Le Salon at DFH - "Ephemeral Architectures" with Patrick Ethen

Le Salon is Detroit’s new gathering for curious minds and spirited conversation. Each month, we invite local professors, artists, and community leaders to share fresh perspectives in a relaxed, after-hours setting in our new Borgman Room just off of the Apparatus Room.

Arrive early, grab a cocktail (or your drink of choice), and settle in for a 35–40 minute talk that’s as thought-provoking as it is approachable. Whether you’re a regular or just dropping by, Le Salon is your place to connect, unwind, and discover something new—no tickets, no pressure, just great ideas and good company.

Lecture title: "Ephemeral Architectures" with Light Artist and Designer Patrick Ethen

This lecture will be a retrospective of work to date, showing process, inspiration, behind the scenes documentation, and live examples of technologies used in the artworks.

About the Lecturer: Patrick Ethen (@patrickethen) is an architecturally trained Light Artist and Designer. His work centers around light and the production of visual affect, utilizing a hybrid of digital / analog techniques to craft ethereal and immersive experiences. Ethen’s projects range from bespoke, wall-mounted light objects to large-scale design-build projects and installations.

Ethen’s art is inseparable from Detroit’s creative landscape. His installations—both permanent and ephemeral—reflect the city’s legacy as a birthplace of innovation, resilience, and cultural transformation. Detroit’s underground music scene and its global reputation for electronic music have been fertile ground for Ethen’s work, which often pairs sculpture and light with sound to create multisensory, interactive environments.

Website: https://www.patrickethen.com/

Agenda:

- 6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key. - 6:55 PM – Host introduction- 7:00 PM – Lecture begins- 7:45 PM – Audience Q&A

- 8:00 PM – 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round

-8:30PM–Wrap up

Host or Publisher Detroit Foundation Hotel