Fourth annual Eastern Market After Dark promotes art, design and commerce

As the sun went down Sept. 24, people from all walks of life flocked to 2934 Russell St. in Detroit to enjoy the fourth annual Eastern Market After Dark event. Food trucks sold food, artists showed off their work, companies promoted their merchandise, disc jockeys made sure that music played all night, and there was even a fashion show hosted by the American Institute of Architects Detroit in Shed 3.

While galleries, music, murals and vendors framed the edges of the market, Shed 2 trafficked the bulk of the activity: the Food Truck Rally, Ally Auto Alley, the Detroit Creative Corridor Center, the FCA US LLC Jeep Color and Materials Experience, Hands on Screen Printing, the American Institute of Graphic Arts Designers and many booths run by independent designers.

Re: 3D Inc. had a 3-D printer on display called Gigabot, while Art Van Furniture hosted a design challenge where artists each decorated a couch for a charitable auction, while vendors and booths that are a weekly facet of the market were included as well.

“It’s a great night for art and the city as a whole,” said, Arturo Osorio, a volunteer for the Detroit Creative Corridor Center. “I think it casts the downtown in a new light. People have heard of the Eastern Market on a Saturday or a Sunday morning, but now they get to see it at night. They get there’s a whole different energy and also a great vibe. There (are) just a lot of good people who believe in the city here.”

The Eastern Market worked in partnership with the Detroit Design Festival to intertwine the presence of independent creative and retail entities alongside bigger corporations. The variety presented an enhanced natural vibrancy of the market.

“I go to a lot of different markets and Eastern Market is definitely my favorite … I think it’s positive; it’s good for the city,” said Katie Craig, a Detroit-based artist who goes under the moniker Hitops and participated in the Art Van design challenge. “It brings in revenue, and it helps to stimulate the economy for artists and for young people. I’ve benefited from it personally.”

This special event gave visitors a chance to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the marketplace under the darker hues of nighttime. A performance artist named Ziam, who works as a mannequin on the weekends, described the feel of the night as “electric” and referred to the Eastern Market as a mecca for Detroiters.

Asim Ahmed, a 2011 WSU alumnus, was there to support the creation of a Nike-inspired mural done by a friend of his. Ahmed said he saw a metaphor for growth in his surroundings.

“I think people see the life here,” Ahmed said. “Every time people come to Eastern Market, they see the plants that are able to grow — it sounds corny, but a lot of the artists here are up and coming. They come from Switzerland and Australia just to come to this, so people definitely see that this is a garden that needs grooming.”

Events such as Eastern Market After Dark have succeeded in fostering a strong sense of community amongst all of its partners and benefactors. This relationship has truly allowed them to effectively cater to a large visitorship that has been enjoying coming to the market for generations.

Keep an eye out for all of the events at the Eastern Market and be sure to check out all of the unique foods, goods and art that are available there. It normally operates during the months of June until the end of October from 9-3 p.m. on Tuesdays, 6-4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10-4 p.m. on Sundays.

Contact Reporter Aleanna Siacon: 586-354-5040 or fv7748@wayne.edu. Follow her on Twitter: @Aterese11

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