floor models

The revival of Detroit as a living, breathing, functioning city is no longer a secret to anyone (well, except maybe those still cloistered away in the strip malls). Truth told, it's been happening for more than a decade, though the newer, outward signs are too many to ignore: magazines like The Left Bank, Big Idea and Hour, a healthier club scene, or all the land-grabbing madness downtown. The rebirth can be credited to a number of factors, but we like to think that it's the aggregate of a lot of smaller efforts, some which have unfortunately fallen by the wayside over the years. One of these contributions has special importance to techno's birthplace.

"The Beginning" [336k .AIF]

By-passing the system. [352k .AIF]

The Cement Space began its existence as a guerrilla gallery back in June of 1994. Founders Glen Allen and Scott Stephanoff were looking to (forgive the blatant techno-industrial metaphor) "throw a spanner in the works" of Detroit's established gallery scene, and give voice to Detroit's younger creative minds.

Complete with Kraftwerkian black & khaki uniforms, The Cement Space connected on many levels with Detroit's techno scene. As techno has struggled with visual representation since its inception, the gallery was an adrenaline boost of creativity.

The perfect location. [432k .AIF]

Not afraid of Detroit. [2.3Mb .MOV] audio track only [432k .AIF]

Between their hosting the first live appearance of Model 500, gallery shows featuring the work of Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh, Alan Oldham (DJ T-1000), Mark Dancie and Glen Barr, The Cement Space was an essential and desperately needed link, connecting the "honest" approach of Detroit techno to what Allen calls "a more anarchist use of technology" that artists like Mothersbaugh employ.

Unfortunately, the space officially closed in 1995. But rather than lament the loss of their contributions, we've shot interviews and photographs from their Syntax Error and Production Values shows. Witness their achievements for yourself.

Walkthrough. [2.1Mb .MOV]

Honest art - part.1 [1.3Mb .MOV] audio track only [288k .AIF] Honest art - part.2 [1.3Mb .MOV] audio track only [256k .AIF]

The two coasts have dominated the entertainment and art worlds for years -- and there's no reason to think a post-industrial town like Detroit will ever join them. So the music and art that does get produced here is even more precious -- and you wonder why Detroit is so protective of techno. The Cement Space understood the importance of staying rooted in the (underground) community, and ultimately paid the price for trying to exist oustide the influence of what Mad Mike calls "the programmers." Fortunately for us, all of the "Cement Spacers" remain active in the arts community and work with many techno-related projects. From Rita Sayegh's design work for Axis to Scott's video loops for M-Plant, the extension of Detroit techno has evolved far beyond the dance. - DS

Burn The Cement Space images into memory,
begin with image bank one --->

Special Thanks to: C-Space crew, Danielle McDole, Cassie Sober, and MovieCleanerPro v1.3.