Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit

More About the Artist

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Contact CAID
(313) 899.2243
info@thecaid.org

CAID
5141 Rosa Parks Blvd
Detroit MI 48208

CLOSING PARTY! - OCTOBER 17

Detroit Music Goes 3D
A 3D documentary of Detroit's indie rock scene

“D3D”, a solo exhibition featuring the work of Chris Dean, is a three dimensional showcase of Detroit's music from 2008 to 2009.

D3D is the first 3D photo documentary of a region’s music and the first large scale exploration of music using the lenticular process. It portrays 20 Detroit indy rock bands performing live in bars, halls and theaters across Detroit.. Over 27,000 photos were taken during dozens of late night performances. The exhibit celebrates Detroit's unique perspective on rock music and the 3D and lenticular medium draws the viewer into unique moments of time and space.

In 2007 a group of “camera hackers” found a way to alter the firmware on Canon point and shoot cameras. This nerdy endeavor made it possible to do a variety of unintended things including firing multiple cameras at the same time with near perfect synchronicity. For Chris Dean it was the holy grail of 3D lenticular photography where he could finally put moving subjects in a proper 3D space. Dean built a rig with seven modified cameras and began searching for something to shoot. His quest lead him to the energetic and diverse Detroit live music scene.

Chris Dean is one of a handful of artists worldwide with a studio practice dedicated to lenticular imagery. Born in Detroit in 1968 Dean became interested in stereoscopic work as a student at San Jose State in the 90s. Chris has bachelors of Fine Art and minor in Art History from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters of Art in Multimedia Computing from San Jose State.

“D3D” opens with an artist reception on September 12, 2009 from 6pm to 11pm. The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public. For more information call (313)899.2243 or email info@thecaid.org.

The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit is a community based non-profit organization. CAID fosters and promotes the essential link between contemporary arts and contemporary society through its exhibitions, performances, critical and public discourse, and the funding of contemporary arts and art related activities.

During an exhibition, CAID galleries are open Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 6pm or by appointment, as well as one hour prior to concerts and special events. Groups and classes are welcome. CAID is located in the Woodbridge Historic District at 5141 Rosa Parks Blvd, (two blocks north of Warren Avenue, two blocks south of the I-94 expressway, three blocks west of Trumbull Blvd.). Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public and free on street parking is available.

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Live "D3D" Concerts

The admission charge for the each concert is $4 with all proceeds going to the musicians. The concerts will begin at 9pm on Saturday, September 12, 2009 featuring the Readies and Wildcatting and on October 17th featuring The Muggs and Mick Bassett & the Marthas. Admission to the exhibit galleries is always free.

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Chris Dean is one of a handful of artists worldwide with a studio practice dedicated to lenticular imagery. Born in Detroit in 1968 Dean became interested in stereoscopic work as a student at San Jose State in the 90s. In a time when advocates of virtual reality forecast a future of ”deep immersion” into synthetic worlds, Dean was exploring a century old technology with a history of commercialism and novelty. This fact remains in his work. ”There is no escaping the commercial history of lenticular art, from CrackerJack prizes to pinup girls, lenticular has appealed more to advertisers as a trick than to serious fine artists. It is not a bad thing, and I often like to poke at lenticular’s commercial history.” While this certainly happens there is much more to the picture. Nostalgia gives way to subversive commentary as Dean wraps his images in a disarming cloak of humor. The force of the work is perhaps most strongly felt in the way imagery and medium work together compelling the viewer to look deep into its hypnotic interior. In this place Dean delivers, not with a product this time but with intrigue and acute artistic vision.

Dean’s first solo exhibit was at Detroit’s CPOP gallery in 2006. The show was well received and forecast Dean’s success in the exhibits across the US that followed. In 2007 a selection of Dean’s work was featured at the Art Gallery of Windsor’s Biennial show in Canada and in 2008 he was selected by Proximo Spirits for a national campaign that showcased his work in print ads, on billboards and limited edition bottles of 1800 Tequila. Presently Dean is exploring the photographic potential of lenticular imagery and moving away from the computer as his primary art making tool. "Advances in technology now make it possible to take lenticular photographs of moving subjects without a Hollywood size budget. Though I have no intention of escaping the computer all together I am much more creatively excited by analog processes and find the camera more in tune with the way I work." This has lead Dean to several new projects that are almost completely photographic including a 3D documentary of Detroit's indy rock scene and the ongoing conceptual series, "Things I Did With My Lunch." More of Dean's work can be found at chrisdean.com

Established on Valentine's Day 1979, the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit is a community based non-profit organization. CAID fosters and promotes the essential link between contemporary arts and contemporary society through its exhibitions, performances, critical and public discourse, and the funding of contemporary arts and art related activities. Go to CAID home page.