WDET, Detroit’s NPR station, celebrates the opening of “Framed by WDET: Places Where We Belong” at Bedrock’s 1001 Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit.

Sponsored by Bedrock, “Framed by WDET: Places Where We Belong” is a free exhibit that will run from Thursday, June 20, until Sunday, July 21. This audio-visual exhibition explores the moments and spaces we share with one another through the diverse stories of communities with a rich legacy in Detroit.

“We are thrilled to be able to share this collection with the broader Detroit community for the first time thanks to the support of Bedrock, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and over 225 backers on Kickstarter,” WDET General Manager Michelle Srbinovich said. “Framed exemplifies WDET’s commitment to high-quality arts and culture programming that is produced with, by and for the public. We hope visitors will join us in celebrating the rich diversity of our region and reflect the spaces where they find belonging.”

“Framed By WDET: Places Where We Belong” was produced in collaboration with a community of local artists, collaborators and residents. Between 2014 and 2018, WDET paired Detroit-based photographers and audio producers to create authentic stories about their own communities and neighbors. These stories have been individually presented on the radio, online and in pop-up exhibitions in more than 20 art spaces in the Detroit region and beyond.

The collective body of work is being presented for the first time in one space as an immersive experience that celebrates Detroit as a global city. More than 60 photos will be displayed which represent 10 unique communities within the city and are accompanied by narrative voice-overs that share authentic stories about the people that call Detroit home. The collection features the work of 18 artists and the voices of nearly 100 residents from Delray, Southwest Detroit, Hamtramck and the broader Detroit region.

“Public art, space activations and cultural programming are all vital to fostering a thriving, creative community,” said Melissa Dittmer, Bedrock’s chief design officer. “We are happy to partner with WDET on this exhibition which we hope will spur thoughtful conversations around the people and places that have shaped Detroit.”

Bedrock is committed to supporting inclusive projects crafted by local artists and community organizations. Recently, activations including The Beach Detroit, Rainbow City Roller Rink and Science Gallery Detroit have popped up on the ground level of 1001 Woodward Ave, offering immersive opportunities for families, visitors and residents of the city. Sept. 9-30, this same space will be transformed into a central hub for the second biennial Detroit Design 139 exhibition, "INCLUSIVE FUTURES."  More details on this future event can be found at detroitdesign139.com.

“Framed by WDET: Places Where We Belong”, will be open every Thursday- Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to contribute to the collection by sharing photos of the places where they find belonging on Instagram using #framedbywdet.
 
For more on this exhibition, please visit framedbywdet.org.

Support for Framed by WDET comes from individual donors, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Kresge Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge. The Knight Arts Challenge funds the best ideas for engaging and enriching Detroit through the arts.

About WDET 101.9 FM

WDET 101.9 FM is Detroit’s NPR Station. Your connection to news, music, conversations. For 70 years, WDET has provided an independent voice for the Detroit region. Our mission is to serve an engaged, diverse and curious audience through trusted news, inclusive conversations and cultural experiences that empower our community to move forward.

WDET is a member-supported nonprofit that relies on the support of individual donors, corporate underwriters and our licensee, Wayne State University.

Listen to WDET at 101.9 FM and stream local music and stories live and on-demand at wdet.org. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  
 
About Bedrock

Detroit-based Bedrock is a full-service real estate firm specializing in acquiring, developing, leasing, financing and managing commercial and residential buildings. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested and committed more than $5.6 billion to acquiring and developing more than 100 properties, including new construction of ground up developments in downtown Detroit and Cleveland totaling more than 18 million square feet.

Bedrock’s real estate portfolio consists of 210 office tenants and 125 retailers and restaurants in Detroit’s technology-centric downtown, the majority of which are new to the market including Microsoft, Quicken Loans, LinkedIn, StockX, Ally Bank’s national headquarters, Fifth Third Bank’s regional headquarters, WeWork, Madewell, Under Armour, Shake Shack and countless others.

Bedrock is currently developing four transformational projects including the Hudson’s Site, Monroe Blocks, Book Tower renovation and One Campus Martius expansion. Bedrock is also undergoing construction of City Modern, a community development in Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood. Partnering with Detroit-based Shinola, Bedrock developed the world’s first Shinola Hotel on Woodward Avenue, which opened in early 2019.

Bedrock is dedicated to creating jobs for Detroiters and investing in job training. Over the last year, the company has invested in both the Randolph & Breithaupt Career and Technical Centers to build a pipeline of talent for Detroit’s growing economy.

Creating unique experiences through real estate is Bedrock’s mission. To make this a reality, Bedrock and its affiliates continuously invest in significant public art installations and placemaking initiatives throughout the city.

For more information on Bedrock’s business model, visit the For More Than Profit book. For more information on Bedrock’s projects, visit bedrockdetroit.com or engage with us on Twitter and Facebook.

Click here to view a complete timeline of Bedrock and the Rock Family of Companies’ engagement within the Detroit community.