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.