Chris Hughes Talks About ARTWN on Art Design Show

(C. Proxmire, Ferndale 115 News, July 30, 2012)

Ferndale Downtown Development Authority Communications Manager Chris Hughes did a half-hour long interview about the ARTWN project for the regional public television show Art Design, hosted by artist and curator John Sauvé. Sauve is also the curator behind the two-year art instillation which is spread throughout Downtown Ferndale.

Seated at a large desk, Hughes and Suave conversed about art in Downtown Ferndale, including the success of ARTWN the Event, what makes Ferndale a uniquely artistic community, and about the controversy stirred up by the Red Ram piece.

“It does have a give and take going that you know is also taking place off Facebook,” Hughes said of the Red Ram sculpture perched high on an upright I-beam at the corner of W. 9 Mile and Livernois. People have climbed on top of the ram to take pictures, used it’s likeness on tee shirts, and even taken liberties by pasting a Pez logo to the side.

“First of all it’s red, and it’s at a popular intersection so it brought a lot of response,” she said. She also reminded viewers that even in good humor they don’t want to encourage the defacing of public art.

She also praised those who make the ARTWN exhibit possible. “The Downtown Development Authority has a few people on staff, but it is run, things happen, because we have great volunteers. They are stakeholders and they want to see their Downtown better, whether they are businesspeople, residents or whatever connection they might have.”

Art Design is a project of the Sauvé Art Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 which sponsors public sculpture exhibits, film festivals, performances, and educational programs. It establishes close links to the local community and other cultural institutions and universities in the United States and abroad. Started by John Sauvé, the Sauvé Art Foundation provides artists from around the world an opportunity to develop and exhibit their work in a stimulating environment. The Sauvé Art Foundation internship program offers students from a variety of disciplines hands-on experience in project management. The Sauvé Art Foundation produces an annual newsletter, exhibit catalogs, books, short films, documentaries, concerts, readings, and art exhibitions celebrating art.

Learn more about art in Downtown Ferndale by watching the entire video at http://vimeo.com/46235579. Find out more about Downtown Ferndale at www.downtownferndale.com. And more about the Sauvé Foundation at http://sauveartfoundation.org.

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Also, check out some of our other art stories:

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/06/01/art-is-everywhere-in-artwn/

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/06/30/new-public-art-celebrated-at-artwn-the-event-video/

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/06/27/inside-out-dia-artwork-comes-to-ferndale/

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/05/15/2012-congressional-art-competition-awards-video/

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/07/09/re-creation-unveiled-at-affirmations-video/

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2011/09/17/funky-ferndale-art-fair-2011/