8.27.2011
Irene.
She hasn't hit us yet, at least 6 hours away, but we are hanging in a cloudy wet purgatory. The rain has picked up and the wind whips but nothing like what is expected. Currently it looks like any other rain storm with 8am being our "eye" time, I'm betting by 4am it will get messy. We've laughed at the rain today and tomorrow i'm guessing we'll be glad we did. Here she comes! Irene.
She hasn't hit us yet, at least 6 hours away, but we are hanging in a cloudy wet purgatory. The rain has picked up and the wind whips but nothing like what is expected. Currently it looks like any other rain storm with 8am being our "eye" time, I'm betting by 4am it will get messy. We've laughed at the rain today and tomorrow i'm guessing we'll be glad we did. Here she comes! Irene.
8.21.2011
Full Circle Detroit
After many, many tutorials, I've finally finished the website, take a look and let me know what you think!
fullcircledetroit.com
After many, many tutorials, I've finally finished the website, take a look and let me know what you think!
fullcircledetroit.com
8.20.2011
Siblings.
I photographed a lot of pointy top buildings this last trip home and am realizing my love of William Christenberry's photographs affected me more then I knew. A year or two ago I found myself studying his work from the south and his correlation of pointy top buildings to the KKK after crashing one of their meetings. Scarred by what he saw, his artwork became haunted by the hooded head of the Klansman. I'm not saying I see that, but I am aware of his story while I'm looking through my photographs from my travels to Detroit. To me, they look like siblings, together holding on as long as they can, the only two left in an area full of Ford plants and industrial complexes.
I photographed a lot of pointy top buildings this last trip home and am realizing my love of William Christenberry's photographs affected me more then I knew. A year or two ago I found myself studying his work from the south and his correlation of pointy top buildings to the KKK after crashing one of their meetings. Scarred by what he saw, his artwork became haunted by the hooded head of the Klansman. I'm not saying I see that, but I am aware of his story while I'm looking through my photographs from my travels to Detroit. To me, they look like siblings, together holding on as long as they can, the only two left in an area full of Ford plants and industrial complexes.
8.19.2011
Burnt Hydrant.
A little piece of what's left in the Delray, July 2011
Detroit Blogger John's Delray story
A little piece of what's left in the Delray, July 2011
Detroit Blogger John's Delray story
8.17.2011
an Ernest eel and and a Nasty catch.
A quick stop on N.5th turned into lots of laughter once again. Two guys I'm unfamiliar with, Ernest and Chris, were holding down the rails. Ernest had just brought in the Eel which was drawing a lot of attention from the touristas. Chris snagged the Nasty while everyone was watching, I'm sure he wished it was something more, so to make it fun he shocked folks from the shorted out lamp pole at the end. He told them it was the fish causing the shock, Electric Nasty! Shrieks, squeals and some serious chuckles and I was on my way. Lot's of excitement for the upcoming Derby, new faces and many questions, I suppose I should make it to a meeting so I know the answers next time.
A quick stop on N.5th turned into lots of laughter once again. Two guys I'm unfamiliar with, Ernest and Chris, were holding down the rails. Ernest had just brought in the Eel which was drawing a lot of attention from the touristas. Chris snagged the Nasty while everyone was watching, I'm sure he wished it was something more, so to make it fun he shocked folks from the shorted out lamp pole at the end. He told them it was the fish causing the shock, Electric Nasty! Shrieks, squeals and some serious chuckles and I was on my way. Lot's of excitement for the upcoming Derby, new faces and many questions, I suppose I should make it to a meeting so I know the answers next time.
8.15.2011
Full Circle.
Al - Packard Plant, August 2011
I headed to the plant on a Tuesday afternoon unsure if I would find Al or not, but like a good caretaker he came riding up on his yellow bulldozer as we ducked out of a building - always checking who goes in and out, for his safety and ours. This is Al's home, his project, organizing the mess that has been left behind and friending the folks that come and go with spray cans and cameras. The Packard is not a pretty place but he loves it and has taken it on as his own. I showed him the photograph and he laughed that he still had the same glasses, putting them back in the collar of his shirt like my previous portrait from 2009. We talked a bit about his ministry, the movies he shows at the plant, and the recent collapses inside. He's truly a good spirit, if you find yourself in the Packard, stop by and say hello!
You can find what is happening at the plant here:
mycampage.com/packardproject
Here are a few links from Detroit Blogger John on Al:
Plant Culture
Desolation Angel
Full Circle Detroit 2011 is coming together, the site will be finished soon.
http://www.fullcircledetroit.com - check it for updates this week!
8.04.2011
It is a good question. After two weeks in the D I'm pretty ready to head home. I love Detroit but it's heavy. So many incredible projects in the works and amazing opportunities but also so hard. Empty lots filled with Queens Anne Lace, Cornflowers and tall grass; vacant homes and burnt up lots; people walking aimlessly and hiding in the shade of the tree on the corner. It excites me to photograph but it's overwhelming to understand how it got to this... Don't get me wrong, I loved finding Avalon bakery today after a packed Tiger Game, as well as the Facing the Station yesterday, but am seriously looking forward to having a restaurant, bank, and bodegas right downstairs. A friend asked what I thought of the NYTimes article questioning whether Detroit was the next Brooklyn - after 2 weeks I can respond NO, Detroit is much more New Orleans than Brooklyn.
8.02.2011
A Gentle Reminder... Respect.
After an amazing lunch at Slow's I found Face the Station. One of two art houses in Detroit that I've read about enough times you would think I would have remembered where they were, but no. It was pure luck I saw the painted front and couldn't have been happier. Love! "Salvaged Landscape" by Catie Newell has to be one of my favorite pieces in all of Detroit. Just incredible. If you get a chance head downtown, stand facing Michigan Central and look to the left, you'll find two homes standing proud.
Imagination Station
2236 14th Street, Detroit MI
www.facethestation.com
After an amazing lunch at Slow's I found Face the Station. One of two art houses in Detroit that I've read about enough times you would think I would have remembered where they were, but no. It was pure luck I saw the painted front and couldn't have been happier. Love! "Salvaged Landscape" by Catie Newell has to be one of my favorite pieces in all of Detroit. Just incredible. If you get a chance head downtown, stand facing Michigan Central and look to the left, you'll find two homes standing proud.
Imagination Station
2236 14th Street, Detroit MI
www.facethestation.com
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