TAP artist and mentor Freddy Diaz works on signage for Torres Auto Repair, a local business, on Mullane near The Alley Project.
Freddy (@swfreddy) has been building clientele and a portfolio of work installing murals for businesses across Metro Detroit.
Grace In Action’s Open Mic Night regulars rehearsed and performed on their home court at The Alley Project tonight for a full house sharing live music, poetry, song, and dance.
Tonight’s homecoming festivities come just two weeks after the closing of Cafe con Leche’s beloved southwest Detroit location. Open Mic nights were regularly scheduled at the coffee shop which was on Vernor at Scotten.
The larger venue made room for tonight’s lineup to include some surprise action by a live mariachi band, Reyes, and two members of southwest Detroit’s own Awkward Theory. Grace In Action was happy to share space when the mariachi’s originally scheduled practice location was unavailable at the last minute. It all fit in beautifully with the scheduled Open Mic activities.
The Motor City Rockerz’ Autorockz came with two rounds of top rock, power moves, and footwork for all the guests to enjoy! All of the performances contributed to an evening to remember.
A warm March allowed neighbors to work in their yards and artists to wrap up two mural installations this week along TAP.
Stop by in person to see the new artwork at TAP232 and TAP239.
A handful of artists got together tonight with TAP at Grace In Action to sketch and share their work.
Artists brought blackbooks, markers, pencils, and other materials to create new works as they went through what they’re currently working on with each other. Featured in the photographs are works by Kevin “Oni” Ferguson and James Easterly.
A quick look in the lots at TAP233 shows off a couple new pieces complements of the unseasonably warm weather the past several weeks.
An artist visiting from Germany stopped by and painted “CryOne” on his way back to the airport after a week in Detroit on business.
The Motor City Street Dance Academy, Young Nation, and Grace In Action have teamed up to offer a 12-week program for elementary students on The Alley Project at GIA every Monday evening.
The MCDSA holds workshops across the Southwest Detroit community to teach elementary-aged youth the basics of break dance. Young break dancers who have come up through Motor City Rockerz mentor younger youth as an expression of the MCRz “each one teach one” philosophy.
The Motor City Rockerz created the MCSDA to help rebuild hip hop’s reputation locally as being a positive, impactful, creative outlet for all people.
Each year Young Nation and The Alley Project hosts an annual Angel’s Night event. The event takes place the night before Halloween which has become a city-wide rally of community involvement over the years. This follows years of Detroit’s struggle with an epidemic of crime and arson on Devil’s Night, the eve of Halloween. A plague that peaked in the mid-80′s led to efforts in the 90′s to organize and relieve the city’s neighborhoods of the horror associated with Devil’s Night.
TAP’s annual Angel’s Night celebrations merge themes of social justice, civic engagement, mentoring and honoring those who came before us, and children and family. These themes acknowledge the season of celebration and collaboration in the neighborhood during a week that hosts Angel’s Night, Halloween, All Saints Day, and Dia de Los Muertos.
This year TAP’s Angel’s Night celebration coincided with Grace In Action’s Open Mic night and so were merged for an evening of food, entertainment, and family fun. A blessing was offered for the newly completed Healing Wall mural on the broad side of the building, located on Lawndale at Lane. Young Nation and Grace In Action’s constituents came together as their youth, artists, neighbors, families, acts and local entrepreneurs shared spaces and made memories together in the tradition of the themes above.
A quick look at some artwork spotted at TAP this Fall.
The Healing Wall at Grace In Action is a mural commemorating the transition of the building from a funeral home to a community center. It was created through a series of interactions with neighbors and artists and explores themes of death, grief, life, healing, seasons, and community. Local artist-activist Sacramento Knoxx facilitated the mural development process with support from GIA and Young Nation and their artists.
The mural is the newest addition to The Alley Project’s series of alley murals and serves to bookend TAP from GIA to Studio Luevanos and the lots. Freddy and Phil work on the mural together with apprentices while youth and neighbors drop in during several warm Fall days this week. The programming (community outreach, artists mentoring young artists, etc) and artistry that went in to this mural were made possible by our generous sponsors Krabby Painters servicing Metro Detroit with local Southwest Detroit employees and by El Asador restaurant right around the corner on Springwells!
For the first time ever TAP is enjoying regular access to indoor programming space! Young Nation is now sharing office and common space with our partner Grace In Action at their new building while our building is in development.
GIA is an excited partner organization within TAP and recently acquired and renovated a former funeral home that was donated to their organization. The space is now actively celebrating life and community together with youth, neighbors, elders, artists, and more.
The center, located at 1725 Lawndale, bookends The Alley Project at one end with the lots and Studio Luevanos at the other end. Soon GIA and Young Nation will be organizing efforts to better connect the various stops along The Alley Project to each other including signage, mural installations, and new partnerships with neighbors and artists. While sharing space the opportunity for increased collaboration, coordination, and cooperation will present many new options for youth to engage creatively with each other and with elders.
Today Mary Luevanos led the table in creating sugar skulls in preparation for Dia de Los Muertos, only a couple weeks away. The molds were made today and next week they will be decorated. GIA’s collectives were also gathering for Stitching Up Detroit, Radical Productions, and music. Everyone was able to experience a little of what the others had going on.
DJ Clay moved the crowd as he mixed beats for the Elsmere-Avis Plaza celebration at The Alley Project in Southwest Detroit. (2015)
Young Nation celebrated with neighbors, friends, and partners on Friday. The plans for the Elsmere-Avis Plaza were shared and feedback was gathered as the project moves closer to beginning construction. Entertainment was provided by Raices Mexicanas, Motor City Rockerz, and DJ Clay and food was provided by Esto’s Garage.
Open Studio participants travelled to the Padzieski Gallery in Dearborn for the Hispanic Heritage Exhibit and activities. Mary facilitated improv puppet theater with the youth who also got to witness and enjoy Ballet Folklorico and the artwork in the exhibit.
Young neighbors from Schaefer and Fort St found their way to TAP this weekend. One was looking forward to beginning his first semester away at college starting Tuesday… good luck and hope we see you again soon!
The Motor City Rockerz give the boards a facelift at the TAP233 lots. Mav and son do the finishing work to keep the benches looking fresh. Thanks Rockerz!!
Back To School time is right around the corner! In between playing hard and watching artists create murals the youth decorated the fronts and backs (and some insides) of notebooks for school with collage.
SUAMP (Southwest Urban Arts Mural Project) spent some casual time at TAP this week as Benny and his son performed some routine maintenance to the benches.
fter work this summer several SUAMP artists have been coming over to paint and this time their instructor, Ms J, came with them.
She will be leaving Michigan very soon and her youth (and community partners) are grateful for the passion and excellence that SUAMP has displayed with her leadership.
Lee Quiñones visited TAP during Open Studio this past Friday. Several of TAP’s supporting artists and youth got to share space and time with Lee at Studio Luevanos.
Artists put in work with youth to get TAP239 ready for a new mural.
Peeling away layers of history and harvesting materials for #RebelNell as we prep #TAP239 for a new mural this week.
