Imaging Detroit, equal parts international film festival and pop-up agora, aimed to spark a conversation about the many ways Detroit has been portrayed over the last decade. It staged public debate and open speculation on how representation contributes to our urban imagination. In assembling a varied collection of works and guests, Imaging Detroit revealed the possibility of an ephemeral urbanization: the 36-hour event transformed Perrien Park into a civic space, complete with screenings, conversations, exhibit, food and leisure.

IMAGING DETROIT

Detroit, Michigan, 2012

Project Leads: Anya Sirota, Jean Louis Farges

Collaboration: Mireille Roddier

Design Team: Missy Ablin, Allen Gillers, James Chesnut, Christopher Reznich, Erika Lindsay, Brittany Gacsy, Lauren Bebry

Production Team: Angela Last, Jayna Zweiman, Mercedes Mejia, Gorham Bird, Max Obata, Matthew Story, Nate Doud, Marty Keeter, Virginia Black, Jennifer Komorowski, Danielle McDonough, Anais Farges, Tony Pins, Nate Oppenheim, Tom Bray

This project was made possible by a Research on the City grant from the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning. Additional support provided by the Detroit Design Festival.