Book Review: Canvas Detroit

Abstract

The title Canvas Detroit fulfills a promise long-understood in the Southeastern Michigan community: the Motor City, despite its rough and tumble journey into the 21st century, is home to a vibrant and flourishing arts scene. Far from a standard coffee table book, though, this rich—yet surprisingly accessible—volume functions as a visual ethnography of the artists who define that scene. Hundreds of beautiful images complement dozens of profiles of natives, adopted locals, and famous visitors, who collectively shape Detroit’s culture while representing the resilience of a population indelibly linked to the city’s Rust Belt origins.