M Contemporary Art Cuts Ribbon, Features Detroit From Above
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 24, 2018)
Ferndale, MI- Downtown Ferndale welcomed the newest art gallery M Contemporary Art last Friday with a ribbon cutting and artist reception.
After a soft opening in Jan, the Feb. event featured Brian Day, a photographer who uses a drone to capture aerial photos of architecture, landscapes and landmarks. The exhibit at M Contemporary focuses on “Detroit from Above,” with shots of Belle Isle Bridge, Joe Lewis Fist, Dodge Fountain at Hart Plaza and various roadways among those presented.
For example, there’s a print titled “Parking Structure, Greektown Casino-Hotel.” The structure itself is not generally considered a work of art. But with Day’s drone-eyed perspective, it appears on the canvas almost like an eyeball or an egg, with a dark core offset from a lighter crescent and hugged by the up and down ramps.
“He gets elements of composition. The buildings create the lines and shapes in a way that even abstract artists do not always get,” said John Paralaneli, a friend of Day’s and an artist himself. “His eyes see the art that is there.”
Day grew up in Detroit, a city he loves partly because the landscape is always changing. “Everybody has different perspectives of Detroit,” Day said. “I hope my work can start conversations. I’ve been here my whole life. I’ve seen the rollercoaster. But the city has always been beautiful to me.”
M Contemporary will have new artists featured every few weeks, with a variety of styles and media. Founder Melanie Chard was inspired by Galerie Camille in Midtown, and said she was “ready to start my own.”
“When I came upon this location, I knew,” Chard said. Located at 205 E. 9 Mile, M Contemporary is located on the ground floor of a mixed use building with lofts and other retail spaces, including the eclectic gift shop 3Winks. Go Comedy is also on the block, and the Ferndale Library is across the street.
“This is a place with a lot of foot traffic and the right vibe,” Chard said. Fellow business owners through the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Ferndale joined Chard for a ribbon cutting Feb. 16. “I really understand and appreciate the adventure that comes with getting your own space, opening your business, opening your life to this grand adventure. I’m really excited to have them next door,” said 3Winks owner Heather Hopkins.
Learn more about M Contemporary at www.mcontemporaryart.com
Learn more about photographer Brian Day at http://www.brianday.org