Back in our December countdown, we offhandedly suggested that Julie Mehretu might be one of the single most important artists of the 21st century. We may have overstated the case, but the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation has just announced a $50,000 grant to Detroit's DIA earmarked to commission new work by the artist to be installed at the DIA in the fall. The work will share space with Diego Rivera's 1932 Detroit Industry murals and will address similar themes of urban space and the social and political issues that follow from it. The project's title: City Sitings.
We note that Julie's ties to the American midwest are more than skin deep; the Ethiopian-born painter was raised in East Lansing, Michigan and is also a former Walker (Minneapolis) artist-in-residence.
The Joyce Awards are made annually to support midwest cultural institutions to commission new works from artists of color. Part of the 50 grand will also fund a workshop, partly of Julie's design, that will connect Detroit public school students with their experience of the city and of the work. City Sitings is then scheduled to travel to three additional cities after its DIA debut.
