Dots on Heidelberg Street in Detroit, Michigan. The Heidelberg Project, started by local artist Tyree Guyton is an amazing example of the power of strong communities in Detroit.
Friday Night at the “Point of Origin”
Last Friday night I went out for a long bike ride and took a break when I got to Campus Martius in downtown Detroit. The sun had already gone down, things had cooled off–and thanks to the lights at Campus Marius I could sit in the soft grass, read a book and gaze at the fountain in the distance.
Kids Race, Escape to Belle Isle
This past weekend my 5 year old niece ran her first race–the kids run at Escape to Belle Isle. She had a blast (check out that stride)– all the kids beat the costumed tiger and got a medal AND a trophy.
Belle Isle Postcard sent in 1943 from Detroit, Michigan
Today I found an old postcard of Belle Isle dating back to 1943 at an Antique store next to Eastern Market in Detroit. Printed on beautiful card stock, the sender, Ruth, used a typewriter to type out her message on the back to a couple in South Dakota. It’s so interesting to think of Birmingham as the country and imagine “rapid transit” going all the way to downtown Detroit. I’m thinking about sending this to the current residents of 375 Lake Park Drive, assuming they would be interested in the previous owners of their house.
(update) House built in 1926 http://www.realtor.com/property-detail/375-Lake-Park-Dr_Birmingham_MI_48009_0dad3302
You can read the postcard below.
Immigrant Rights are Civil Rights
Days after the US Social Forum in Detroit ended, and thousands of activists and organizers went home, the city felt a little empty. I biked throughout downtown and happened to pass by Cobo Hall, which seemed so empty without bikes everywhere and activists hanging around outside. I continued on up Cass to go home and saw this wonderful street art. The impact of the social forum is still apparent, and I hope everyone that came to Detroit from elsewhere took a part of the city spirit with them.
Corner of Cass and W. Montcalm, Detroit.
Greens
Cooked up greens for the first time! I got kale and chard from Eastern Market in Detroit on Saturday. I boiled them first then blanched them in garlic, onion and a little cayenne. Yummy.
Sky behind the DIA
Saw this beautiful sky behind the Detroit Institute of Arts tonight right before sunset.
US Social Forum 2010 Opening March, Detroit Michigan
Calvary and W. Jefferson, Detroit
Last Friday I biked out to a quiet industrial area to find this mural by Robert Sestock. I discovered it via a great post from the One More Spoke Blog, I would recommend checking it out.
Summertime
Happy Summer Solstice! It’s here…
Spines
Books that seem to be organized by subject and color….at John K. King Books in Detroit, Michigan.
Detroit Rock City
Got a chance to see some great live music last Friday in Mexicantown. Among the bands, Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas.
Color and Light
Fun with low light…
Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO 6400
1/40 Shutter Speed
1.8 f stop
My first baseball game ever-Tigers Win
Last Wednesday, June 16th I went to my first baseball game. Tigers vs. Washington Nationals?
I generally dislike sports, but this was a fun experience.
I took this photo at the end of the game when the crowd was on their feet.
I remember when this was in the Packard Plant…
Street art by Banksy originally at the Packard Plant in Detroit, Mi and removed by the 555 Gallery after many of Banksy’s Detroit graffiti was destroyed.
At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about this being removed by a gallery. I knew that all other Detroit graffiti by Banksy in the Packard had been destroyed or taken, but should they have done it?
I went down to Gallery 555 and got a chance to meet one of the artists associated with the gallery, who also helped remove it. It was great to hear his side of the story. While we were talking we actually got heckled by someone driving by, yelling obsenities out the window. Continue reading
Street Art Against Detroit Incinerator
Walking through Mexican-town near the old train station I found this beautiful street art.
Detroit is still burning its trash. It uses the largest “trash to energy” incinerator in the country. Groups like the Michigan Sierra Club are running campaigns to shut it down and establish a recycling program.
More can be found here: http://www.ecocenter.org/recycling/detroit.php
Geese Near Downtown Detroit
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Geese heading into the pond at Tricentennial State Park near downtown Detroit, Michigan.
Dana enters the City of Corridors
A good friend of mine just arrived in Detroit for a few days, she found a small alley with some amazing light that made for a good portrait around sunset.
Detroit, Michigan 6/16/2010
Fun in the Fountain at River Front Plaza, Detroit
In front of GM Headquarters, kids play in the large fountain on Riverfront Plaza, downtown Detroit, Michigan.
VIDEO: After School Program At Explore College Prep Middle School, Oakland CA
Starting in April of 2009 the after school program at Explore College Prep Middle School in East Oakland, CA launched an urban farming and culinary arts program. Working with Planting Justice, as well as Mandela Marketplace and WYSE (West Oakland Youth Standing Empowered), students from Explore Prep planted 30 fruit trees in the Burbank Garden, a perennial food forest, and started a organic vegetable garden in raised beds on the school’s blacktop. These gardens are providing the students with hands-on educational experiences in growing food and understanding nutrition through their after-school program. In collaboration with WYSE and the YMCA after-school program, Planting Justice leads the Food Justice and Culinary Arts class every Wednesday.
I had the pleasure of documenting some of their efforts over the past year, and have been inspired by the amazing work they are doing.
Planting Justice will continue this Spring and Summer to develop the perennial food forest at Burbank Garden by holding community work-parties and free permaculture workshops, helping to empower local residents with the skills and inspiration to develop this garden as a vital community resource. Stay tuned for their next community work-party, curriculum they have created for the middle school students, and further ways in which you can participate!
http://www.mandelamarketplace.org/9.html
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Tagged Explore Prep, food justice, Oakland, Planting Justice, urban farming, Video
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