The curtains are closing on Detroit's vibrant arts scene as the Norwest Gallery of Art prepares to shut its doors for good. In a poignant final statement, the gallery is celebrating the spirit of water with an exhibit titled "Water," which will be open until December 21.
For Asia Hamilton, the gallery's owner and artist, the decision to close was not taken lightly. Citing financial strain, she admits that the burden of running the space was becoming too much to bear. Despite her best efforts to keep the gallery afloat, Hamilton notes that even with community support, it was just not enough.
As Hamilton navigates this difficult time, she remains committed to her artistic vision and plans to continue creating pop-up installations and hosting artist residencies. The Norwest Gallery's impact on Detroit's arts scene cannot be overstated, having provided a platform for emerging Black artists like herself.
Hamilton's own journey as an artist was marked by rejection and perseverance. "I had been through so much as an artist coming along," she recalls. "Back then, you'd go into galleries with your portfolio, and you either had to have a following or know somebody." It wasn't until the Norwest Gallery opened that Hamilton finally found her footing.
Today, the gallery serves as more than just a physical space – it's a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. As Hamilton herself puts it, "We need to support each other, our art spaces, our institutions... not just the DIA that gets paid by the millage."
For the final time, the Norwest Gallery invites visitors to immerse themselves in its latest exhibit, "Water." A fitting tribute to this life-giving force, which can also be destructive and transformative. As Asia Hamilton so eloquently puts it, "It's all interconnected, just like water."
For Asia Hamilton, the gallery's owner and artist, the decision to close was not taken lightly. Citing financial strain, she admits that the burden of running the space was becoming too much to bear. Despite her best efforts to keep the gallery afloat, Hamilton notes that even with community support, it was just not enough.
As Hamilton navigates this difficult time, she remains committed to her artistic vision and plans to continue creating pop-up installations and hosting artist residencies. The Norwest Gallery's impact on Detroit's arts scene cannot be overstated, having provided a platform for emerging Black artists like herself.
Hamilton's own journey as an artist was marked by rejection and perseverance. "I had been through so much as an artist coming along," she recalls. "Back then, you'd go into galleries with your portfolio, and you either had to have a following or know somebody." It wasn't until the Norwest Gallery opened that Hamilton finally found her footing.
Today, the gallery serves as more than just a physical space – it's a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. As Hamilton herself puts it, "We need to support each other, our art spaces, our institutions... not just the DIA that gets paid by the millage."
For the final time, the Norwest Gallery invites visitors to immerse themselves in its latest exhibit, "Water." A fitting tribute to this life-giving force, which can also be destructive and transformative. As Asia Hamilton so eloquently puts it, "It's all interconnected, just like water."
I'm really gonna miss the Norwest Gallery, you know? It was always a hub for creative energy in Detroit 
. The fact that it's closing is super sad, especially since Asia Hamilton has been pouring her heart and soul into it 
. But at the same time, I gotta respect her decision - she didn't want to keep running on fumes 
. And the exhibit "Water" sounds like a beautiful way to say goodbye 
. It's all about how interconnected everything is, just like water... really deep 
. As a fan of Asia Hamilton's work, it's gonna be hard to see her go from the gallery side, but I'm also stoked she's still planning on popping up new installations and residencies 
. She's all about spreading hope and resilience, even in the face of tough times 
.
. For real though, it's sad to see a space that provided so much for emerging artists have to close its doors. Asia Hamilton is still on point tho, planning pop-up installations and all that jazz. I guess you could say the gallery is flowing into new things, even if it is closing down 
. Anyway, it just goes to show how hard it can be to keep a creative space afloat, but at least her art will live on 
.
... they did such incredible work supporting black artists & creating this amazing community of creatives 
the norwest gallery was more than just a physical space, it was a symbol of hope & resilience - we need more of that in our world 
. let's support each other's art spaces & institutions, as asia said 
I'm kinda sad about the Norwest Gallery closing down... they brought so much vibrancy to Detroit's arts scene 
. Running a gallery ain't easy, and it's not like she can just keep throwing money at it 
. The fact that she was able to provide a platform for emerging Black artists is literally everything 
. I'm all about supporting our artistic institutions, even the ones that are struggling 
. It's not just about the DIA, it's about the community coming together to celebrate art and creativity 
. But she's still going strong, doing pop-up installations and hosting residencies - that's amazing! 
. It's a bummer for Detroit's arts scene, but I'm sure her art will keep inspiring people even after the gallery closes 
. I wish they had more resources to keep the gallery going, but at least Asia Hamilton is still committed to creating art and giving back to her community 
i think we need more people like asia who aren't afraid to speak truth and keep pushing boundaries 
. It's always sad when something that brings a community together goes away. The Norwest Gallery did some amazing work in Detroit and supported so many talented artists 
.
i remember seeing her work for the first time at one of the gallery's pop-up events and being blown away by her talent