On a Tuesday Night, Gallerie Camille Welcomed a Two-Day Pop Up from An Unknown Artist
There But for The Grace of God Go Any One of Us
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025
The Daring Dexter Bus 16
Puritan & Dexter
8:10 PM
The Detroit Department of Transportation keeps adjusting routes, mostly for the better. I thought the Daring Dexter went to Wayne County Community College on Outer Drive and Southfield Freeway. I'm now taking the bus to Meijers at Old Redford, Grand River and Lahser. I felt compelled to take that route. From Old Redford, I can take the Serviceable Seven Bus 7 almost directly home. This feels like a true improvement. Getting back from Old Redford will add time to the ride, but I'm writing and beating the heat.
I'm trying to recount a strange encounter at Gallerie Camille tonight. We were gathered for a popup installation by Jiye Choi. The artist called all the galleries and found Gallerie Camille willing to host a two-day art exhibition. The exhibit came out of nowhere, a surprise, and that fact convinced me to attend the opening. Adnan Charara has forged strong bonds with Chinese artists thanks to a recent collaboration with Zhongou Xu, a master of Oriental calligraphy. So, I thought that was the gift that was keeping on giving. Yet, it appears that Choi comes from San Diego and identifies as a Korean artist.
I struck up a conversation with George, a teacher of filmmaking. Choi, a recent graduate of the College for Creative Studies, had installed a two screen presentation of a short video. I watched the strange video that revealed the story of a lover preserving a figurative heart in Ball canning jars. The two screens presented the same film, but always showed different sequences. In the midst of the screens, a pedestal held up about thirty canning jars, sealed to preserve bits of figurative heart and metaphorical blood. George didn't care for the installation, and I challenged George's judgement.
A guest stepped between us. I thought the guest had ideas to share with us. I noticed on the guest's wrist a band from a hospital stay. Neither George nor I could make sense of the guest. We were overwhelmed by the soundtrack of the screening.
The guest singled George out. It looked innocent enough. Other than the bracelet, the guest looked like a hip art student in a white tee. The guest began whispering in George's ear. George listened with an intent look on the face.
Then the guest kissed George's ear repeatedly and put George in a bear hug. The guest lost balance and George broke free before the guest stumbled and almost fell.
I followed the events, witnessing, stunned. George regained composure and braced.
The curator's friend interceded like a rodeo clown. “We can't have that here. You must leave.”
The guest looked at the curator, expressionless.
“Please, walk with me. I am walking to the door.”
And the guest followed the curator's friend to the door.
George turned to me. “Would you write that episode as a short?”
I delivered this text to George in the morning. George understands Cantasoria, a means of animating a film. George has challenged me to write this episode as a script.
“No dialog. No dialog at least to the end.”
Jiye Choi has Melted Her Heart Out