blkout walls mural festival 2023

Sep 14, 2023

“The biennial BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival was conceived by Sydney G. James, Thomas “Detour” Evans of Denver, Colorado and Max Sansing of Chicago, Illinois as a direct response to their shared history of participating in mural festivals throughout the country, where there is no remuneration for the participating artists and where there is limited racial diversity among the artists represented.”

The inaugural festival launched in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. This reprise of that wildly successful event in the face of adversity has expanded its line up to include international artists working alongside locally celebrated painters with an apropos theme of Resilience.

When I caught up with co-founder Sydney James she was already a couple days into her towering collaboration with Ijania Cortez installed on the side of a restaurant on Woodward Avenue just north of East Grand Boulevard. As the paint is slowly and carefully applied, the figures begin to come to life. The orange underpainting is allowed to permeate the picture lending a warm glow. Check out a more complete view while James discusses this piece and festival details in a video interview for paid subscribers.

During my reconnaissance for this review, the balance of participating artists hadn’t started this year’s illustrations yet. Therefore, I’m offering a couple notable works I didn’t cover in 2021's report. Like this piece from Tylonn Sawyer who spins his personal take on Superheroes. Two invented characters defend Detroit from cyclops aliens in this massive, entertaining scene.

Always up for monster wall painting is Rick Malt whose distinctive bird motif is instantly recognizable. Haven’t seen a skull from him before so this was a delightful surprise. The oozing purple on the left complements the more realistic orange rendering on the right, both sides punctuated with sparkling diamonds. I’m very impressed with clean lines on a heavily ridged surface which ripples with light even in a still photo.

Mural painting is a legitimate genre in the lexicon of fine art. At the apex of skill, imagination and impact, the work is as sophisticated as anything one might find in a museum but on a mindboggling scale. Perhaps the most important feature of this kind of work is its effect on the community that’s lucky enough to score one. Vivid color with a distinctive flavor born from street art, murals are illuminating American and European cities that once wore way too much beige. I’m looking forward to the drive down Woodward to see how this year’s ensemble of exceptional painters decorate Detroit in dramatic fashion.

Participating artists: Sydney James, Bakpak Durden, Birdcap, All City Art Club, Ryan Chun, Ijania Cortez, Habacuc S. Bessiake, Demien De Yonte, Jason Garcia, Kobie Solomon, Toonky Berry, Taj Francis, Miah the Creator, Ryan Adams, Rick Malt, Tknaff, Torrence Jayy, Brittany ‘Boub’ Williams, Caitlyn Dawson, Darius Barber, Mohammed Awudu, Joseph Cazeno.

Festival runs through Sept 17^th but the murals are permanent. Mural map, block party info BLKOUT Walls

*images are mine

direct quote from festival materials

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