Instructor Steve Glazer hosts art reception at U-M Ann Arbor
An artist reception will be held for HFC Faculty Chair of Fine and Performing Arts Steve Glazer on Friday, September 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the University of Michigan Medical School in Building 18 at its North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. in Ann Arbor.
This reception celebrates the work of Glazer and fellow artist Susan Moran. Glazer’s exhibition is called “Motor City Griots” (pronounced “Gree-os”). It will be displayed until Saturday, December 14.
“When I was in grad school in the early 1980s, I took an African art and anthropology class, which is where I learned about griots. They were the tribal shaman, tribal witch doctor, and tribal lawgiver all rolled up in one. They would usually give their answers in song. I always thought that was a cool concept and it stayed with me,” recalled Glazer, of Dearborn.
Artwork reflects where he lives
Born in Detroit, Glazer graduated from Milford High School in Highland. He began his education at Oakland University and transferred to Eastern Michigan University, where he earned his BFA in art with a concentration in ceramics and art education. Glazer later earned his master’s degree in art from Central Michigan University and his MFA in fine arts and ceramics from Indiana State University. He has also completed coursework in ceramics at Wayne State University.
Glazer has been teaching at the college level since 1983. He taught at HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) for one semester in 1989 before returning to teach full-time at the College in 2004. Throughout his adult life, Glazer’s artwork has been a response to his environment. After returning to Detroit 20 years ago, he began crafting his “Motor City Griots” masks, the faces of the heroes who will protect Detroit.
“These imaginary figures come in to safeguard Detroit at the time when its people need them the most to save the city,” said Glazer. “Detroit has slowly been on the uptick since I came back in 2004. Steady progress is being made in its renaissance. The ‘Motor City Griots’ masks are about my connection to Detroit.”
First time having his artwork displayed in Ann Arbor
Glazer has completed 151 griot masks over the last two decades. The 32 most recent ones will be on display as part of his exhibition at the NCRC. The exhibition will also include five of Glazer’s new series entitled “The Motor City Griot Patrol” which are free standing busts of imaginary creatures. Wayne State University art curator Grace Serra, who also oversees HFC’s permanent art collection, runs the exhibition space at U-M. She requested that Glazer’s artistry be displayed there.
“In her words, she told me, ‘I’d like to have some more ceramics,’” said Glazer. “I’m excited about this exhibition. It’s always cool to have people see your work and hopefully appreciate it. I don’t think my work has ever been displayed in Ann Arbor before, so this is a first for me.”
"The galleries were established in the NCRC as a way to impact the important medical research that happens in the building," said Serra. "With the belief that artists and researchers think a lot alike, these galleries provided staff the opportunity to think and look at the world in a different way. Thousands of people use this facility on a daily basis, and having art in this environment makes a big impact on people’s lives."
The reception is free and open to the public. Parking is also free in the evenings at the NCRC. There will be an opportunity to talk with the artists. Light refreshments will be served.
For questions or more information, contact Glazer at 313-845-6485 or sglazer@hfcc.edu.
