FORWARD ARTS

The Doctor

Dr. Dre's Creative Process, from the film "Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap".

Ice-T: Everybody knows Dr Dre don't drop a record a week. It's a process. What's your process, before we get to hear a track?

Dre: You know, it's um....It's not the same thing every time, it really dpends on who I'm working with. I try to get inside the head of the artist I'm working with. And the record has to be them. I don't go approach the artist and say ok, this is the way I think the record should be. I just try to make what their bringing, better. Just add whatever their bringing, add my thing to whatever their bringing. I try to get in touch with the artist. Try to get in touch with their personality and what they're trying to do. And try to just take that to, you know, levels unheard of. That's just my thing. I just...it's no set foundation or it's no set way of doing it.

Also, check out this great story NPR Music did on Dre's classic album "The Chronic". Its been 20 years since it's been released. STORY

Hello FA Friends!

As we near the end of 2012, it's always a good time of the year to think about what we are thankful for. We wanted to say thanks to everybody who have helped Forward Arts along the way. Little or big, planned or random, every bit of help counts and is very appreciated.

Speaking of next year, we’ve been hard at work preparing for 2013 and getting ready to start rolling out some announcements. Over the next few months, here you will start to find more content and updates about what we’re up to. We hope you like the website improvements we have been making to the design, we will always be working towards a better experience for you across all our platforms.

What’s next then, right? Yes, we’re going to announce some news soon, but we can give a little teaser for 2013. We’ll be launching our new interview series, “Our Friends Are Electric”, that will focus on what FA focus’ on; artists, art administrators, and art organizations. We might actually begin the series before 2013, so head’s up on that.

We leave you with this Ultraísta “Gold Days” track we’ve been listening to quite a bit. Hasta luego. You’ll be hearing more from us shortly Detroit. We hope everybody has a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

Ultraísta “Gold Days”

In 2009, I had a strange, life-changing dream. For what seemed like hours, I sat across from a wise, elder lion who was leader of his pride. We stared at each other at times, or had our eyes closed and never spoke aloud or moved. We communicated only through our minds while the rest of the pride moved about with agitation in the background.

When I woke, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to do and an understanding about myself that I hadn’t had before. It was my “A-Ha!” moment. Ever since I’ve been working on an idea, Forward Arts, with help from many others that reached fruition in 2010 and continues to grow as we lean into 2012.

I hope that our work thus far, about 14 months now, has impressed upon its viewers our values as an organization and the potential the arts have in Detroit. We have enjoyed much support so far and will continue to give our blood, sweat and tears to produce the best exhibits, concerts, events, bike rides, happenings, shin-digs, BBQs and experiences that we can put together. All we ask is that you come along for the ride.

In the next year will be adding more events and aspects to our organization. Some will be a natural growth of the work we have produced so far and some will surprise you.

As Forward Arts regroups for another year of fun events like Belle Isle Art Exhibit, Art Ride and Shake Yo! Bacon, we’ve taken a look back at what we have done since July 2010, when Forward Arts sprung out of development and dreams, stacked with a great program in Access Arts. All of these accomplishments would not have happened without the generosity and effort of others. It means the world to us. Take a look at “Forward Arts by the Numbers” underneath the About section and be proud Detroit.

Here’s to another great year in the Detroit creative community.

Dominic Arellano
Executive Director