“Cruiz’n” runs through August 31, 2007 and features the works of three local automotive artists, Mike DiFazio, Charles Maher and Dennis Reardon, as well as concept car models by students from the Transportation Design Department of College for Creative Studies.

Mike DiFazio’s interest in designing and illustrating cars began when, as a teenager, he competed in the All American Soap Box Derby and the Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild. The St.Clair Shores resident currently works in his studio combining traditional art techniques with photography and computer graphics. His art can best be described as a seamless blend of old and new. Mike’s artwork is featured monthly in the CruisNews Magazine and was profiled in the November, 2006 issue of Hemming’s Classic Car Magazine.

Charles Maher has been an independent artist since 1988, but he first worked as a designer for Ford Motor Company. His work has been displayed at Concours d’Elegance events at Amelia Island, Ault Park, Greenwich, Meadow Brook, Pebble Beach, Hilton Head, Eyes-on-Design Exhibition and two separate one-man shows at the Automotive Hall of Fame Museum in Dearborn. His artwork has appeared in AutoWeek, Automobile Quarterly and Sports Car Market Magazine. Mr. Maher is a past president of the National Automotive Association and is a current member of the Automotive Fine Art Society.

Dennis Reardon discovered the fascinating world of automobiles at the early age of seven. In 1971, he headed for Detroit and began his automotive career developing new ornamentation and cosmetic facelifts to domestic and foreign car lines. He was a principle designer on the Ford Probe 1 show vehicle, taught Design and Rendering Technique at the RCA College of Design in London, England and six years later went to Japan to teach rendering at the Suni School of Art and Transportation Design. Dennis is presently creating automotive fine art on his own.

Five concept car models from the The College for Creative Studies are also on display. CCS is one of the nation's leading arts education institutions. CCS is a private, fully accredited, four-year college located in Detroit, offering Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in eleven studio majors. CCS has one of the world's most recognized programs in Transportation Design and places more graduates in the automotive industry than any other school. Most cars on the road today bear the influence of CCS alumni, and CCS enjoys an unparalleled reputation in the field.