Corktown artist Kathy Leisen found a novel way to approach Detroit's vacant land as an asset rather than a liability. She is making use of two lots in North Corktown as The Lot, a space for performance art that pushes the boundaries of what might usually be found in a museum or gallery, places that she says "serve a really important function for artists, but (this) challenges them to think a different way."
Leisen's concept stemmed from an intense winter session she taught at an art school in Sagatauk, Mich., at which visiting artist Mark Dion challenged and inspired her and her students. Living next door to the land and "looking at it for three years" spurred her to begin investigating possibilities for the parcels.
Although she found out the city-owned lots are slated for development, the seeds for The Lot began sprouting when it became clear that "construction next year or the year after ... wasn't going to happen," she says.
Other than large letters that spell out "The Lot" designed and built by local artist Chris Turner, The Lot is simple. As Leisen intended, it is a blank slate for artists, both local and national.
Next on the slate is "Frog Mountain in a Neo Country" from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, featuring Detroit-based artist Davin Brainard paired with Chris Kerr from Chicago. "They both use
a sense of playfulness and humor that makes their work irresistible," says Leisen. "For
this show, they are both making site-specific -- and weather-proof -- artworks that will be installed for the month of August, so it is a
combination of a gallery show and a public art installation."
The Lot is at 3013 Cochrane at Butternut. Keep up to speed with happenings at
thelotdetroit.blogspot.com.
Source: Kathy Leisen, The Lot
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.