After six years, Detroit’s annual Sidewalk Festival, that takes over a few, alleys, streets, and yes, sidewalks on the westside is back and ready to Create, Engage, and Inspire with fellow Detroiters and visitors alike.
Opening night is on Friday August 3, from 7:00 – 10:00PM at The Artist Village, and all day Saturday August 4, from 3:00 – 10:00PM, both located at 17336 Lahser, Detroit, MI. The festival is free and open to all walks of life – with family friendly activities, food, vendors and namely ART!
Over the course of two days, the creative works of 45 artist groups, over 100 Detroit-based artists, will be spotlighted, spanning the creative planes of dance, installation art, opera, theater, interactive performance, music, poetry, and multidisciplinary work. Attendees should come prepared to walk through (re)imagined space, full of magical experiences, reflective moments, and unannounced interactive performance.
The festival theme this year is Source←→Future, with invitations to presenting artists to explore concepts related to the sources in our world that determine our future: how the two interact, flow and engage in an interplay of positives and negatives. Guests will get to explore custom built creative play and relaxation structures built from re-purposed, locally sourced materials as a means of thinking differently about waste and re-use.
Sidewalk Detroit Director + Founder, Ryan Myers-Johnson, who has steered the Sidewalk Festival into its sixth year is an accomplished dancer and choreographer herself, with years of experience both at home and abroad. Today, Myers-Johnson continues to dedicate much of her creative focus and collaborative vision on the west side where she was born and raised. Observing and looking forward, with the theme this year Source←→ Future, Myers-Johnson had this to share:
“This year we are focusing on our roots, on the core values that make Sidewalk what it is. We create complete, demographic access to experimental and boundary-pushing work from Detroit’s most self-determined artists.”
“Attendees can witness the creation of a live mural by fine artist Sydney James as she explores the sources of neighborhood strength as embodied by black women. Artists will explore the theme Source←→Future through experimental theater, dance and installation topics ranging from mental health issues, to race, class and privilege.”
The festival has been and continues to be free and open to all; however, donations are welcomed and encouraged. Attendees will find donation jars, official t-shirts, and festival layout and artist line-up info at each of the entrances.
Find Sidewalk Detroit on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to catch latest updates and live shares during the festival. Or share and invite friends to the fest’s official event page.