Sunday, May 22, 2011

One Year Anniversary


It has been one year since The First Annual Seminole Street Artist's Colony and Exhibition made its way to Motown. Detroit Ho! introduced us to initiative, literary readings and art exhibitions, to generosity, to ourselves, to change, to new and old friends, to home and community gardening, growlers of beer, to the dynamic application of ideas in the realm of landscape architecture, poetry hip hop and art, to the olive guy, to DIA Fridays, Eastern Market Saturdays, Avalon Bakery everydays, the US Social Forum and the Allied Media Conference with its puppetry and dancing, to the most gorgeous gay pride parade of all time, to saying hello to strangers, to the man rollerblading the wrong way down Jefferson Avenue braiding his way like a reckless ballerina gracefully among oncoming cars, to soul food, to big explosive soul love, moments of heartache, to the beauty of dreaming, and to so much more. Who knows what future projects that such a powerful summer will lead to in the future.

While certainty remains of collaborative work in the future, the "First Annual" project has officially closed. If you've found your way to this web address and aren't super familiar with the motor city, I encourage you to look back at our time together, in the hopes that you'll start looking for articles about D-town or even choose to make a trip yourself. Feel free to offer us some feedback, or otherwise keep in touch.

Thank you, Detroit, for an amazing experience! I cannot more highly suggest that EVERYONE click on this last link and let the students at the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences wish our farewell for us. Please keep your eye and heart out for this incredible land of hope, strength, progress, innovation and renaissance! These kids are trying to raise funds to make another music video in the future, so keep an eye out for ways to help.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

The Detroit Ho Ho Ho's

A 'Best Of' list from this holiday season...

Best Place my dad got a leather jacket for $35: Regeneration New and Used Clothes


Best Uhaul Parking Lot in which to read ArtForum magazine in the backseat of a beat-up Nissan with my cousin Travis: 7 mile and Van Dyke.


Best Sunset: Jefferson Avenue, New Year's Eve


Best Inadvertent Sign of Hope for a Colored Girl on a Winter's Day when the Rainbow's Not Enuf:


Best Day to Visit My Maternal Grandmother's House in Order to Collect Seeds from the Trees Uncle Bernie Planted: New Year's Day.


Best New Fashion Trend My Dad is Trying to Spark: Ski Suits when There isn't a Slope in Sight.


Best 40 Ounces of Beer My Great Aunt Cora Chugged: Trader Joe's 2010 Vintage Ale


Best Shot My Mom Took through the Dirty Windshield:


Best Lemon-Lavender Elixer with Brick Oven Baked Veggie Chili and Pear/Gorgonzola Pizza: Motor City Brew Works

Best Place to Buy Small, Home-Brewed Bottles of Perfume Oil Scented to Resemble Designer Brands: The Dollar Store on Mt. Elliot and Jefferson

Best Artichoke Fritters with Potato-Garlic Spread: Pegasus


Best Cappuccino my Dad Has Had Since Paris: Astoria Pastry Shop in Greektown


Best Siracha Chicken Wings to Eat with Some Daily $1 Beer Specials: Cass Cafe


Best Moment of Bonding with My Sister: Fishing the Pork Skin out of the Trash

Best Chicken-Potato Pocket and Artichoke Focaccia with Kombucha on the side: Avalon Bakery


Best Theatre at which to have Black Swan inflicted upon You: The Main Art in Royal Oak


**Thank you to my cousin Suzanne for coming up with the phrase: Detroit ho ho ho...