Brainstorming Idea #3: by Lester

Tyree Guyton has seen Detroit mayors come and go: Coleman Young, Dennis Archer, Kwame Kilpatrick and now, Dave Bing. All have attempted to put their mark on the city, none has succeeded to the extent that this Detroit-born artist has. All have tried or is trying to make the city over into the symbol of the striving metropolis it once was, none has succeeded, and one has actually contributed to making it a symbol of malfeasance and disgrace.

Guyton has taken the abandoned houses and the refuge of a consuming society, which have come to symbolize the city's demise, and turned it into artistic installations that speak to Detroit's spirit. The Heidelberg Project, as it's called, attracts tourists from around the globe. Guyton is an ambassador of sort, but more than that, he's a griot.


My project with Tyree will be to tell the story of his community through his art. Like Simon Rodia, creator of the Watts Towers, he speaks to those of us beyond the borders of his city.

Marathon Dancers

I'm told by my friend Logan that Detroit is the location of the first "Marathon Dance." Apparently people in the 1920's and 1930's would get together and dance until they, literally, dropped. This reminds me immediately of the Yaqui Deer Dancers on Easter and Jim Harrison's gorgeous description of them in my favorite book, Dalva.

Brainstorming Idea #2: by Aisha

I was looking through one of those "Such and such a place in pictures" books and decided that one thing I might do this summer is to recreate photographs like these found photos from Hamtramck:

...using friends. I'm especially interested in the images of men in big-time auto meetings. Age, race and gender would likely conflict with the originals. The photos would be from moments throughout Detroit history, and brief captions would provide a timeline for the city.

Everybody Loves Detroit

It seems to me that everybody has a little place in their heart dedicated to Detroit. Even if they don't know it yet. Recently, I found out that a long-lost friend is doing her architecture thesis about Detroit in grad school (HARVARD?! Go Erin...), and I found a pricey, fashionish art mag at the magazine stall out in front of Book Soup on Sunset Boulevard (we're in LA for the holidays) dedicated entirely to the city. Then there's this video (thanks to Miro): Renaissance State of Mind.

Where To Stay? The Winder Inn

I know not everyone who'd like to visit Detroit this summer likes sleeping in a backyard yurt or on a mattress on the floor of a sun porch with five other twenty-somethings.

Maybe you want your parents to come but what options do they have? Only big chain hotels where they'll be lost among big-time conference goers? Only places near the airport, far from the action? Far from the chicken lemon soup in Greektown? If you or your parent fits this description AND have a few pennies to spend, you or they are in luck.

During the First Official Detroit Planning Meeting (FODPM) this afternoon, over pasteries from the Swiss bakery on Santa Monica Blvd. (where I just bumped into an elementary school teacher I haven't seen in sixteen years! Hey Miss Jeannette...) my father mentioned the Winder Inn. It's a Victorian Mansion. Check it out.

Brainstorming Idea #1: by Miro

I've been collecting "dark room" items for years now. I'm trying to get my friend to sell me her old enlarger... so far I have multiple trays, film paper, tongs, beakers, lighting equipment etc.

I've had this dream to convert old (vintage) nonfunctional cameras into "Pin Holes".... HOW- you ask? well... I don't really know yet, I've collected about twenty cameras and I figured it'd be easy because they're already "light tight".... and the other technical part is... once it's a pinhole camera, I have a black camera bag to load a small piece of film paper into the camera that will work as a negative... you take a photograph- SAVE the "negative" in a dark room- you place liquid emulsion on the negative and transfer it on to a cut piece of Plexiglas, like a tray... then you simply load on to the enlarger and transfer it on to film paper... and VOILA! I would like to simplify this dream... any Ideas?

I would like to see photographs done by a group of people and have an art show--- imagine the texture of the photograph itself?

I imagined a team of two or more people photographing together. The idea was to document a story one wants to tell by photographing and recording a soundtrack for the image or series. For instance, you and a friend want to share something important with us... while one photographs an image the other person records the sounds that occupy the space... you can use a tape recorder. THEN, loop the sound either by playing it and record sounds behind it.... or use a computer. This song will accompany the piece while it's displayed on the wall... it sounds hard, huh... that's why I think a team would work better...

Detroit Ho! is a for-friends blog that revolves around Detriot and its relationship to the arts. For awhile now friends have been sending great articles, websites and art-related ideas about the motor city. The editors now think that it would be wonderful to see more voices participate. Here are two ways how you can join the conversation:

1) Write a short (500-800 words) essay about Detroit-- about the arts in Detroit, or about something dynamic or bizarre related to its geography or anthropology, or a book review on a book about the city, or, ooh-- even, a fancy analysis of the film "8 Mile," etc. Send it in the body of an email to sloanish@gmail.com, with Detroit Blog in the subject heading. Try to consider keeping the language article-esque, with a clear subject in mind. More creative interpretations of this prompt will be considered as well, so long as they make sense.

OR...

2) Thinking about joining us for the First Annual Seminole Street Artists Colony and Exhibition this summer? Write an even shorter (150-200 words) proposal for an art project you can do, would do in an ideal world, or might do if you end up visiting your aunt in a nearby state and can drop by. The project should involve the concept of Detroit in some way, shape or form. We're looking to have an exhibition/festival so any ideas you have for music, video, documentary, photography, murals, marionettes, etc would help our collective brainstorming about what this exhibition could look like. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY DO IT! Brainstorming is half the fun. Photos are welcome.

Thanks!

-The Editors