Detroit Dream Day with Artist Jova Lynne

The MOCAD curator’s perfect day is filled with art, artists, and tasty food
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Artist Jova Lynne's Day
Multidisciplinary artist, Jova Lynne is a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. // Photograph courtesy of Jova Lynne听

Jova Lynne鈥檚 work in the arts doesn鈥檛 stop听after she鈥檚 clocked out of her job. In addition to her responsibilities as a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, the 31-year-old multidisciplinary artist is a co-founder of Bulk Space Artists Residency and Black Artists Meetup Detroit, offering a platform for marginalized artists to showcase their work and network with other creatives. 鈥淚 think a lot about equity, and how we can support artists so that there鈥檚 more of a level playing field for everybody,鈥 she says. Naturally, on her dream day in Detroit, the Highland Park resident would continue to champion the local arts community.

Trinosophes Coffee Shop
Trinosophes in Eastern Market offers baked treats from Warda P芒tisserie.// Photograph by Natalia Cotora

I would get up and probably drive to Trinosophes to get something from Warda P芒tisserie. I鈥檇 pick up a treat because their stuff is so yummy. And sometimes Trinosophes has exhibitions, so it鈥檚 a pretty cool place to check out. And then from there, I would go next door to the record shop, Peoples Records, and do a little crate digging.听Trinosophes, 1464 Gratiot Ave.; 313-778-9258; Peoples Records, 1464 Gratiot Ave.; 313-831-0864;

Once I鈥檝e gotten my music and pastry fix, I鈥檇 probably go say hi to [Olayami] Dabls at the Mbad African Bead Museum. I鈥檝e worked with him on some public programs, and I鈥檝e known him for some time. He has an outdoor installations project and two galleries. There鈥檚 an outdoor, multi-lot installation, and then he has a gallery where he often shows local emerging or established artists, and then he has the bead museum. It鈥檚 a room just full of beads 鈥 it鈥檚 so colorful and vibrant. He鈥檚 usually in there telling stories, hanging out, and just doing his thing.听Mbad African Bead Museum, 6559 Grand River Ave.; 313-898-3007;

I imagine myself driving over to Reyes Finn in Corktown. It鈥檚 a gallery that鈥檚 run by Terese Reyes and Bridget Finn, and they show really, really great emerging artists. It鈥檚 just a beautiful space and the people who work there are really knowledgeable.听Reyes Finn, 1500 Trumbull Ave.; 248-839-5342; 听

I鈥檇 then go to Simone DeSousa Gallery. The gallery has two spaces: one where emerging-to-established artists have formal exhibitions, and then she has another space called Edition, which is exciting because it鈥檚 usually craft-based artists who present work for sale, and it鈥檚 way more affordable. It鈥檚 a double whammy where you can shop a little bit, but you also get to have a really beautiful experience with art.听Simone DeSousa Gallery, 444 W. Willis St.; 313-833-9000;

N鈥橬amdi Center for Contemporary Art is run by George and Carmen N鈥橬amdi and they had an听amazing Romare Bearden show [in 2018]. They鈥檝e been in Midtown forever. It鈥檚 a good place to digest art and it鈥檚 really accessible. They have amazing public programs 鈥 I saw the singer Bilal there a couple years ago 鈥 and they have great talks. It鈥檚 a very energized and community-activated space.听N鈥橬amdi Center for Contemporary Art, 52 E. Forest Ave.; 313-831-8700;

Eating and art are a big part of my life. So, after that, I鈥檇 go to Ima. They just opened a location on Cass and Warren, and they鈥檙e known for udon noodles. Then I鈥檇 go to Belle Isle. I鈥檇 hang out in the greenhouse because it鈥檚 warm there and it鈥檚 wintertime. I鈥檇 take in the beautiful botanical garden.听Ima, 4870 Cass Ave.; 313-883-9788; 听

If I don鈥檛 go to Belle Isle, then I鈥檇 probably go to Schvitz Health Club. They have both a steam sauna and infrared sauna and a pool. And they usually have food pop-ups. So, if I鈥檓 going to Belle Isle, I鈥檓 going to see flowers and get warm. If I鈥檓 going to the Schvitz, I want to get听warm, but also have some yummy food.听Schvitz Health Club, 8295 Oakland Ave.; 313-724-8489; 听

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Evening programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit often revolve around music.// Photograph courtesy of MOCAD

Then I might go to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, which I know is super weird because I work there. I really like music, and they have awesome evening programs that are related to music and film most of the time. Even though I don鈥檛 have to be there for work, I just really like being there for them because it鈥檚 a different way to engage with art.听MOCAD, 4454 Woodward Ave; 313-832-6622;

If I鈥檓 still up for something later in the night, you can usually find me at Deluxx Fluxx. Originally a roving installation, it was part of an art exhibit that opened at the Brooklyn Museum before I moved here from New York. So that blew my mind. It was nostalgic in a way, because I went with my family to see that exhibition. The glow-in-the-dark aesthetic is something really cool, plus they bring really good DJs.听Deluxx Fluxx, 1274 Library St.; 313-788-7015; 听