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Detroit Regional Chamber > Chamber > Inaugural, All Black Produced, BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival

Inaugural, All Black Produced, BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival

July 14, 2021

Gratis festival provides Detroit youth, and national and local muralists of color opportunity to reinvigorate the North End community of Detroit, Michigan, July 24 – 31

WHO: Artists Sydney G. James, Thomas Evans (Detour303), Max Sansing, Bird Cap (Michael Roy), Bakpak, Dredskee, Garden of Journey, Ghost Beard, Hiero, Ijania, Imagine 876, Just, Marka 75, Rick Williams, Sentrock, Statick, Tony and Tylonn participate in inaugural, biannual, family-friendly, all Black produced BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival, July 24 – July 31 in Detroit, Michigan.

WHY: The BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival was conceived by Sydney G. James of Detroit, Thomas Evans (Detour303) of Denver, and Max Sansing of Chicago. The festival was created as a direct response to their shared history of participating in mural festivals throughout the country. Experiencing time and time again that these festivals occur without remuneration for the participating artists, and most exhibits limiting racial diversity among the artists represented, the trio set out to create a festival to offer diversity to the community and economic support to participating artists.

WHAT: During the BLKOUT Walls festival, you can expect to see nineteen (19) large scale murals averaging 20×20 feet and larger. Five mural installations will be painted by festival organizers and the fourteen other breathtaking installations will be painted by invited national and local multi-cultural artists. New art installations will be strategically placed throughout the community to amplify BIPOC voices and stories and beautify the underutilized spaces throughout the city to encourage neighborhood walkability, and tourism to Detroit. Guests will enjoy live art illustration events, guided mural tours and conversations with some of today’s most sought-after fine artists and muralists.

WHEN: Monday, July 19 – Saturday, July 31, 2021

Painting Begins: Monday, July 19

Media Preview Day: Friday, July 23

Festival Begins: Saturday, July 24

WHERE: North End community, Detroit, Michigan

ARTISTS: Featured Artists HERE

DIGITAL PRESENCE: blkoutwalls.com, @blkoutwalls #blkoutwalls

DONATE: Support BLKOUT Walls

PROGRAM / ARTIST SCHEDULE:

Monday – Friday July 19-30:

  • BLKOUT Walls Team murals painted

Friday, July 23: 

  • Media Preview Day, refreshments, Golf cart tours of murals, Artist interviews

Saturday, July 24: 

  • 10am, Festival Begins
  • 6pm – 8pm, BLKOUT Walls Artists Opening reception
  • 8pm – 10pm, Meet & Greet with Artists

Sunday July 25: 

  • 10am, Painting begins

Monday July 26: 

  • 9:30am, Painting begins

Tuesday July 27:

  • 9:30am, Painting begins
  • 7:00pm – 8:30pm, Artist Panel

Wednesday July 28: 

  • 9:30am, Painting begins
  • 2pm-3pm, DAPCEP workshop

Thursday July 29: 

  • 9:30am, Painting begins

Friday July 30: 

  • 9:30am, Painting begins
  • 7:30pm, Artist farewell dinner

Saturday July 31: 

  • 10:30am – 12pm, Artists Brunch, Hotel Indigo
  • 12pm – 6pm, BLKOUT Walls Block Party celebration, Chroma lot, 2937 E Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI