ElsmereAndAvis — iSWD Programming — Inside Southwest Detroit

Chuy the Barber Welcomed As Porch On TAP Artist In Residence

We’re honored to welcome Chuy the Barber as one of several Porch On TAP artists in residence this year helping to activate our new space on Avis and Elsmere!!

Chuy is a licensed barber living and working in Southwest Detroit where he grew up. His voice is loud and clear and his passion front and center when talking about how our gifts can serve others in a way that helps us take care ourselves and each other at the same time. He is truly a living example of the power of living our lives at the intersection of our passions and our community’s needs.

During his residency Chuy is sharing skills related to barbering while also leading discussions (and by example) about the intersection between creativity and business in his field, craft, and the importance of process and experience in all of our work. He will be working individually with several young aspiring barbers, offering tips and mentoring, while other members of the community will benefit from free haircuts during the process.

The Porch On TAP invites youth, neighbors, and artists to share time and space during workshops, a community meal, and public installation as we activate the building and it’s front porch. Together we are building and celebrating community through creative processes.

ProgrammingInside Southwest DetroitSeptember 23, 2019PoTAP, Chuy the Barber, ElsmereAndAvis, southwest detroit, swdetroit, 8869

Community Open Mic Night

We miss Cafe con Leche. Much of the community does. Aside from great coffee it was a haven for good company and a hub for creativity. The Vernor and Scotten store front inspired chit chat and a constant conspiring of ideas that often grew from the coffee tables to impact the broader community. One of those impacts included Grace In Action’s Open Mic nights that were held monthly at the now-closed coffee shop. `

The Open Mic nights were originally created as “a space to build community and relationship where everyone is welcome and encouraged to share their gifts of music and poetry no matter their skill level." according to Pastor John Cummings of Grace In Action.

This is part of what we are missing. And we talk about it. It is why Grace In Action convened community partners Garage Cultural and Inside Southwest to help reinstate the popular program. Last week it happened.

The Community Open Mic lifts up creatives and connects community in a way that creates the space for chatter and process as Cafe con Leche did.

Inside Southwest Detroit was excited to host In the midst of Porch on TAP artist residency activities that have invited in the community in new ways and introduced the space as a place to gather and celebrate each others’ talents. Neighbors who regularly visit the building were introduced to new networks of musicians, spoken word, and performing artists while the artists were able to share their work in a home field community setting.

Organizers and performers Gabriel Duran and Mari Sanchez reached out to creatives—some seasoned, some shy—to sign up for slots or just come out to support those who did.

“There was a lot of first-time performers that needed an intimate setting to perform. And other performers that have had artistic block were inspired.” said Nyasia Valdez.

Artists and audience engaged with one another during the event and were encouraged to connect and build with repeated announcements to share social media channels on the dry erase board. Nyasia added, “A lot of people added each other and now look interested in attending each others’ events.”

Programming, CommunityInside Southwest DetroitJuly 25, 2019swdetroit, southwest detroit, potap, open mic, ElsmereAndAvis

Inaugural Community Meal at TAP

The faces and places in and around the building are fully activated after a community meal that hosted more than 60 neighbors, youth, and artists.

ProgrammingInside Southwest DetroitJune 4, 2018potap, pherz, swdetroit, southwest detroit, thealleyproject, 8869avis, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Community Meal and Preview of Construction Updates

Neighbors gathered at the building on Elsmere and Avis tonight to preview the construction updates and share a meal while visiting with each other.

Each week various neighbors have been coming to the building and walking through the space to see the progress happening inside. Resident sneak peeks, walk throughs, Q+A, text message updates, and photos on the blog have helped to keep people up to date with what’s happening in the building. down the street from their own home.

When the building opens and events are happening on a regular basis visitors will be a more regular occurrence. Our hope is that our informed/engaged neighbors are aware of what’s happening down the street from their homes and that they are proud of being gatekeepers of information through their involvement in the building development’s processes.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitOctober 4, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvis, swdetroitComment

Miscellaneous Decision Are Made

Audio/Visual systems, ceiling finishes, and other miscellanous decisions are being discussed and scheduled for the final weeks of construction.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitSeptember 24, 2017thealleyproject, tap869, swdetroit, southwest detroit, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Color Testing the Mural

This week Freddy applied a color test to the alley side of the building to see how the color palette for the mural would look on the building. During the construction meeting they talked about concepts and Freddy shared markups that show a combination of styles inspired by Tead’s gallery work and his street work.

The building will incorporate a fusion of those and Freddy’s work as a tribute to Tead’s vision for the building as well as his contributions to the scene and to individuals that he has influenced, including Freddy.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitSeptember 23, 2017thealleyproject, riptead, swdetroit, southwest detroit, ElsmereAndAvis, tap869Comment

Construction Team Field-trip to Diseños Shop To See Iron Panels

The construction team met with Diseños at their shop on Waterman to go over final revisions to the panels.

When the panel is complete it will serve as a template for the other panels to be created from. Each panel is a combination of 2-3 designs that will repeat at different configurations across the patio, over the windows, and inside the rest of the windows at the building.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitSeptember 22, 2017disenosornamentaliron, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, tap869, ElsmereAndAvis, thealleyprojectComment

Second Sample of Iron Panels Arrives

A second sample panel was installed by Diseños incorporating feedback from the first panel in design and construction. The second panel features variations in the gauge of the steel as well as half circles plates to help visualize the finished product as it will appear in its final form.

Today Mav from Motor City Street Dance Academy stopped by before the construction meeting to see building updates and also shared some feedback from his impressions of the panels.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitAugust 31, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvis, southwestdetroit, swdetroitComment

Closing Weeks Before Opening The Construction Meetings

As we enter the closing weeks before opening the construction meetings are much about timelines, complications, final decisions, and finishings. With the plywood off the windows there is a revealing look at the tenant side space. The natural light that enters the space intensifies later in the day.

With the plywood off the windows there is a revealing look at the tenant side space. The natural light that enters the space intensifies later in the day.

Decisions are being made about window sills and about the wrought iron treatments for the interior of the windows, the rear facing building windows, and the doors.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitAugust 24, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvis, southwestdetroitComment

Beginning Discussions About Mural With Freddy

We are excited to announce that Freddy Diaz, former participant and longtime mentor at TAP, will be leading the development and installation of the mural that will cover three sides of the building at Elsmere and Avis.

Freddy, who is also a board member of Young Nation, quickly responded to the opportunity to install the mural after our good friend and mentor, Tead, tragically passed away this summer. Tead was Freddy’s mentor and close friend and he is honored to create a work inspired by the decisions that Tead had already made together with the Young Nation team.

Diseños Ironworks, Young Nation, et al architecture firm, and Freddy met at today’s construction meeting to go over where things are currently in the coordination between the building, the wrought iron design, and the mural.

Today Diseños responded to feedback to the sample frame that was installed a few weeks ago and Freddy is working to prepare a palette and initial designs for the mural together with the architects. There should be updates in the coming weeks for each to share.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitAugust 17, 2017tap869, ElsmereAndAvis, southwestdetroit, thealleyprojectComment

Panel Design Begins

Diseños Ornamental Iron designed, fabricated, and installed a sample panel in the patio space yesterday. They wanted to show us something that complements the design of the building and will also work well with the mural that will eventually wrap three sides of the building.

This morning they came by to meet with the design team. We had conversations about design, function, and how to address some of the trickier spaces around the building–tall doors, unique windows, the patio gates and so on.

Soon a final design will be determined and work will begin on creating and installing it so stay tuned!

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitAugust 3, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, disenosornamentaliron, swdetroit, southwestdetroit, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Windows are Set Into Frames

The plywood was off and windows were set into the frames that were installed last month.

For a few hours today we were able to see just how much light will be let into the space daily once the building is done.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitJuly 18, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Drywall Installation

Drywall installation started a couple weeks back. In the tenant space you can see the insulation in the interior walls and the framing around interior windows coming together.

Today all of the drywall is hung and mudding and sanding has started in several of the spaces throughout the building. Its really starting to paint a picture of how the inside will feel when complete.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitJuly 8, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Neighbors and friends play at the lot on Elsmere and Avis on the 4th of July.

The bricks are now primered gray in preparation for the mural to be installed. It will wrap three sides of the building.

NOTE: Thinking we should turn this into two separate blog entries.

Erik HowardJuly 4, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Primer Applied

Primer is being applied to the back of the building. Eventually the wall will be one solid color. The rest of the building will also be primed in preparation for the mural that will be installed.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitJune 23, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Concrete Pour

The thickened concrete slab for the front porch/patio was prepped, poured, floated, and trowled today.

Even the small details of the construction can be quite involved. Here’s a link to some step-by-step about how a concrete is poured: https://www.familyhandyman.com/masonry/pouring-concrete/form-and-pour-a-concrete-slab/step-by-step#step3

If you live down the street you probably already noticed that the street was blocked. Please pardon our dust during construction. :)

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitJune 13, 2017tap869, ElsmereAndAvis, thealleyprojectComment

Window Frames Installed

The plywood came down and the frames for the windows were installed. For the first time we’ve been able to see through the back of the building out to the street in the tenant space.

In a few weeks the windows will arrive and be set into the frames.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitJune 9, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Some Windows Installed

Today the Avis side of the building was opened up and the retractable glass wall panels were installed. Also the doors on Elsmere are now in place and operational.

Tomorrow the frames for the windows around the rest of the building will be here.

With the plywood off and the glass up we are starting to get an idea of how open the space will feel on the Avis side. Looking forward to time spent on the porch with neighbors in the near future.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitJune 8, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Preparing the Walls

Scraping, power-washing, and tuck pointing is part of preparing the walls before primer for the mural that will eventually be installed.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitMay 26, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, ElsmereAndAvisComment

Tenant Window Frames Exposed

The tenant space and its window frames are now also exposed. The shape of the windows is now starting to show, including where the butt joint glazed windows will be. This is where two panes come together at a corner without a pane.

The brow (overhang) extends along the broad side of the building and tucks over the glass at its widest extension. A sill under the windows will give the appearance that they are floating over the sidewalk.

The brow will be clad in steel and will conceal lighting along the outside of the building.

OrganizationInside Southwest DetroitMay 23, 2017tap869, thealleyproject, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, ElsmereAndAvisComment