I was saved in Detroit

Detroit gave me hope. It made me excited, inspired and ready to get shit done.

We left Milwaukee Thursday in Makeal's car and headed East to work on Monica & Harrison's house called the Treasure Nest- a spot which started off as a Power House Project (you should read about). So much happened in the 4 days we were there I'm not sure how to sum it up in words or images- especially since I am trying to get these up before I leave for Cincinnati to shoot with Sam for the Sign Painter Documentary tomorrow morning and have to be at work in 1 hour to serve drinks. The bottom line is go explore Detroit-- this is a first of many trips there for me, I can feel it in my blood.






This is Dmytro, who introduced himself as Jimmy sitting next to Makeal. He started Detroit Disneyland in 1997. I'm in love with the placement of where he paints people eye's on their faces- smack dab in the middle of the cheek area. Watch a video of him here. Visit him, he is lonely.






Here I am standing outside the polka-dot house wearing one of the amazing hats we found in an abandon house near the Treasure Nest. This is the Heidelberg Project- a city block dedicated to art houses.

Part of why we came to Detroit was to go to the "End of the World" party at our friends place called The Russell. The Metro Times, the local paper wrote an Article about the party, they even changed the cover of the paper for the first time ever for the article.




Last minute party prepping.




This is "The Regurgitator" a jet-powered G-force generator that spins you in circles really really fast. This is Ryan test-riding it for his birthday the night before the party. If I was you I'd watch this video of it in action- but make sure you watch the end.


This marching band was the highlight of the party for me. Watch & listen to them here.






Harrison checking out Swoon's paste-up's, exterior of this is house shown above. You have to be careful when walking into this room because the floor is gone- just a heads up if you are ever there.




This is Courtney & Kujo in front of Richard Colman's wall mural inside the houses he worked on with RETNA who painted the exterior shown above. Courtney is also wearing one of the fantastic hat's from the empty house I mentioned before filled with treasures.


This is Silvio, he referred to his yard (below) as a "botanical explosion". He is a magical man & his place is like an expansive secret garden. I feel incredibly lucky we got to spend 2 hours with him telling us about each of his sculptures.









Last but not least is the Treasure Nest located in the awesome Hamtramack neighborhood. A friend described our stay there as "urban camping" which summed up the no plumbing & pirated electricity. The first night our room didn't even have a window & Aaron built a lean-t0 shower in the backyard to rinse off.






Upstairs


fence building


Mitch in the neighborhood hoodcat




Conrad


Installing the fence segment I made


A fire burned yard waste almost the entire time.


Harri & Moni on the porch sorting found treasure.


DAMMIT!! Look how cute my guy is- this was the coldest & best shower I've ever had.

If you want to see more Detroit photos go here.

Ryan A Ortin 9/15/1983 - 5/21/2011

The thing about dating a guy who owns a skateboard shop is his boys become your extended family. This past weekend we lost a man who was dear to many and will be terribly missed. When I think of Ryan I can hear his voice reminding me to give him a lime with his can of Pabst and endlessly bugging me to play Big L or Wu-Tang.

If you would like to pay your respects to Ryan's twin brother Travis and their family the wake and service is this Thursday. Sky High will also be printing a memorial shirt that will assist the Ortin family with covering the funeral expenses. You can call the shop for details.


June 2010 Summer Skate Jam: Dustin, Ryan, Paul

Always remember to tell those you love and care for how important they are, each other is all we got.

On the wall // In the magazine

When I first worked with Monica Canilao back in 2007 at my old spot Paper Boat I knew I needed to keep something from the show. Unlike a lot of work I've come in contact with, Monica's work seemed necessary to have, it almost wasn't an option to not keep a piece of her work after the show came down.


Monica Canilao & Mike Brodie (aka the Polaroid Kidd)
Paper Boat Gallery installation, 2007

The need to "have" was partially due to the illusion of her pieces being temporary. A balance between the installation itself, her process and choice of materials. It seemed as if anything could change or be worked into something else if not scooped up at that particular moment time. I had become so attached to seeing the work every day and needed a souvenir of that time period. For me that is often what buying art is- remembering working with someone, installing, the opening, the connection with the artist. Now that I am writing about it, I can hardly believe that show was 5 years ago.

In October 2008 I caught wind that Monica was featured in Juxtapoz. I picked up the magazine as I try to do when friends and artists I have worked with are featured. It's happened more than once that pieces of artwork I have accumulated and collected have made it into print, which is purely satisfying from a cataloging/archiving perspective.



The piece from 2007 I ended up getting sat in my flat files tucked safely away for almost 5 years. It wasn't until this past Fall I set aside the money to get it framed properly. Today when I was uploading the images available for sale from Monica's installation at Sky High, I pulled out the Juxtapoz magazine article which I haven't looked at in years. I though having it on hand for visitors at the exhibit would be informative, it's a great interview and gives in-site to Monica's process. It was the first time I had the magazine out next to the framed piece I had bought hanging on my wall.

This post is just a look back for me personally at the string of events that have laced together a relationship based on appreciation, admiration and mutual love for beauty found in obsolete places and things. As a collector, I believe it's important to keep documentation of where things come from. The story. The source. If I own your work I most likely have a file folder with your name on it with clipping and cards. When I die hopefully this will help piece together the history of makers I believe in just as Monica's work piece together made up stories of past lives.



When I go visit Monica in Detroit next week to check out their art house I'm going to ask her if she remembers where she gathered the elements to this piece- maybe there is a full back story to some small element of the work that I should know about.I will of course let you know if that's the case.

You Will Heal Tomorrow

Edition #4 of our Temporary Mural Project at Sky High went up in the midst of last weeks installation madness for Monica Canilao's exhibit. We were of course sad to see Colin Matthes's mural come down but getting a new piece installed is like unwrapping a fancy present.



Translated from a Spanish nursery rhyme "If You Do Not Heal Today You Will Heal Tomorrow" is a collaboration between Makeal Flammini & Ella Dwyer (two of the three ladies who coordinate Milwaukee's Parachute Project) .








Ella & Makeal





I'm personally fond of the gold leaf that may catch your eye as you go past. Installed through July 2011 swing by see Monica's show in the gallery & snap a photo of yourself in front of the mural. Read more about past temporary murals in a recent blog post here.

What's Lost Is Safe

The past seven days were non-stop. But this now lives in our gallery for the next 3 months because of it. Thank you to every one who donated, built and came to celebrate.





Photos of Monica Canilao's installation "What's Lost Is Safe" are now posted on the Sky High Gallery blog.

What's Lost Is Safe: process

I'm on hour 12 at the gallery today. As Monica, Harrison, Sean and Aaron cut, saw, draw and assemble in back I am up front in the skate shop taking care of uploading the documentation of what has happened so far. Read and see more about the unfolding of "What's Lost Is Safe" on the Sky High Gallery blog and I'll post more of this amazing project as it progresses later this week.




Earlier today's outside cloth dying, draped and drying in the sun.

Cave Singers: making the Black Leaf video

I did the art direction for the Cave Singers Black Leaf video that premiered today on Pitchfork. This past March along with a great crew I spent a few days building a monster, making a boy's bedroom and getting in the kid zone for a few really cold shoot days near Milwaukee. The video was directed by my friend and collaborator Sam Macon who I am currently co-directing the Sign Painter documentary with. I work with Sam frequently on all sorts of projects, but this is my favorite music video I've done the art direction on for him so far. It doesn't hurt that the Cave Singers are like family & I love their music.

Seeing a project like this come together feels really great when you start from scratch with story boards and a list of supplies. It takes a lot of amazing dedicated people to make even a short music video happen- this project had over 30 people on the crew all working their magic. The actual shoot days were over a Saturday & Sunday but the pre & post production both had additional days of work. Here are photos & a video I shot on my iphone (excuse the quality) and please make sure you watch the final version here.














The 16' monster had to be hauled by pieces & installed in the woods




Vinnie is to be thanked for the monster hand armature


Micaela doing paper-mache by wood burning stove


I made this little boy's room from scratch


Filming the kids riding their bikes








Getting Thurman in the harness to "sneak out" the window


Trying out the monster jaw action for the first time!!