in Disha Zhang’s Elapse, which returns to the Houston Ballet stage this week.

    Photo by Amitava Sarkar, Courtesy of Houston Ballet

    Houston Ballet’s latest mixed repertory program, Four Seasons, will open on Thursday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. with dance works from George Balanchine, Disha Zhang, Dwight Rhoden and Stanton Welch, whose “The Four Seasons” will feature a familiar face. Former principal dancer and current ballet master Amy Fote, whose role in Welch’s work marks her return to dancing on the Houston Ballet stage after more than ten years, recently told the Houston Press that the ballet tells “one woman’s story through…four different artists who dance each of the seasons,” and that it’s “quite a special story with iconic, lovely music.” Performances will continue at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and June 8, and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 16 at the Wortham Theater Center. Tickets can be purchased here for $25 to $215.

    Did you know that Vaseline and ripe bananas glow blue under a black light? A black light emits ultraviolet light and those things that glow under it are called phosphors, and phosphors will be all over Hardy & Nance Studios on Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m. when Insomnia Gallery presents Near Dark: A Black Light Art Show. The all-ages-welcome, free show is returning for the fifth time, so get ready to enjoy work – all fluorescent – from local artists. Get in on the fun and deck yourself out in neon colors or be ready to glow yourself up with highlighters that will be provided on-site. Food trucks will also be present, and Eureka Heights Brewing Company, Bad Astronaut Brewing Co., Equal Parts Brewing and City Orchard will be pouring the (free) drinks.

    A restoration of Bruce Weber’s 1988 documentary Let’s Get Lost, a “shimmeringly decadent and fascinating portrait of the West Coast jazz legend Chet Baker,” will open Jazz on Film, a films series curated by Peter Lucas at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m. Over three weekends, the series will feature films that sit at the intersection of jazz and cinema, including the Houston premiere of Elis and Tom, about the 1974 collaboration between Brazilian artists Antonio Carlos Jobim and Elis Regina; a special 50th anniversary screening of Afrofuturist classic, Sun Ra’s Space Is the Place; two short documentaries focusing on women (International Sweethearts of Rhythm and Maxine Sullivan: Love to Be in Love) and more. You can view the full schedule here and also get individual tickets for $7 to $9.

    Haruki Murakami’s literary “world is an allegorical one,” making him “arguably the most experimental Japanese novelist to have been translated into English” as well as “the most popular, with sales in the millions worldwide.” The latest program from ISHIDA Dance Company, mutability, includes two original works from Brett Ishida, one of which is the women-centric “green apples” and the second, which lends its name to the program, draws inspiration from Murakami. In true ISHIDA fashion, the program, which opens at Asia Society Texas on Friday, June 7, at 8 p.m., will also include works from international guest choreographers that you are unlikely to see anywhere else in the U.S. The program will also be performed at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 9. Tickets can be purchased here for $40 to $120.

    Kaiser Wilhelm II famously lamented Richard Strauss’s “scandalous” Salome, an opera based on Oscar Wilde’s equally “scandalous” play, fearing it would do Strauss “a lot of damage.” Instead, “Salome played to sold out opera houses around the world,” and on Friday, June 7, at 8 p.m. the Houston Symphony will produce the opera with costumes, projections, lighting and more during the Strauss Festival: Salome in Concert at Jones Hall. Soprano Jennifer Holloway will sing the title role in the opera, which includes the (in)famous “Dance of the Seven Veils,” which Salome performs in exchange for anything she wants – and what she wants is the head of John the Baptist. Salome will be performed a second time on Sunday, June 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets for either can be purchased here for $34 to $125.

    Get a taste of Caribbean and Latin American culture, including the music of Argentina’s most iconic dance and Venezuela’s most traditional (and national) dance, without blowing your savings on a roundtrip plane ticket at Miller Outdoor Theatre on Saturday, June 8, at 8:30 p.m. during Tango, Joropo, Danzas y Mas! produced by Aperio, Music of the Americas. Conductor Marlon Chen of the Manila Symphony Orchestra will lead Aperio’s ensemble, which will be joined by clarinetist Ernesto Vega, Venezuelan violinist Eddy Marcano and tango pianist Pablo Estigarribia. As with all shows at Miller, the program is free, and you can reserve tickets here starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 7, or you can take a seat on the no-ticket-required Hill.

    Experience the summer of 1969 and the days leading up to the moon landing through the eyes of a Houston fourth grader named Stan in Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood, an animated coming-of-age film that will screen on the lawn outside The Menil Collection’s main building on Saturday, June 8, at 8:30 p.m. The film, co-presented with Friends of River Oaks Theatre, is “a lively and charming stroll down memory lane,” one loosely based on Linklater’s own childhood with a “meticulous sense of detail” and “tolerant, easygoing spirit.” The event is free, and before the film at 8:30 p.m., you can enjoy music by DJ Vincent Priceless at 7:30 p.m. and remarks by the film’s co-producer, Craig Staggs, at 8:15 p.m. (and don’t forget to bring a picnic blanket).

    Natalie de la Garza

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  • Detroit Dye House opens on Avenue of Fashion

    Detroit Dye House opens on Avenue of Fashion

    Tie-dye shop Detroit Dye House has expanded with a second location.

    The new store is located at 18981 Livernois Ave. on Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion. It celebrates its grand opening from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday.

    Attendees are invited to create their own piece of dyed art during an open tie-dye session, and the store’s studio space will also be available for members of the public to book for classes and events.

    The grand opening is free and open to the public.

    Detroit Dye House is also home of tie-dye apparel line brightlytwisted. More information is available at brightlytwisted.com.

    Lee DeVito

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  • Arabella Proffer, Beloved Cleveland Artist, Passes Away at the Age of 45

    Arabella Proffer, Beloved Cleveland Artist, Passes Away at the Age of 45

    click to enlarge

    Photo by Jef Janis

    Arabella Proffer

    “No good story ever started with someone saying, ‘It was a work night, so I went to bed early.’ Leave your house. Do something. Create. Because you really never know what can happen.” — Arabella Proffer

    Arabella Proffer, Cleveland artist, author, and co-founder of the indie label Elephant Stone Records, passed away Tuesday evening at the age of 45 after a long battle with a rare and inoperable form of cancer. She had been in remission many years ago, but a trip to the hospital following some pain in her leg led to the unfortunate diagnosis that the cancer had reared its ugly head again. This was in 2020, amid a global pandemic.

    Her husband and writer, Ben Vendetta posted on Instagram Tuesday evening, “The light has gone out. My beautiful wife, the love of my life passed away early this evening. I have no words right now, but I will be talking about her forever.” Her death happened just a few days after her final exhibition at The Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, which opened this past Thursday and which Proffer attended.

    “So tragic for her to have died so young and what a good fight she has put up for many years,” said Mindy Tousley, Executive Director of AAWR. “Her contributions to the arts community of Northeast Ohio will be sorely missed, and the tragedy of such an early death makes me wonder about what she could have accomplished if she had a chance for a longer life. I do believe that she took the time that she had and really made the most of her life in the last few years. She travelled to the places she wanted to see, spent time with her loved ones and threw caution to the wind and started painting in oils again. A remarkable woman and a remarkable artist. We will do our best to see that her artistic legacy survives.”

    An Ann Arbor, Michigan native before her family relocated to California following her father’s death in 1984, Proffer then lived in Los Angeles for a while where she exhibited and started the record label before moving to Cleveland with Vendetta in 2004. Her first solo exhibition was hosted at the former Asterisks Gallery in the heart of the Tremont neighborhood in 2007, owned by well-known Cleveland artist Dana Depew.

    I spoke with Depew last night, who said, “It’s really a big loss to the art community, because she was such a highly respected artist. Her portraiture was incredibly well rendered and more importantly, her style was her signature. I also admire and respect her because of how prolific and courageous she was. She was painting about and throughout her struggles and I think this was incredibly endearing. The art was a vehicle to comment on her strains and later in her career, possibly influenced by her illness. Her work became very biological and morphed into something different from her portraiture with her biomorphic pieces. It was a commentary on her battles, I think.”

    Shortly before she was again diagnosed with terminal cancer, Proffer pivoted from her neo-gothic portraiture to her biomorphic forms, gardens and still lifes. Forms which Proffer was shocked to find resembled the tumors plaguing her body — she said that she had been painting these biomorphic figures even before her diagnosis. According to her website, Proffer’s early work portrayed loose narrative themes revolving around a fascination with punk rock, aristocracy, Renaissance fashions, aging socialites, gothic divas, and medical history. Later she began to experiment with these globular fictional forms and alien flora and fauna.

    Towards the end of her life, Proffer began making NFTs and had done talks on the subject, always enthusiastic about the possibilities for artists diversifying their income stream. Her brainchild, the Super Psychedelic Sisters, consisting of Proffer and two other young women (artist Tessa LeBaron and artist and musician Jenna Fournier) hosted an exhibition called “Garden of Venus” which included several TVs displaying NFTs in the little apartment above Mahall’s in Lakewood. She was determined to share her enthusiasm about NFTs with artists and gallery-goers. “NFTs have become a way for women to yield more power in the arts and tech, Proffer said in the booklet she put out for the exhibition. :While women have always been at the forefront of art and technology, blockchain allows them to take ownership.”

    Fournier, who in addition to being a painter, has a solo project called Kid Tigrrr and is the principal song writer in Cleveland band Kniights, said: “We bonded over shoegaze, pop surrealism and feminism. I admired her incredible oil paintings and talent, but what inspired me the most about Arabella was her fierce strength, a quality I imagine anyone who knew her would speak to.” 

    LeBaron, who also displayed her work in “Garden of Venus,” said, “Arabella had a trailblazing spirit and an unwavering dedication to her work. She inspired me and my work with her dreamy landscapes and pop-punk realism portraiture.”

    CAN Art Journal’s Michael Gill has followed her career since the exhibition at Asterisks. “Arabella first came to my attention with her exhibit of portraits of imagined aristocrats—The National Portrait Gallery of Kessa—at Dana Depew’s now defunct Asterisk Gallery in Tremont, in 2007,” said Gill. “It was a truly great concept, poking fun at the idea of aristocracy by celebrating the made-up royals of a made-up country. It was a brilliant send-up of renaissance style, too, giving her aristocrats mohawks and spiked hair, piercings and tattoos. But of course her work evolved dramatically and profoundly as her health changed.  Brittany Hudak wrote about her repeatedly for CAN Journal, including her realization that the biomorphic forms she had somewhat mysteriously begun to paint were in some way representative of the cancer that had begun to encroach on her body. And through that she became a truly inspiring person through her refusal to stop creating as she went to battle against it. I was a spectator to all this. I knew Arabella, but we didn’t hang out. But her strength and the resilience of her creation were impossible to miss.”

    Friend, painter, musician, and contemporary Michelle Anne Muldrow posted on Facebook: “I just started to believe she was bionic, immortal, that nothing would take her down, even after so many triumphs and fake outs with the fucking duels in death and cancer… my dear powerful force of nature friend Arabella Proffer has left this mortal coil and I am so angry that cancer won. I have never met a person so fucking driven to embrace life, embrace being an artist, embrace her friends and dearly embrace and champion the love of her life, Ben, god fucking damn it, this is so fucking unfair.”

    Proffer attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA before receiving her BFA from California Institute of the Arts and has participated in solo and group exhibitions throughout North America, Europe, parts of the Middle East, and Australia. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Plain Dealer, Juxtapoz Magazine, SF Weekly, CinWeekly, Cincinnati Magazine, Scene Magazine, The LA Times, The Dallas Arts Review, Living Proof, GOOD Magazine, The Harvard Gazette, Snob, and more.

    She was awarded an Ohio Arts Council grant in 2016, Akron Soul Train Fellowship in 2019, a Rauschenberg Foundation award, and a Satellite Award from the Andy Warhol Foundation and SPACES in 2020. Proffer has been recognized by both the Ohio House and Senate for Exemplary Attainment in the arts. Among many others, her influences included: Tamara de Lempicka, David Miretsky, Vivian Greven, Heather Merckle, Jaime Treadwell, and Christina Nicodema.

    I have had the pleasure to know Arabella since 2007. Arabella was astute, metropolitan, classy, sarcastic, shrewd, hilarious, and opinionated. She was compassionate, fun, adventurous, tenacious, self-aware and had just enough of a punk ethos. You wanted her at your cocktail party. She was a blossom in the Cleveland arts community and was like so many stunning spring flowers which blossom so fiercely before their blooms retreat until the next season. As the community mourns, it also is grateful to have her as part of its collective lineage. Her influence as a person and as a force will live on in her work and through the people who loved her.

    Correction: An original version of this article reported Arabella Proffer was 46. She was 45.

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    Shawn Mishak

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  • Detroit’s renovated Hart Plaza fountain was the star of Movement Music Fest

    Detroit’s renovated Hart Plaza fountain was the star of Movement Music Fest

    The Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain at Detroit’s Hart Plaza has always been the heart of Movement Music Festival, a central place for revelers to meet up, pose for photos, and rest between sets. That’s despite the fact that for much of the past decade, the fountain has been largely out of order.

    That all changed this year thanks to a renovation that brought the fountain back to its former glory — and then some. Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the $6.7 million project saw repairs to the fountain’s plumbing, as well as the installation of new color-changing LED lighting. It was part of a $9 million upgrade to Hart Plaza.

    The restored fountain dazzled throughout the weekend, creating a stunning rainbow in the sunshine, pulsating along with the beat of the techno music at night, and cooling guests down with its mist. It added a whole new level of enjoyment to the festival, which often uses the imagery of the fountain for visual shorthand of the festival, as production company Paxahau did this year.

    “This moment has been a long time coming,” the city of Detroit’s construction and demolition executive director LaJuan Counts said in a statement. “The prospect of giving this iconic space a much-needed facelift and restoring the fountain to its former glory fills us with immense pride. This fountain is truly one of a kind, and reviving it is no small feat. We are deeply honored that Mayor Duggan has placed his trust in us to undertake this significant responsibility.”

    The futuristic fountain was designed by Japanese American architect Isamu Noguchi and opened in 1981. It was named after Horace Elgin Dodge, co-founder of the Dodge Brothers automobile company.

    click to enlarge

    Kahn Santori Davison

    The restored Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain lights up during Movement Music Festival.

    The fountain sits alongside other works of public art in Hart Plaza like “Transcending,” a 63-foot tall steel arch sculpture by David Barr and Sergio de Giusti that serves as a monument to the labor movement (and gives the inspiration for the name of Movement Music Festival’s “Stargate” stage). Together, they along with the nearby RenCen contribute the retrofuturistic vibe of downtown Detroit.

    Hart Plaza is named for ​​Philip A. Hart, a Democratic Senator who is known as the “Conscience of the Senate” for his work on civil rights and the environment.

    The riverfront plaza is located at the site where the French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac arrived and built Fort Pontchartrain, which eventually grew into the Motor City.

    The renovations to the fountain launched in October and wrapped up in April, just in time for the NFL Draft, an event that drew hundreds of thousands of football fans to Detroit. But it was during Movement Music Festival that the fountain really shined.

    With other events headed for Hart Plaza including Motor City Pride, the African World Festival, and the Detroit Jazz Festival, we’re looking forward to more opportunities to enjoy the refurbished Dodge Fountain.

    Detroit can have nice things.

    @metrotimes The newly renovated Dodge Fountain at Hart Plaza was the star of Detroit’s Movement Music Festival. #detroit#movement2024 #techno #metrodetroit #hartplaza ♬ original sound – Detroit Metro Times
    Sunday.

    Lee DeVito

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  • Best Bets: Madame Butterfly, Plantasia and Love, Loss, and What I Wore

    Best Bets: Madame Butterfly, Plantasia and Love, Loss, and What I Wore

    Do you want to do something good for your neighbor? Of course, you do – it’s National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day. Our suggestion is to kindly invite your neighbor to one of this week’s best bets. Below, you can find our picks, which include film festivals, an opera outdoors, a botanical art show and more.

    The 17th Annual Palestine Film Festival will open on Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m. with a screening of Lina Soualem’s “festival favorite,” Bye Bye Tiberias, at Rice Cinema. In the film, the filmmaker tells the story of “her maternal relatives,” including her mother, the Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, in hope of answering “the question ‘How does a woman find her place when caught between worlds?’” Each of the six features spotlighted throughout the three-day festival, which runs through May 19, will be preceded by a short film, and Bye Bye Tiberias will follow a reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. You may view the full lineup here and tickets to any of the screenings can also be purchased here for $10.

    A couple unable to conceive is diagnosed with a rather unique, newly identified syndrome, one which can only be cured by locating everyone the two have ever had sex with and having sex with them again. This is “the quirky premise” of The (Ex)perience of Love (Le syndrome des amours passées), which will open Five Funny French Films at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, on Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m. The film, directed by Raphaël Balboni and Ann Sirot, is the first of five curated comedies from France that make up the twelfth annual edition of the festival, which runs all weekend through Sunday, May 19. Tickets to any of the screenings can be found here for $8 to $10, as can the full lineup.

    click to enlarge

    Kinetic Ensemble will close their season on Friday,

    Photo by Jeff Grass Photography

    Kinetic Ensemble will close out their season on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the MATCH with a program titled At Play. The program not only features special guest Frame Dance Productions, but all the composers selected for the evening are living, American composers of marginalized identities. Cellist Patricia Ryan recently told the Houston Press as much as the ensemble loves “playing the old canon of Beethoven and Mozart, who still have relevance today, there’s something that’s really more tangible for us to play pieces by current, living composers, especially now that there’s an opportunity for previously marginalized groups who are able to now get the support and exposure that they deserve.” Tickets to the program can be purchased here for $15 to $30.

    In 1995, Ilene Beckerman published a “captivating little pictorial autobiography for adults, a life told through clothes,” that was also “a wry commentary on the pressures women constantly face to look good.” Nora Ephron and sister Delia Ephron turned the book into a 2008 play – featuring a series of monologues and ensemble scenes that reference those sartorial touchstones (from bras to prom dresses) – of the same name, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, which On The Verge Theatre will open at The Alta Arts on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. Performances are scheduled to run through June 9 at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Monday, June 3, and at 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets to the play can be purchased here for $30 to $40.

    This weekend it’s the Houston Grand Opera’s turn to take the stage at Miller Outdoor Theatre when HGO brings their production of Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly to Miller on Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. The production of the classic opera, which was previously performed at the Wortham Theater Center earlier this year, became one of the company’s top-selling shows of that last ten years. As always, shows at Miller are free, and you can get reserve a ticket here starting at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, May 16, or you can head for the seating on the no-ticket-required Hill. Madame Butterfly will be performed a second time on Saturday, May 18, at 8 p.m. You can reserve a seat for Saturday beginning on Friday, May 17, at 10 a.m. here.

    A galaxy far, far away comes to Jones Hall on Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. when the Houston Symphony presents The Music of Star Wars. Conductor Steven Reineke will lead the Symphony through music from all nine films (the trilogy of trilogies which all feature works from noted composer John Williams) – in chronological order – along with selections from the standalone “Star Wars Story” films, Rogue One and Solo. The concert will also be performed in-hall at 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19. In-hall tickets are available here for $48.88 to $170. The Saturday evening performance will also be livestreamed, and access to the livestream can be purchased here for $20.

    Did you know that we get 60 percent of “our energy intake from just three plant species”? Those would be rice, wheat and maize, if you’re wondering. The point is, there’s a lot to appreciate about not only plants, but flowers, fungi and more, and you can celebrate these and the beauty of the botanical world on Saturday, May 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. when Hardy & Nance Studios presents Plantasia: A Botanical Art Show. The curated show will feature work in various mediums in 2D and 3D formats from artists all around Houston (and the surrounding area). Also, on hand for the third annual botany-appreciating art show will be Eden Plant Co. as well as food from Chicano BBQ. You can attend the art show for free.

    Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s Taking Steps, a two-act play set more than 50 years ago in a former-brothel-turned-possibly-haunted-house, will officially open at Main Street Theater on Saturday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. Callina Anderson, whose character Elizabeth is the wife of a man thinking of buying the house, recently told the Houston Press that the play “is about what people are trying to get toward, to work toward, like a relationship or career,” adding that “the script is really funny” and that anyone who “wants a laugh” should see the show. Performances are scheduled 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. through June 15. Tickets can be purchased here for $35 to $59.

    Natalie de la Garza

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  • One Fine Show: Irving Penn’s San Francisco Summer of Love

    One Fine Show: Irving Penn’s San Francisco Summer of Love

    Irving Penn. ‘Hippie Family (Kelley),’ San Francisco, 1967. Platinum-palladium print. 16 5/8 × 14 3/16 in. (42.2 × 36 cm). The Irving Penn Foundation

    The other day, Page Six dropped a gossip item about the pressure Anna Wintour faces over TikTok’s sponsorship of the Met Gala, in light of the app’s recent ban, and I thought about how hard it would be to explain all that to someone from the time when Vogue launched, at the turn of the last century. Technology aside, you’d have to explain that fashion has become perhaps the dominant form of culture, and that Vogue has become much more than a frivolity for Edith Warton-style ladies.

    The photographer Irving Penn played no small part in the growth of the magazine, to which he contributed for six decades. He brought an artistic sensibility to a medium that wasn’t thought to be particularly high-minded. All of his career is celebrated at a new show that bears his name at the de Young Museum but was, in fact, organized by the Met. The exhibition brings together around 175 diverse works that showcase his range, showing his ability to capture blue-collar workers alongside Marlene Dietrich, audrey hepburn, Gianni Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Truman Capote and Joan Didion.

    SEE ALSO: The Inspired and Revolutionary Pairing of Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore

    There’s a dedicated section that taps into the local flavor with Penn’s photographs from the 1967 San Francisco Summer of Love. There are nude people hugging, the Hell’s Angels and of course, the Grateful Dead, and then a curious series on hippie parents and couples that stands out because it shrugs off obvious narratives about radicalism and promiscuity. You can tell much about a person by seeing their partner and the body language between them. These families all exude a great deal of love, and not necessarily the free kind. I’m sure the photos were a revelation at the time for the way they humanized these hippies. They might even manage to make you feel warm toward the baby boomers of today.

    As for the celebrities, it is somewhat impressive that the same man photographed Marcel Duchamp and Nicole Kidman, but aren’t all of these big names known for their charisma? Penn really shows his muscles when he’s getting weird, as in his series of smoked cigarettes. Anyone can make Gisele look good, but luxuriating in the other kind of butt shows real talent. The catalogue draws wise parallels to Phillip Guston and Kurt Schwitters.

    Also great are his abstract nudes from 1949 and 1950, a specific period during which he was obsessed with the tummies of headless women and how they change and move in various positions. Around the same time he would capture small trades like Steel Mill Firefighter (1951)  and here too the body’s position is important. If you’re defined by your job and asked to fall into its muscle memory positions, you can’t help but notice the way some always seem to make you look happy, as in Butcher (1950). Pity the Coal Man (1950). If anyone ever captured the Vogue Photographer (1940s-2000s), he probably looked like he was having a blast.

    “Irving Penn” is on view at the de Young Museum through July 21.

    One Fine Show: Irving Penn’s San Francisco Summer of Love

    Dan Duray

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  • Cleveland Artist’s ‘the rage project’ Showcases Women’s Expression, Emotion

    Cleveland Artist’s ‘the rage project’ Showcases Women’s Expression, Emotion

    click to enlarge

    Christina Ramirez

    A photo from ‘the rage project’

    Christina Ramirez has been visually documenting rage for a year now. She describes her work, “the rage project,” as giving “women and AFAB (assigned female at birth) folk a place to safely and fully express their anger so that more of us are encouraged to do the same.”

    Ramirez, who was raised in Chicago, holds two undergraduate degrees and a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She’s been in Cleveland since 2015. In 2019, she became ill while working as a speech-language pathologist and eventually had to stop working due to her medical condition. “The rage came from the helplessness; if the triggers don’t stop, the condition persists,” Ramirez said.

    Other personal challenges fired her own rage and anger and left her without a place to fully vent those feelings. “There wasn’t anywhere for it to go,” Ramirez continued.
    When the COVID lockdown began she began searching for a creative outlet that didn’t involve being around throngs of other people. While she had experience with shooting and developing film, she bought a new digital camera and began taking photographs, learning the art and craft of photography on her own.

    In talking with her friends and sharing her frustrations with her personal battles, “it became apparent that there was no place for women to put their rage. It was obvious that it wasn’t allowed, wasn’t accepted,” Ramirez said.

    “Women’s emotions are still being dismissed as ‘crazy’ no matter how justified,” said theatremaker Carrie Williams. “Places and people that encourage you to uncensor yourself are precious and necessary.”

    She photographed a friend first, telling her to simply talk to the camera while Ramirez documented what happened, which began with tears and through various emotions as they moved throughout the garden. Her open, supportive style includes interacting and listening to the subject while guiding and challenging them to trust her and open up. This can be difficult for many women, as the locations Ramirez selects for her shoots are public (though typically sparsely populated). One popular location is Huntington Beach, where Ramirez used to lifeguard. The beach is often busy with families in warm months, but in the off months provides a sparse, stark, open canvas for emotions.

    The project’s photos are impressive: raw, unvarnished, vulnerable, and honest. To view them may stir your own feelings of rage, or of awe to see the bravery on display. By using public, “3rd spaces” as venues, she aims to “bring the rage out into the open.”
    Everyone doesn’t explain why they are there, why their rage exists. “Some people just need a space where they’re allowed to be mad,” she explains. “There’s personal rage, rage about relationships, about work, parents, spouses, past partners.” A lot of subjects talk about medical trauma, whether personally or as caregivers to others, which Ramirez can understand on both a personal and professional level.

    Ramirez advises her subjects to wear all black or dark colors so their clothing doesn’t pull focus from the images being created. Shooting at high speed, she might take 1,500 images in a single session. Still pictures shared on Instagram (the.rage.project) are black and white, followed by both black and white and color images on Instagram Reels, set to music she chooses. “I think it’s important to go from the black and white to color so you can see the evolution of what people go through—an animatic, an evolution.”

    “Being in the medical field, we are taught to suppress our instincts, what we know will help us survive and what will keep people safe,” Ramirez said. “Every single person who engages (with the project) says ‘I’ve never talked about this.’ For so many of us, we don’t even think rage can be addressed in therapy.” She emphasizes that the photo shoot is not a substitute for therapy, though some find it therapeutic. “It’s not my job to treat,” she says, “It’s my space to feel safe to express and to have the reality of their emotion documented.”

    click to enlarge A photo from 'the rage project' - Christina Ramirez

    Christina Ramirez

    A photo from ‘the rage project’

    “Christina is doing a wonderful thing creating a safe space for women to feel their rage,” said Hannah Storch, a local performer. “So many of us are taught that we are too angry, too loud, too bossy, too much. Having that space to fully feel all of those pent-up emotions was freeing, exhausting, cathartic. By the end, I felt so much lighter.”

    It’s important to Ramirez that consent is emphasized and understood before, during, and after the process. She makes it clear that consent can be revoked at any time, and she works with a red/green/yellow stoplight-type system so the subject can continually convey their level of comfort in beginning, moving through, and finishing the photo shoot. Even after the pictures are complete and posted, she’ll take them down if the subject asks. “Safety and consent are at the forefront,” said Ramirez, “because (women) haven’t been afforded safety or space where we could safely and fully express anger for fear of repercussion. Without safety and consent, this goes nowhere.”

    Each photo set, shared on the rage project’s Instagram account (and on Facebook via Instagram Reels) as well as on her personal Instagram (christina_sophia_shoots) ends with the caption, “Our rage and its expression are necessary.”

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    Nina McCollum

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  • Best Bets: Rebirth, Houston’s Got Bollywood and The Taming of the Shrew

    Best Bets: Rebirth, Houston’s Got Bollywood and The Taming of the Shrew

    Interestingly, today is National Barbershop Quartet Day. We don’t have any barbershop quartets on this week’s list of best bets, but we do have plenty of musical performances, from a Tony Award-winning musical about an American icon to Bollywood in the Bayou City, as well as films, dance, and theater shows. Keep reading for these and more events on our list of best bets.

    For decades, Rob Reiner’s 1987 film The Princess Bride, “a high-spirited adventure that pits true love against inconceivable odds,” has been charming “legions of fans with its irreverent gags, eccentric ensemble, and dazzling swordplay.” On Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. Performing Arts Houston will welcome the actor who played heroic farm boy Westley, Cary Elwes, to Jones Hall for The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes. Following a screening of the film, Elwes, who authored As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride, will join Houston Public Media‘s Ernie Manouse to give audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film during a moderated discussion. A second screening is scheduled for Friday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. and tickets to either are available here for $39 to $99.

    The 1950s-style American sitcom meets William Shakespeare in Classical Theatre Company’s upcoming production of The Bard’s The Taming of the Shrew, which opens at The DeLuxe Theater on Friday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. Director Dana Bowman has noted that the classic is “definitely a sexist play,” and their approach is to “look back at the 1950s and sort of see what parallels we can draw” while staging it as sitcom – like Father Knows Best or The Dick Van Dyke Show – so “it can still be fun.” The production, which will conclude the company’s season-long celebration of iconic women, will run through April 20 with performances scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and April 15; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased here for $10 to $30.

    Art on wheels once again comes to the streets of Houston as The Orange Show Center For Visionary Art presents the 37th Annual Art Car Parade, led by Saint Arnold’s founder Brock Wagner and scheduled to start at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, on Allen Parkway between Bagby and Dallas. Orange Show Executive Director Tommy Ralph Pace recently told the Houston Press that he thinks the event “is more about celebrating the spirit of creativity that the city of Houston has,” adding that “it’s such an incredible honor to be able to steward this celebration for the city.” If you can’t get your fill of art car celebrations, information about the events around the parade, such as the Art Car Ball on Friday, April 12, can be found here. The parade is free to attend.

    click to enlarge

    Houston’s Got Bollywood returns to Miller Outdoor Theatre on Saturday with Once Upon a Time to Happily Ever After.

    Photo by Navin Mediwala

    Bollywood, the “humorous moniker for the Indian cinema industry,” will come to Miller Outdoor Theatre on Saturday, April 13, at 8:15 p.m. during Houston’s Got Bollywood – Once Upon a Time to Happily Ever produced by Moksh Community Arts. The dance-theater performance by Naach Houston will feature 50 dancers in beautiful costumes telling short stories across four acts, all of which draws from the “extravagant song-and-dance scenes, romantic melodrama, and eye-catching set designs” Bollywood is known for. Like all shows at Miller Outdoor Theatre, this one is free and you can reserve free tickets here starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 12, if you want an assigned, covered seat. Alternatively, you can bring a blanket or lawn chair and head for the ticketless seating on the Hill.

    There’s a new dance collective in town, and you can get your first look at the Skylar Campbell Dance Collective when they present their debut showcase, titled Rebirth, at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, at the MATCH. Campbell, a principal dancer with Houston Ballet, curates the evening, which features works from Guillaume Cote, Kristina Paulin and Alexei Ratmansky, along with world premiere commissions from Julia Adam, Robert Binet, Connor Walsh and Jack Wolff. Completing the program will be the talents of dancers from Houston Ballet and National Ballet of Canada, as well as live music provided by Tonya Burton and Yvonne Chen of the Monarch Chamber Players. Tickets to the performance, which is expected to run about 60 minutes, can be purchased here for $45.

    In 1979, tension between the fishing community of Seadrift, Texas, and an influx of Vietnamese immigrants led to the shooting of a local white man by a Vietnamese man, an incident that got the attention of the Ku Klux Klan and would later inspire the film Alamo Bay. On Tuesday, April 16, at 7 p.m. Asia Society Texas, in partnership with Humanities Texas, will present a screening of the documentary Seadrift followed by a talk and audience Q&A with Tim Tsai, the film’s director. Tsai has said that questions about Seadrift – like “Are the Vietnamese still there? Is it possible for a community to heal from past division and violence? If yes, how?” – “compelled” him “to find out more.” Admission is free, but registration is required here.

    The Tony Award-winning musical about the woman born Cherilyn Sarkisian but known today simply as Cher will come to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. when Theatre Under the Stars opens the national touring production of The Cher Show. Cher is played by three actresses in the production, and one of those actresses, Morgan Scott, recently told the Houston Press that she thinks Cher’s “re-invention of herself is what makes her absolutely so incredible,” adding that the show – even for non-Cher fans – is “a really uplifting and empowering show to go to.” Performances will continue at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 28. Tickets can be purchased here for $40 to $139.

    Natalie de la Garza

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  • Detroit’s Kresge Arts intermingles sound with visual and literary arts in first-ever online exhibition

    Detroit’s Kresge Arts intermingles sound with visual and literary arts in first-ever online exhibition

    Sound is likely not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about visual art, but this new exhibition is challenging you to think outside of the box.

    Kresge Arts in Detroit is holding its first-ever online art show, featuring the 2023 cohort of Artist Fellows and Gilda Award recipients in visual and literary arts. The online show features a mix of mediums including painting, ceramics, poetry, and more, all tied together with audio elements.

    The exhibition theme is Flash Your Lights, inspired by 1970s Detroit radio DJ The Electrifying Mojo. Each night on-air, he asked listeners to imagine futures of peace and revolution united by sound and to collectively “flash their lights” to demonstrate they were listening in solidarity.

    Kristen Gallerneaux, a 2019 Kresge Artist Fellow, curated this year’s exhibition and developed the theme. The local artist and sonic researcher is currently the curator of communication and information technology at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn and the editor-in-chief of Digital Curation.

    “I tend to dwell a lot in worlds of sound history and media history and I’m very interested in Detroit music history, which got me to remembering The Electrifying Mojo, who has always kind of been a big hero of mine,” she says.

    Looking through the work of the 2023 Fellows, Gallerneaux noticed a recurring theme of solidarity and community, much like The Electrifying Mojo, so she challenged the visual and literary artists to submit new or re-imagined pieces examining how sound surfaces in their art practice.

    Along with monetary awards, part of being a Kresge Fellow includes access to professional development programs, and this was one project where artists were able to learn new ways to present their work. Gallerneaux says she held open hours for artists to discuss with her unique directions they could take their pieces for the exhibit.

    “When I talk about sound, I’m thinking about it both literally and somewhat metaphorically, so for say a painter, there might be a sort of element in their work or a theme that can be teased out around the ideas of listening or silence or resonances,” Gallerneaux says. “We also invited artists to submit a variety of sound options to kind of amplify work that already existed. So say you had a painting, would that painting theoretically have a soundtrack? We allowed people to submit original compositions and found sound or sometimes it was even just references to memories of sound. There’s one artist in particular who had a lot of memories of sound from the community in which she lived, so we’re able to stitch together some sound to create the soundtrack for her ceramics work.”

    With her own interest in sound art and presenting historical content in digital spaces, Gallerneaux says this exhibit was “incredibly rewarding” to curate. She feels that the format complements the work nicely, not overdoing it with too much noise and offering moments of silence for contemplation of the art.

    “It does not replicate a white cube gallery space. It’s more like individual artist pages that people can kind of scroll through and there’s text woven through,” the curator describes. “The web designer who worked on this did a really beautiful job of creating a really nicely immersive way to navigate this work. It has a side-scrolling mechanism that works really nicely and there are options to turn the sound on [or off]. There’s a lot of interdisciplinary work.”

    Gallerneaux adds, “For me, what I really want to bring to the table is to broaden people’s idea of what sound in everyday practices and in artistic practices can be, that can mean literal sound, but it can also reference things like reverberation, sonic memories, even quiet as its own sort of form of silence, willful or implied. Also, just connecting people to this really broad pool of talent that we have here in metro Detroit and maybe exploring artists’ work through this additive lens and also honoring the legacy of The Electrifying Mojo… The exhibit is not about him, but it’s sort of expanding legacies of creative communities of listening that we have in the city.”

    Flash Your Lights will be available to view online at kresgeartsindetroit.org for free from April 8-June 14. After June 14, only a shortened, modified version of the exhibition will be available.

    Layla McMurtrie

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  • Ann Arbor’s eccentric FoolMoon festival returns with following FestiFools parade

    Ann Arbor’s eccentric FoolMoon festival returns with following FestiFools parade

    Music, artists, street dancers, and hundreds of luminary sculptures will fill the streets of Ann Arbor for the annual FoolMoon festival on Friday, April 5. Organizers announced that this year’s theme is “FoolBloom,” which will bring the spirit of spring to the city through unique sculptures inspired by flowers.

    Two days later, on April 7, the connected parade FestiFools will take over Ann Arbor with a one-hour-only event from 4-5 p.m., showcasing tons of new paper mache puppets crafted by University of Michigan students and community volunteers throughout the winter. The larger-than-life puppets, made from cardboard, tape, bamboo, and other materials, are based on the theme “FestiFables” and will parade down Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor.

    During the FoolMoon festival, participants will gather at one of three different “Constellation Stations,” including Slauson Middle School, the front lawn of UMMA, and the Kerrytown Farmers Market. At 8 p.m., everyone will dance through downtown, winding past restaurants and through neighborhoods.

    This year’s festival will feature a huge live music dance party led by The Ruckus, an ensemble of jazz and funk musicians from the U-M School of Music, Theater, and Dance. Detroit DJ Problematic Black Hottie will also be featured, playing funky and tropical dance beats hailing from the African diaspora.

    Additionally, attendees will hear Groove, a non-traditional percussion and performance group at the University of Michigan. Plus, the Detroit Party Marching Band, an ever-evolving collective of 20+ Detroit area musicians, will also join the street party.

    Ann Arbor brewpub Grizzly Peak will be offering a special FoolBrew and a cocktail menu exclusively for FoolMoon celebrants, with a portion of the proceeds donated to help keep FestiFools and FoolMoon free to the public.

    Ann Arbor’s FestiFools first paraded the city’s streets in 2007 and quickly became an Ann Arbor tradition. The light-filled community FoolMoon festival was added in 2011. For the first time this year, FestiFools and FoolMoon will feature U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell as the “Honorary Grand Luminary.”

    For more information on FestiFools and FoolMoon 2024, you can visit FestiFools Studio on Facebook.

    Layla McMurtrie

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  • Detroit’s ‘NSFW’ art and music exhibit is not what you think

    Detroit’s ‘NSFW’ art and music exhibit is not what you think

    Fine art, electronic music, and rap come together in this exhibition co-curated by mixed media artist and muralist Habacuc S. Bessiake and musician Rob Apollo. The second annual NSFW music and art show is going down on Saturday, March 30 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at The Riverside Detroit with live music, drinks, and of course, visual art for sale. Participating artists include Zelooperz, Bre’ann White, Bakpak Durden, Avery Williamson, Isaiah Johns, Ruby Flwrs, Olivia Beelby, Kaio Huvaere, Doug Cannell, and Habacuc S. Bessiake. There will also be music by Rob Apollo, Thot squad, John Fm, Ziggy Waters, $cottib, Nova Blu, and Uns4ne.

    Despite the name, NSFW is not an erotic exhibition. Instead, as Bessiake explains, the focus is “exploring the debauchery and escapism of young adulthood through a lens that is both humorous, heartbreaking, and socially radical.” The show is part of an ongoing digital media project called NSFW by Apollo and friends that includes two music albums and the annual exhibit which includes painting, sculpture, photography, and other mixed media work.

    “A new context is produced for both art forms by placing seemingly contrasting mediums side-by-side,” Apollo says. “There is a reciprocal relationship between the music and the art in this show. The contemporary music encourages a broader audience to engage more authentically intimate with the fine arts pieces. Simultaneously, the traditional fine art space elevates the perception of the music.”

    Randiah Camille Green

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  • Ann Arbor Film Festival brings back its week of experimental films for a 62nd year

    Ann Arbor Film Festival brings back its week of experimental films for a 62nd year

    The internationally renowned Ann Arbor Film Festival returns this week, continuing its tradition of celebrating the diversity of experimental film. Established in 1963, this year marks the festival’s 62nd anniversary, continuing its legacy as the oldest independent experimental film festival in North America.

    This year, the festival will be a hybrid event, blending in-person activities from March 26-31 with online showings that will be available until April 7. The event features 40 programs with more than 180 films from over 20 countries of all lengths and genres, including experimental, animation, documentary, fiction, and performance-based works.

    Films will be screened all week under categories “Film in Competition,” “Feature in Competition,” and “Special Programs,” as well as the festival’s new “Off The Screen” series, which will focus on programs of new media, video, live performances, and art installations.

    On Tuesday, March 26, multidisciplinary artist David Olson will open the festival with his “Off The Screen” live performance Grafica Harmolodica at 4:30 p.m. in the U-M North Quad. The event is free to the public and includes art that will be installed for the remainder of the week.

    An opening party will follow from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Michigan Theater, with drinks and food provided by Ann Arbor area businesses including the Ann Arbor Distilling Company, Bigalora, Jerusalem Garden, Zingerman’s, and more.

    Finally, the first film screening will take place at 8:15 p.m. in the theater’s main auditorium ahead of an after party to celebrate the opening day.

    For the fourth year in a row, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is able to pay filmmakers to show their films in competition. The festival will close on Sunday with an awards ceremony and screenings of the award-winning films to celebrate the week and all of the filmmakers involved.

    While most of the festival will require a ticket, there will be a few free events to help make cinema accessible to the public.

    For those who would like to attend the festival in person, a Full Festival Pass includes access to all programs in person and online. Online-only passes will allow access to most in-competition films and juror programs as well as an online film forum and filmmaker interviews.

    In-person events will mainly take place at various art and film spaces in Ann Arbor. You can find the complete schedule for the 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival and purchase tickets at aafilmfest.org.

    Layla McMurtrie

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  • City Walls unveils ‘DCleated’ art project ahead of NFL Draft

    City Walls unveils ‘DCleated’ art project ahead of NFL Draft

    click to enlarge

    Randiah Camille Green

    The oversized cleats will be displayed near Detroit arenas, hotels, and airports for the month of April.

    People headed to downtown Detroit for the NFL Draft this April will notice oversized cleats painted with flowers, football players, and vibrant nature scenes dotting the downtown area. 

    These are part of the City Walls “DCleated” art initiative in anticipation of the NFL Draft. Twenty artists were selected to paint the huge cleats fabricated by Prop Art Studios and each artist chose a nonprofit organization to represent.

    The cleats will be displayed at places like Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit Metro Airport, City Airport, and hotels in the downtown area for the month of April. 

    In May, they will be auctioned off at an event at the Godfrey Hotel with proceeds benefiting the artist’s chosen organization or charity. 

    Detroit artist Trae Isaac, who has done several City Walls murals, painted his cleat to mimic stained glass with cartoon kids playing football and children’s handprints at the bottom. He chose The Children’s Center as his nonprofit. 

    “When I was 16 and I was 18, my baby brother and my mother passed away from cancer,” he tells Metro Times. “They had the exact same type of cancer, Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. It’s a neurological type of cancer, and it’s generational as well. Since the age of 18, I’ve been tested for it and still they do testing for it.  Prior to that, I used to box for almost a decade. So when they passed it was a huge sit down moment in my life that kind of transformed me.”

    He says he wants his cleat to represent transforming “trauma into triumph.”

    “For me to lose my mom and brother to go to doing what it is that I’m doing today, I’m very grateful,” he says. “I realized, I’m here to serve other people.”

    click to enlarge Trae Isaac painted his cleat in support of The Children's Center. - Randiah Camille Green

    Randiah Camille Green

    Trae Isaac painted his cleat in support of The Children’s Center.

    The artists, nonprofits, and city officials gathered on Thursday afternoon to unveil the cleats to the media before they headed off to their respective locations.  

    The Children’s Center CEO Nicole Wells Stallworth thanked Isaac for his installation and for sharing his story at the press conference.

    “Trae’s powerful art installation, as he pointed out, reflects his own journey overcoming trauma. It is my hope that this piece will serve as a catalyst for erasing stigma about speaking up and addressing the necessary mental health treatment that anyone may need,” she said. “The Children’s Center is truly grateful to be part of an important cause, to celebrate not only the diversity of the artists that we have in our city of Detroit but also the diversity of the children and youth in our communities.”

    The smile man himself, Phil Simpson, was also one of the participating artists. He painted his signature smile man in an outdoor scene with a bright blue sky and sports gear like a football and basketball. Proceeds from the sale of his cleat will go to Project Play, an organization that promotes an active lifestyle through sports programming for children. 

    “As a father of a thriving, energetic young lady who plays soccer, who does gymnastics [and] is interested in flag football, it’s an honor to paint this cleat here for Project Play,” Simpson said at the press conference. “In our household, we advocate for education, sports, and reading.”

    Tony Whlgn (pronounced hooligan) decorated a bright orange cleat with food items and the phrase “everybody eats” in his pop art style for Gleaners Community Food Bank. It will be placed outside Wayne County Airport. 

    The NFL Draft is taking place mostly around Campus Martius and Hart Plaza from April 25-27. The “NFL Draft Experience” is free to attend with registration and includes a slew of concerts, games, an interactive exhibit, chances to get autographs from current and past NFL players, and more. 

    DCleated is a partnership between the City Walls program, Visit Detroit, DMC, and SpaceLab Detroit. 

    Fisher Building3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; fisherbuilding.cityDesigned by Albert Kahn in the late 1920s, the Fisher Building stands tall in Detroit's skyline, boasting unique Art Deco intricacies inside and out. The building was originally supposed to include three skyscrapers, but the Great Depression limited the project to one. Its website calls it “a beacon for Detroit,” and “a symbol of a proud past and promising future,” for the city. The building’s interior features the iconic Fisher Theatre, an arcade, a coffee shop, a full-service salon, clothing boutiques, office space, and more.

    Randiah Camille Green

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  • New York-based Free Art Collective hopes to reach Detroit artists for upcoming Global Day of Art

    New York-based Free Art Collective hopes to reach Detroit artists for upcoming Global Day of Art

    Rochester, New York-based arts nonprofit Free Art Collective is on a mission to make Global Day of Art a worldwide holiday, with hopes for Detroit to be a big piece of the puzzle.

    “If someone can make up ‘National Donut Day,’ we can invent a holiday too!,” reads an Instagram post from Free Art Collective. “Every May 1 we will be inviting the world to make art, buy art, and plan creative pop-up events in their city! Help us bring Global Day of Art to your city!”

    The grassroots organization with the mission to “make art accessible for all” and “use art to feed, house, and water everybody” distributes free art prints and art supplies, plus hosts therapy events, music shows, craft fairs, gallery exhibits, and fundraisers.

    Through the Free Art Collective’s Free Print Program, Peck connects with artists all over the world who allow her to print their art and give it away to people for free with their information on the back, giving artists recognition while upping public art access.

    Since launching in 2020, the Free Art Collective has connected with over 300 artists, many of whom are from Detroit, which is only a six-hour drive from Rochester, New York.

    The two cities are more similar than some may realize, which has led the group’s founder Gabrielle Peck to want to start a Free Art Collective branch in Detroit.

    “I fucking love Detroit, I’ve been twice and I’m obsessed. I started doing outreach in Detroit a couple of years ago and we’ve been building our branch there slowly by just meeting more artists,” Peck says. “[Rochester] has incredible artists, it’s very tight-knit, with an amazing activist mutual aid scene. It’s pretty bad, but it also is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and has some of the most real motherfuckers and I think that’s why I’m so drawn to Detroit… Detroit and Rochester are like cults… People in Rochester are rabid about supporting it the same way people in Detroit are.”

    click to enlarge

    Courtesy photo

    The Free Art Collective pop-up outside of Mom’s Spaghetti in Downtown Detroit

    Peck let us in on the slightly embarrassing secret that she initially wanted to do work in Detroit because of her “obsession with Eminem.” But once she visited, she fell in love with the city in no part due to the rapper.

    On one of two visits to Detroit so far, she did a pop-up outside of Mom’s Spaghetti in hopes of giving out Detroit art to tourists. Simultaneously, she realized that Eminem’s “restaurant” is a joke, and now has a dream to open a competing soup kitchen across the street called Dad’s Macaroni that gives away pasta for free, funded by the Free Art Collective.

    Another of the organization’s long-term goals for Detroit is to open a community center with a gallery so artists can sell their work. Although they currently give away art for free, “the long con is to get all of our artists paid so they can quit their day job,” Peck says.

    “Detroit has one of the most thriving, tight-knit underground scenes of any city in the country that I’ve done work in over the past decade, so I’ve wanted to get involved in Detroit ever since I started doing community art stuff right out of college about a decade ago,” she adds. “The more I got involved with Detroit, the more I realized how incredible the thriving art scene is.”

    click to enlarge The Free Art Collective gave out free prints to Detroiters during a visit to Detroit. - Courtesy photo

    Courtesy photo

    The Free Art Collective gave out free prints to Detroiters during a visit to Detroit.

    Peck first got connected with Detroit artists by posting about the collective’s print program in Detroit Facebook groups. Almost immediately, she connected with Julie Sailus, who owns Disco Walls in Hamtramck and curates many spaces in and around Detroit.

    “She’s helped me to do a couple of Free Art Collective events there,” Peck says. “She’s been helping me build the team, build the artists, and she’s super passionate about helping artists and connecting people.”

    For Global Day of Art, Detroit artists or organizations can host any type of art event they want, and Sailus can help people who need a space to host one. While all events for the holiday will be completely self-run, the Free Art Collective will help promote and market them on social media.

    Some events being planned so far include a zine-making workshop, open mic nights, and artist talks. In Detroit, local artist Trae Isaac will be doing chalk art in honor of the new holiday, and local organizations will be hosting art supply drives and other art events that are still in the works.

    Peck hopes to get a lot more people involved, not just in Detroit, but across the globe.

    “The mission is just to get people in the world making art, buying art, enjoying art, and getting into the community and planning art,” Peck says. “One of my main goals is to take the cool punk rock underground shit and make it mainstream so we can make the art accessible for the normies… What we want to do is help bring everyone together to make it easier for everybody involved so that everyone can be a part of art.”
    Detroit artists and art enthusiasts who want to host a Global Day of Art event on May 1 or who are interested in helping with other Free Art Collective programming in the city can email [email protected] and follow @freeart.collective on Instagram for more information.

    Mohammed Awudu12249 Woodward Ave., Highland Park

    Layla McMurtrie

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  • Sidewalk Detroit is planting a ‘remediation forest’ to mitigate air pollution from Stellantis plant

    Sidewalk Detroit is planting a ‘remediation forest’ to mitigate air pollution from Stellantis plant

    Neighborhood placekeeping nonprofit Sidewalk Detroit is using public art to try and help mitigate air pollution in Detroit’s East Canfield Village. 

    The organization has commissioned a regenerative installation by New York-based sculptor and activist Jordan Weber that will monitor the levels of volatile organic compounds resulting from the nearby Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant.

    The project is being called Detroit Remediation Forest and will include air-purifying trees like pine and cypresses, space for community recreation, and air quality monitors, alongside Weber’s sculpture called “New Forest, Ancient Thrones.” The forest, in collaboration with the Canfield Consortium, will open to the public on May 18 with the unveiling of Weber’s installation.

    “We’re honored to realize artist Jordan Weber’s most ambitious public artwork to date,” Sidewalk Detroit founder and director Ryan Myers-Johnson said. “Detroit Remediation Forest was conceived in response to the environmental racism prevalent in Detroit and it speaks to Sidewalk’s core mission of advancing spatial equity through the lens of community vision and restorative power of public art.”

    Stellantis’s Mack Assembly Plant, located blocks away from where the Detroit Remediation Forest will be located, has racked up repeated violations for paint and solvent odors over the last several years. Earlier this week, Stellantis agreed to pay a roughly $84,000 fine issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for air quality violations at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant, which is located in the same neighborhood. 

    “New Forest, Ancient Thrones” will take the shape of crowns honoring two African queens — Queen Idia of Benin and Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar — for their fight against colonialism. The crowns are also a tribute to Canfield Consortium co-founders Kim and Rhonda Theus and their fight against environmental racism as longtime residents of the neighborhood. “New Forest, Ancient Thrones” will serve as the entryway into the Detroit Remediation Forest and an air monitoring system will be installed on the sculpture.

    “When one controls the land, one controls the people,” Weber said in a statement. “It is important that my projects help counteract the negative effects of discriminatory urban planning and supremacist constructs in the U.S. through education about environmental apartheid and quantitative change. It has been an honor to work with Sidewalk Detroit and Canfield Consortium to engage directly with residents and center their growing concerns about their surroundings in this work.”

    Additional conifer trees and an elevated walkway will be installed in the Detroit Remediation Forest following the unveiling of Weber’s installation in May. The forest will also be a space for outdoor programming for the students of neighboring Barack Obama Leadership Academy and residents in partnership with Ecology Center, Green Door Initiative, Detroit Tree Equity Partnership, Greening of Detroit. 

    Placekeeping or placemaking uses art and cultural activities to shape the social and cultural nature of neighborhoods by and for people who live there. Sidewalk Detroit does this through public art and urban greenspace initiatives including the biennial Sidewalk Festival which spreads installations and public performances across the city. 

    Randiah Camille Green

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  • Hygienic Dress League is creating a new social media platform for collectors to buy art directly from local artists

    Hygienic Dress League is creating a new social media platform for collectors to buy art directly from local artists

    The last time we spoke with artistic husband-and-wife duo Dorota and Steve Coy, better known as the pair behind the Hygienic Dress League, they were deep into the NFT craze. Now they’re working on a new way to leverage technology with an app that puts more money into artists’ pockets.

    ArtClvb is a social media platform and marketplace app that would allow artists to sell their work directly to collectors and eliminate the need for emerging artists to have gallery representation. While most galleries take 40-50% of profit from art sales, Dorota says ArtClvb would only take 15%. Chris Kaufman, the co-founder and former chief creative officer of StockX, a Detroit-based online marketplace for sneakerheads, is another ArtClvb co-founder.

    “Galleries, traditionally, their overhead is much higher,” Dorota tells Metro Times. “Steve and I, we’re artists as well and it’s hard to put your heart and soul into something and not get as much out of it. So we thought, can we change the model a little bit where the artists make most of the money since they created the work? Could that work?”

    She adds, “The art world overall is kind of broken the way it functions because artists are relying upon galleries. Galleries build artists [up] to get to a certain level. Museums play a big part in the ecosystem as well of how artists get picked in relation to the galleries that they work with. So it’s complicated, and 99% of the artists don’t make it to that level… The art market only works for the 1% on top.”

    Artists would upload their work to the ArtClvb app for collectors to purchase. The plan is also to give the artists 5% in royalties from any resales done through the app.

    “Artists are the only creatives that don’t receive royalties,” Dorota says. “Musicians receive royalties. Writers receive royalties. But artists do not. So we were really interested in changing that.”

    ArtClvb is still in the beta phase and the full version is expected to be available later this year. Development is estimated to cost over $1 million, according to Dorota. So far they have secured grant funding through Detroit’s TechTown and other organizations, but there’s still a lot left to go.

    For now, to add an in-person layer to the social platform, the Coys are hosting an event series called Studio Deals where collectors can tour participating artists’ studios and get a behind-the-scenes look at their creative process.

    The next Studio Deals will be on Saturday, March 16 from 2-5 p.m. with 30 artists across 19 locations in Detroit. Upon signing up (for free) participants will receive a map of all the open studios where they can visit the artists and buy their work at special in-studio-only prices.

    “I am always intrigued by folks who are attempting to make a change they feel is needed,” says participating artist Cyrah Dardas. “I like that ArtClvb is made for artists by artists to create a new solution to how people can connect authentically with artists and makers, learn more about their practice and all of its intricacies, and possibly support that artist’s craft.”

    Fellow Studio Deals artist Martyna Alexander adds, “It’s important to have open studio events like this so artists can form personal connections with people interested in their work, invite people into their space to see their practice firsthand, and obviously have a way to sell work that might not fit in the exhibition space, like smaller series and experiments. Social media is a great way to share what you’re working on but seeing art in person is the only way to truly know a piece.”

    Other participating artists include Gretchen Adel, Justin Bean, Habacuc S. Bessiake, Kaleigh Blevins, Dustin Cook, Caroline Delgiudice, Sam Dienst, Kaysi Grimes, Erik Handerson, Ryan Herberholz, Scott Hocking, Nick Jaskey, Barber Kennedy, Steve Kuypers, Ivan Montoya, Emillia Nawrocki, Jaime Pattison, Michael Polakowski, Sarah Rice, Michael Ross, Emily Schnellbacher, Rosie Sharp, Phillip Simpson, John Sippel, India Solomon, Oshun Williams, and Sophia Wojnovich.

    Dorota wants ArtClvb to be a place that not only connects emerging and mid-career artists with collectors, but makes collecting art more accessible and affordable.

    “Sometimes I go into a gallery and it’s very intimidating to ask prices, because you just assume, ‘I can’t afford it,’” she says. “We’re trying to break that model down so that it creates more transparency and it’s more democratic. We want everyone to experience going to our events. There’s something for everyone in our club.”

    This weekend is ArtClvb’s third Open Studios event. For now they plan to do them every three months or so and then eventually expand to monthly.

    “It’s been really successful and it’s so nice to send artists 85% of the money that they earned,” Dorota says. “We hope to continue every month where it’s like, it’s Studio Deals Saturday and people just automatically will know what to do, and then they can look at the map to see who’s participating.”

    To receive the map for Saturday’s Studio Deals, you can sign up for free via Eventbrite. An afterparty for Studio Deals will take place at Collect located at 1454 Gratiot Ave.

    For more information about ArtClvb, see artclvb.xyz.

    Randiah Camille Green

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  • MAP Fest returns for a second year with goals to grow and highlight ‘the beauty of the hood’

    MAP Fest returns for a second year with goals to grow and highlight ‘the beauty of the hood’

    In 2023, MAP Fest debuted in Highland Park’s Avalon Village, blending music, art, and poetry for a day-long community festival. By all accounts the event was a success, drawing nearly 1,200 attendees, 60 vendors, and over 60 performers.

    This year, the festival is set to return on July 27, and organizers have hopes of growing with more sponsors, interactive activities, and community partners, with a goal to double the turnout.

    “If this was a TV show, that was our pilot episode,” says Kwesi Huffman, co-founder and 2024 Map Fest head director. “This year, the goal is to expand everything and to make everything much more fun and organized. We had no experience, we were just trying to make it happen.”

    Huffman, who was promoted from marketing director to head director, joined the MAP Fest team shortly after the idea was thought up by co-founders and local musicians Koron Wilkerson and Anthony Young Jr., who goes by AyeWhy. Wilkerson is also the founder of the local arts and entertainment group Jewels of Detroit and owns Rock Local Entertainment Cafe in Highland Park, so MAP Fest is basically a culmination of all the work he does to showcase Detroit talent.

    Despite little festival experience, MAP Fest 2023 was a win. The team worked hard and gained tons of positive community feedback, plus secured high-level sponsorships from cannabis retailers Jeeters and JARS and event company Crowd Freak.

    “With all odds against us, our sponsors still decided to work with us,” Huffman says. “Collaborations were important because it showed that we had credibility. For a lot of people, especially in the city of Detroit, especially if you’re doing something that’s different in a location that people already have a negative stigma about, people just won’t show up based on caution going off in their brain, being scared, or whatever they think.”

    He added that many people told him to not even have the festival in the location it’s in because no one would show up, but clearly, they were wrong. If you’ve ever been to Avalon Village, you know it’s a gem.

    Avalon Village is a nonprofit eco-village that has brought blighted lots on Avalon Street in Highland Park back to life, now providing a safe space for the community with youth programs, holistic healing, activity spaces, and more.

    This year, beyond more sponsors, the plan for MAP Fest is to better utilize the space on Avalon Street with things like bigger stages and larger activations.

    “We just want to have more things for people to do and make it an event that you can stay at the entire day and not get bored,” AyeWhy says. “Carnival games, or more painting activities for the art district, whatever it may be to just keep people entertained, even on the basketball court.”

    For AyeWhy, the main mission of MAP Fest is to give local artists a platform to gain recognition, so he hopes to show performers even more love this year. “I think that the artists that perform need to have a longer set and actually understand that we care about them and we want them to shine with this festival,” he says.

    click to enlarge

    Courtesy photo

    The inaugural MAP Fest brought around 1,200 attendees and over 60 performers.

    Not only does MAP Fest provide that platform to local artists, but Huffman says he is also glad that the festival showcases “the beauty of the hood.”

    “We’re trying to change the stigma of the hood actively inside the hood… For me, growing up, I didn’t think that doing anything like this on your own with the limited resources that we have was possible. So MAP Fest, being in the hood, being in this location, gathering large amounts of people, creates that type of experience and it’s positive,” he says. “We are products of the community creating something for the community and we’re also inspiring the community as a whole to do what you want to do. No matter if it’s music, art, poetry, if it’s business, if it’s getting off your ass — do something, be an impactful part of your community.”

    To get people ready for MAP Fest, the Jewels of Detroit hosted MAP Con during the week of Valentine’s Day with a series of music, art, and poetry events held at Rock Local. The idea started with the group’s visual artists wanting to do a gallery show, but it quickly grew into something bigger, making the space a gallery all week long. MAP Con featured a karaoke night, an open mic, R&B and neo-soul nights, and an open gallery day to meet the featured artists.

    Organizers hope to have a few more events leading up to MAP Fest that continue to build excitement around this year’s event. In the future, AyeWhy says the vision is to take the festival to other cities and countries, but for now, getting ready for another hometown success is at the forefront.

    “I just think it’s important for people to take July 27 off, be completely free, and have nothing going on, no babysitting, no work, none of that,” AyeWhy says. “Just be prepared for a whole day of extravagant events, music, basketball, poetry, everything.”

    A lineup of performances for MAP Fest will be announced closer to the event date. Tickets will be on sale in the coming weeks. You can follow @mapfest on Instagram for updates.

    Faygo popBorn in Detroit in 1907, Faygo has become an iconic symbol of Detroit’s culture. From classics like Redpop to unique flavors such as Cotton Candy, Faygo has since been served up far beyond its hometown.

    Layla McMurtrie

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