Superhero German Artist Uta Brauser Landed in Detroit to Teach Our Art Community How to Fly
Art Entrepreneur Danny K. Dunbar Seeks Refuge at the Pivot Art Collective After Winding Down Revel Detroit
Saturday, February 11th, 2023 at 12:19 PM
Yorkshire Woods
Detroit, Michigan
Let’s begin with the Superman legend. Kal-El lived with two loving parents on the planet Krypton. Sadly, the planet suffered a planetary extinction event, but not before Kal-El’s parents sent the child to earth in a rocket. Found by a couple in Smallville, Kansas, Kal-El grew up in their loving home as their own child. However, because Ka-El came from the heavier gravity of Krypton, the young earthling began to exhibit super human strength, extraordinary powers and the ability to fly.
This concept makes it possible to understand Detroit artist Uta Brauser, who arrived in our fair city after striving and succeeding in the art worlds of Germany, Florence Italy and Brooklyn New York City. After learning hard lessons in the real estate markets of the Old World and the Big Apple, Brauser has come to Detroit to build a masterpiece that will last a millennium. Last night at the Pivot Arts Collective at Cass and Willis, Brauser taught plenty of Detroiters how to fly.
Just to note, Brauer greeted her many well-wishers and collectors dressed in colorful, super-hero outfit, complete with braids under a knit cap. The artist didn’t require a cape.
Brauser probably doesn’t need a fixed address or the four walls of a home. The artist thrived in the art community of New York City, pulling along a mobile gallery called A Fish with Braids. Yes, the artist owns a cargo van, loving painted with Frida Kahlo motifs, and the cargo van pulls a trailer, lovingly outfitted with cedar shakes. One can be sure that the artist made this mobile venue as comfortable as a Hilton hotel. While Brauser looks as healthy as Thor, the artist certainly sleeps warmly and cozy to protect cartilage and joints. The artist often teaches movement workshops.
While on the brink of puberty, Brauser and family built a home in Germany from the hand dug basement up. This hooked the artist on the DIY lifestyle forever. Functioning just like a German journeyman, Brauser doesn’t waste money on rent or mortgages. Thus, the artist bought a home near the Packard Plant off the Detroit tax rolls for less than a thousand dollars. Then, the artist set about bringing the home up to personal standards for comfort.
Once worthless, Zillow claims that the home could ask twelve hundred dollars in rent. Annually, the artist invites friends and students to help paint new murals on the exteriors of the Packard Art House. Adding lots purchased from the Detroit Land Bank, one surmises, Brauser has created an art destination equivalent to the Heidelburg Project or Harold Finster's Paradise Garden. Give Brauser some acreage and Brauser will build an art destination at least as interesting as Hamtramck Disneyland. Brauser has started another home project in Highland Park. The artist routinely shows the building inspectors what’s possible for bringing a foundation up to snuff.
Brauser adds a German expressionist touch to the role of Merry Prankster. The Packard Art House often hosts traveling bands who perform on a stage built by the artist. Maybe the artist collects a donation; maybe the artist doesn’t collect a donation. When you’ve bought a homestead on the grassy loneliness of Poletown East, producing a happening on the lawn can simply happen. Just invite the neighbors. Brauer has made connections with Robert Sestok, who has a sculpture yard in the neighborhood. Likewise, the artist collaborates with raw space pioneers, Carl Goines and the tower that houses the sculptural studio at 555 Arts.
Brauser popped up on the stage of the Pivot Arts Collective at 6:30 PM to talk about the work on display, especially the very popular paintings of Frida Kahlo. Usually, an artist talkback lasts for ten minutes tops, with maybe five questions accepted from the floor. Brauser answered questions tirelessly, including addressing the elephant in the room. “When Poletown East begins to gentrify, where will you go next?”
Brauser has no plans to vacate for Des Moines or Dubuque or points unknown. Already at work, Brauser has a plan to trump even an attempt to seize the Packard Art Collective by eminent domain. Brauser has huddled with lawyers and learned from the playbook of Tyree Guyton when it comes to protecting an art destination. The push might come to shove earlier than later. The plan to tear down the nearby Packard Plant has placed Poletown East land into the real estate speculation upward spiral.
The Pivot Art Collective looks like a new arrival to the southeastern corner of Willis and Cass. A journalist in a wheelchair and companion came by to enjoy the scene. The couple had rescued the building from its previous role as just one more crowded, grimy Cass Corridor beer and wine joint. Danny K. Dunbar, formerly of Revel Detroit, presided over the gathering, attending to our hospitality impeccably. Dressed in a warrior royalty outfit of personal design, Dunbar discussed a collection of her new paintings while topping off wine glasses and freshening the table of small plates.
And oh, what small plates we enjoyed. Pivot Art Collective connects to the French Cow Crepe Shop. All night long, the staff next door added to the refreshments, serving these ridiculously delicious baguette finger sandwiches, rounded out with brie, maple sugar or even cornichon pickles. Dunbar works for the owner of Pivot, whom I guess owns French Cow as well. Let’s just say there’s a serious art promoter at the heart of Pivot, a promoter who has already sponsored two thousand dollar prizes for the next invitational at Pivot. How refreshing to find an intimate art opening far from the hubbub of the nearby Dirty Show kick off or the scores of artists exhibiting that night at Spot Light Detroit.