Detroit Creatives Part 2 | One Detroit "Best Of" Episode

Since its inception, One Detroit has shared stories that bring value and context to our audience’s daily lives. The One Detroit team now reshares some of these impactful stories in a series of “Best Of” episodes. Tonight, One Detroit presents ”Best Of: Detroit Creatives Part 2” featuring interviews with Kresge Arts in Detroit, artist Anthony Lee and more.

This episode was originally published August 18, 2022. It was updated and re-aired on Nov. 24, 2022.

This Week on One Detroit:

Artist Anthony Lee Commissions New Vincent Chin Mural For Detroit’s Former Chinatown

Chinese American artist Anthony Lee has been commissioned by the American Citizens for Justice (ACJ) to paint a Vincent Chin mural commemorating the 40th anniversary of his death. The mural sits on display at the corner of Peterboro Street and Cass Avenue.

One Detroit’s Senior Producer Bill Kubota met up with Lee in his studio space to talk about the meaning behind his new Vincent Chin mural and the significance of its placement in Detroit’s former Chinatown. Plus, they discuss Lee’s other work around metro Detroit, including in numerous businesses like the Whistle Stop, and how he worked with legendary Detroit artist Gilda Snowden in his early years.

Then, Kubota heads over to a budding Asian American artist collective that’s forming in Southwest Detroit. He talks with Shingo Brown, an artist and the curator of the Art Buddies collective, about the Asian American artistic community he’s working to form in the city.

Spotlighting Detroit Talent: KAF21 Film Series Features 2021 Kresge Artist Fellows, Local Filmmakers

Art has a beautiful way of drawing people in and capturing their attention. That’s what Kresge Arts in Detroit’s annual filmmaker series has continued to do for several years with its documentary-style film series, featuring the organization’s annually selected Kresge Artist Fellows. In the last few years, however, Kresge Arts in Detroit Director Christina DeRoos realized there was an important ingredient missing in the creative formula. The artists needed full creative autonomy to tell their authentic stories.

One Detroit’s Arts & Culture team sat down with DeRoos, as well as KAF21 Film Series Producer Donald Harrison, 2021 Kresge Artist Fellow Jeni De La O, and KAF21 Film Series Filmmaker Na to hear more about the collaborative efforts and creative freedoms given to Kresge Artist Fellows and local filmmakers for this year’s 20 short films, which create the organization’s KAF21 Film Series special, “Spotlight Detroit: Short Films Featuring the 2021 Kresge Artist Fellows.” Plus, the group shares some of their favorite films that were made for the series.

Detroit Tattoo Artist Lorri Thomas Inks Her Own Path to Success

As a professional tattoo artist in Detroit, visual artist and the founder and CEO of the Ladies of Ink tour, Lorri Thomas has inked her own path to a successful and fulfilling career, but it wasn’t until she visited a tattoo party in the City that she found her passion for the art form. She takes the “Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove” stage at the Marygrove Theatre with her client Tara to tattoo a transformation piece that symbolizes personal growth.

Afterward, One Detroit Arts & Culture host Satori Shakoor sits down with Thomas to learn more about the level of trust that’s needed to work with clients on a tattoo, why it’s referred to as ink therapy, and how she connects with her clients deeply to create a uniquely personal product. Plus, Thomas talks about the Ladies of Ink Tour, the first all-Black female tattoo artist tour working to raise awareness and representation of minorities in the tattooing industry.

Leslie DeShazor Quintet Performs at Dirty Dog Jazz Café

Plus, in a preview of Detroit Jazz Festival 2022 over the Labor Day weekend, we’ll close out the show with a performance by one of the festival’s scheduled artists, the Leslie DeShazor Quintet, recorded at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI.