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Scenes from last year's Sneaker Project |
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The Sneaker Project 09 To Feature 100 Years of Creative Sneaker Design
This year’s event also includes an exhibit on the YMCA as the birthplace of basketball and highlights 100 years of creative sneaker design, with sneaker collectors and designers from around the country. Visitors to the exhibit will be able to see a pair of original Chuck Taylor shoes from the early 1900s, a collection of all 23 Air Jordans, a group collection of rare and collectible sneakers owned by local sneaker freaks and win a pair of Dwayne Wade signature shoes. “What was once strictly a functional shoe has penetrated into all facets of mainstream America,” explains Gillian Eaton, executive director of Y Arts Detroit. “More than a work shoe, athletic shoes are a major fashion statement. The involvement of artists and designers in customizing sneakers has extended the creative possibilities of the form both on the court and the street.” In collaboration with the College for Creative Studies, the Boll Family YMCA will also showcase sneakers designed by CCS students. During the fall 2008 semester interdisciplinary design teams consisting of Product Design, Graphic Design and Photography students worked to create innovative basketball shoes for several Michigan-based schools. Nike’s Studio Director, Ginny Hopkirk and Global Basketball Design Manager Ron Wright worked closely with the students throughout the project. The final shoe concepts were inspired by the team dynamics, rituals, geographic location, local culture, team history and goals. With the purchase of a $5 raffle/entry ticket, attendees can win sports memorabilia, meet sneaker collectors, learn about the YMCA as the birthplace of Basketball, get information about shoe design as a career and watch a display of 3-D Shoemaker. Proceeds from the four-day event benefit the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. The Boll Family YMCA is located at 1401 Broadway in Detroit, next to the Broadway People Mover station and just two blocks from Ford Field. For further information call 313-223-2751. |
copyright 2009 y-artsdetroit.org |
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In conjunction with the NCAA 2009 Men’s Final Four tournament weekend, The Boll Family YMCA will host it’s second annual multi-media basketball exhibit, called The Sneaker Project. The four-day event opens Friday, April 3 and runs through Monday, April 6, and celebrates the influence of the sneaker in basketball, design, and as a major cultural influence with today’s youth.