Home is where the art is — Over the years in Detroit, there have only been a few exciting galleries run out of artists’ homes or studios. One such space was Maureen Maki’s 2 South, an apartment-cum-gallery owned by painter Maki and her boyfriend Billy Hunter. On last Fridays of recent months, photographer Joshua Smith and conceptual artists Brian Clifton and Jeffrey Tranchell have been presenting quality shows out of their home on Commonwealth Street, located in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood. By clearing out their first floor, shoving their futon wherever they can fit it, the roommates have turned a few small rooms into a great spot to engage with art and participate in loose and enthusiastic conversation. It is unfortunate that the roommates are moving to France and New York, but it’s safe to assume that the send-off show this weekend will be inspiring, as usual. Twenty artists — Phil Birch, Sara Blakeman, Erin Somerville and Dan DeMaggio among them — will be showing and selling works. Since the boys affectionately ask everyone to make up their own title for the final exhibition, we’ll call the show Kick out the Hams. Doors open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. At 10 p.m., performance artist Jamie Easter presents his piece, followed by music of the Genders. Commonwealth Gallery is at 5052 Commonwealth St. in Detroit.
Walled off —Another show seems promising — Europa: Community and Graffiti is promoted as a “visual documentation of squats and graffiti” in Spain, Italy, Germany and Ireland. The show opens at 10 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 7, in the lot next to the Trumbellplex at 4210 Trumbull St., Detroit.
Moving words —Check out this week’s edition of American Life in Poetry online at www.metrotimes.com.
