City Wild: Ian John Solomon Solo Exhibition Opening Reception

City Wild, Ian John Solomon's debut solo exhibition, opens to the public on Saturday, November 23 from 6-9pm at PLAYGROUND DETROIT.

This series of work examines the relationship between Detroit’s land, infrastructure, residents and greater Michigan’s protected natural spaces. Collage, portraiture and landscape make overlooked critical connections visible between a city and the climate haven it resides in while gallery space is used as a vehicle for art to meet action.

According to the artist, “Michigan and the City of Detroit, particularly Black Detroit, are often at odds. It’s not uncommon to hear prideful tones exclaim, “I’m not from Michigan- I’m from Detroit!” From culture to demographics, there are a wealth of validations to this claim, however this exhibition hopes to entice Detroit to take stake in greater Michigan’s natural spaces to act as better advocates, stewards and protectors of our natural resources.Meditating on his family’s East Side block, Ian focuses on capturing the infrastructure, materials and environmental politics of ‘home.’

Through collage, landscape, instant film and steel— City Wild takes a photo-interdisciplinary approach to bridging spaces that can often be at odds, an invitation to view Detroit through a natural lens.“From the Artist- “I have an artistic practice of investigating and embodying the environment. As a journalist I fact-find from patterns that ecology and environment offer. As an artist I seek a deeper understanding of self, community, desire and ancestry through connecting with the spaces I inhabit. Using self portraiture, collage, sound and craft I often bring spiritual explorations of space, ecology and self actualization into the tangible.

Self-portraits empower me to place myself within space and imagine new ways of personal being. I utilize collage to dissolve the barriers of connection subjects and spaces face allowing ideas and entities to be seen in entirely new ways. Sound invites a deeper, more immersive communication and collaboration with spaces while hand crafted objects with organic materials function as adornment, totems and bridges between body and land.My art practice is in tandem with a community practice of introducing Black Detroit's to Michigan’s natural spaces. I founded the organization Amplify Outside with a mission to deepen my communities connection with the natural world around them. While this organizational mission at times faces logistical restrictions, my artistic practice facilitates limitless re-imaginings of a personal, communal and ancestral bond to land.”

Ian is the Founder of Amplify Outside– a Detroit based organization with a mission of connecting Black Michiganders with Michigan’s outdoor spaces. He hosted a PBS Great Lakes Now TV segment, “Ian Outside” showcasing The Great Lakes and served as the Communications Manager for the Detroit Parks Coalition. “ I have been grateful to become a resource for my community as it pertains to anything environmental and “outside” in Detroit and Michigan.”

On view through December 21.

Viewing Hours
Thursday- Saturday 12-5PM

ABOUT IAN JOHN SOLOMON

Ian John Solomon is an interdisciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. After receiving his B.A. in broadcast journalism and a stint as a congressional reporter in D.C., he found his love for community activism and storytelling required a more expansive modality. Ian's interdisciplinary lens based practice explores themes of self, queer identity, ancestry, community and ecology. Deeply motivated by environment, Ian uses land as foundation and guidance for artistic expression and questioning. Ian is an Emmy-award winner, and has exhibited his artwork across Michigan.

He most recently completed a fellowship at Ox-Bow School of Art in Saugatuck, MI. He is a recent graduate from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2024 with an MFA in Photography, and recipient of the Emerging Artist Fellowship 2024, which provides financial support and professional mentorship for artists to develop their individual practices and identifies, elevates and promotes Detroit-based artistic excellence.

Hosted by PLAYGROUND DETROIT, selected artists receive an exhibition and financial stipend to support them at a critical point in their career. This program is supported by the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan

Host or Publisher PLAYGROUND DETROIT