Detroit's beloved Norwest Gallery of Art is set to close its doors after eight years of showcasing the works of emerging and established artists. The gallery, owned by Asia Hamilton, a pioneering figure in the Detroit art scene, will hold its final exhibit, "Water," which features an impressive array of artworks that explore the themes of water as a symbol of life, transformation, and connection.
Hamilton's decision to close the gallery comes after years of financial struggles, which she has been facing despite the growing popularity of the space. The artist has expressed her gratitude to the community for its support, stating that it was the only reason she could continue to keep the gallery open. However, she emphasizes the need for artists and art institutions to be supported by the community, rather than just relying on individual efforts.
The "Water" exhibit is a fitting tribute to the spirit of the gallery, with artworks created by Hamilton and other notable artists that explore the complexities of water as a symbol of life, spirituality, and transformation. The exhibit features a range of mediums, including paintings, illustrations, photography, video, and sculptures.
One of the standout pieces in the exhibit is "Lusteration," a painting by Ijania Cortez that explores the theme of baptism and the transformative power of water. Another notable piece is Nawili's sculptural collage, which features cowrie shells as a symbol of Yoruba Orisha Yemoja, the motherly deity of the ocean.
The exhibit also includes a unique sonic installation created by Maro J. Kayira and Ethan Marshall Cohen, which uses submersible microphones to record the sound of melting ice. The installation changes in real-time as visitors interact with it, creating an immersive experience that explores the theme of water's interconnectedness with all life on Earth.
As Norwest Gallery prepares to close its doors, Asia Hamilton plans to continue her work through pop-up art installations and her Womxnhouse Detroit artist residency. She will also be hosting a summit at Art Basel Miami Beach for arts administrators in December.
The closure of Norwest Gallery is a significant loss for the Detroit art community, which has come to rely on the space as a hub for showcasing emerging and established artists. However, Hamilton's legacy as a pioneering figure in the Detroit art scene will continue to inspire future generations of artists and art enthusiasts alike.
Hamilton's decision to close the gallery comes after years of financial struggles, which she has been facing despite the growing popularity of the space. The artist has expressed her gratitude to the community for its support, stating that it was the only reason she could continue to keep the gallery open. However, she emphasizes the need for artists and art institutions to be supported by the community, rather than just relying on individual efforts.
The "Water" exhibit is a fitting tribute to the spirit of the gallery, with artworks created by Hamilton and other notable artists that explore the complexities of water as a symbol of life, spirituality, and transformation. The exhibit features a range of mediums, including paintings, illustrations, photography, video, and sculptures.
One of the standout pieces in the exhibit is "Lusteration," a painting by Ijania Cortez that explores the theme of baptism and the transformative power of water. Another notable piece is Nawili's sculptural collage, which features cowrie shells as a symbol of Yoruba Orisha Yemoja, the motherly deity of the ocean.
The exhibit also includes a unique sonic installation created by Maro J. Kayira and Ethan Marshall Cohen, which uses submersible microphones to record the sound of melting ice. The installation changes in real-time as visitors interact with it, creating an immersive experience that explores the theme of water's interconnectedness with all life on Earth.
As Norwest Gallery prepares to close its doors, Asia Hamilton plans to continue her work through pop-up art installations and her Womxnhouse Detroit artist residency. She will also be hosting a summit at Art Basel Miami Beach for arts administrators in December.
The closure of Norwest Gallery is a significant loss for the Detroit art community, which has come to rely on the space as a hub for showcasing emerging and established artists. However, Hamilton's legacy as a pioneering figure in the Detroit art scene will continue to inspire future generations of artists and art enthusiasts alike.
! I'm literally going to miss Norwest Gallery so much!! Asia Hamilton's been such an inspiration to me & I've always loved her artwork 
. But at the same time, I get why she had to close it down... the gallery was struggling financially & it's crazy how one thing can affect a whole community 
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. It's so inspiring to see her just keep pushing forward despite all the challenges she faced. And I'm def gonna check out "Water" - I need to see those cowrie shells sculptures ASAP 
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. Let's keep supporting her & other artists like her! 
its like such a shame that Norwest Gallery is closin 
!! asia hamilton has been doin so much for detroit art scene 4 years now n i'm beyond grateful 4 everythin she's done! 
but at the same time, i feel bad 4 her cuz u can tell its financial struggles 
& the summit at art basel miami beach? 
& i cant wait 2 c it in person!!! 
gotta get my camera ready fer all the pics 
. I get why Asia Hamilton is doing this though - she's been a total trailblazer for women in the art world and she needs to prioritize herself too 
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! Anyway, can't wait to see what Asia Hamilton does next 
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btw, i loved the 'water' exhibit - so many amazin pieces!!! lusteration by ijania cortez was like nothin i've ever seen before 
Asia Hamilton's vision and dedication to the community are truly admirable 
It's like, the gallery was more than just a place where art was displayed, it was a hub for connection and growth 
I love that she's taking her talents online with pop-up installations and residencies – can't wait to see what's next! 
I loved their "Water" exhibit, especially the sonic installation - it was like nothing I've ever experienced before! 
It's a shame that Detroit is losing this amazing resource but I'm so excited to see what Asia Hamilton does next with her pop-up installations and Womxnhouse Detroit residency 
i'm especially excited to see the work by ijania cortez, nawili, maro j. kayira, and ethan marshall cohen... it's clear that this exhibit is going to be a truly immersive experience 
detroit art scene just lost its heartbeat 
norwest gallery was more than just a space it was a community 
asia hamilton's legacy will live on thru her pop-up installations & womxnhouse residency 
another art gallery bites the dust 
asia hamiltons plan B aka pop-up installations might just save her from total obscurity 
and Nawili's sculptural collage is like a work of art that whispers sweet nothings to my soul 
. We've been so caught up in the fact that it was free (for the most part) and conveniently located that we didn't realize the financial struggles she was facing behind the scenes.
. The artists, the art enthusiasts, the administrators... everyone has been touched by Norwest Gallery in some way.
. She's not going down without a fight - pop-up art installations, Womxnhouse Detroit artist residency, and a summit at Art Basel Miami Beach? Girl, you're still got this 
! But, on the other hand, I feel bad for all the artists who will be affected by the closure... they'll have to find new spaces to showcase their work 
! I'll definitely be keeping an eye on Asia Hamilton's future projects 
... maybe her pop-up art installations will become a staple in the Detroit art scene 
. The community's support for artists like Asia Hamilton is crucial, and I hope more institutions take note 
. On the bright side, her pop-up art installations are going to be super interesting to see 
and who knows maybe she'll even inspire some new art institutions in Detroit 
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. Eight years of amazing exhibits and supporting emerging artists? That's just too much 
! The way Ijania Cortez's "Lusteration" piece explores baptism and transformation is EVERYTHING 
. And Nawili's cowrie shell sculptural collage? Mind blown