Posts in Programming
Machetes Welcomed from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, as One of several Community-Selected Porch On TAP Artists in Residence
Machetes Welcomed from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, as One of several Community-Selected Porch On TAP Artists in Residence

We’re honored to welcome Machetes, joining us from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, as one of several community-selected Porch On TAP artists in residence helping to activate the new space!!

Machetes is an accomplished mariachi who has been playing for over 30 years and specializes in the vihuela, a small, five-stringed guitar with roots in 15th century Spain, Portugal, and Italy. 

When traveling Machetes plays with local mariachis and offers lessons in the specialized techniques of the vihuela. During the residency he will be instructing small groups twice weekly for four weeks leading up to a public performance here at the building.  

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitvihuela, potap, thealleyproject, 8869avis, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, machetesComment
Candida The Poet Welcomed as Artist in Residence For Porch On TAP
Candida The Poet Welcomed as Artist in Residence For Porch On TAP

Candida The Poet is a writer, performer, and an advocate from Southwest Detroit. Her poetry and instruction demonstrate the power of voice and introspection, often challenging systemic injustice while raising awareness about a range of social topics including violence, incarceration, and addiction. Candida’s poem about gentrification, “Painfully Painted”, has been recognized for its relevance and perspective and is currently integrated into the Political Science curriculum at Wayne State University.


Candida is joining us as a resident artist at The Alley Project!! She is helping to inaugurate our new home on Avis and Elsmere as we transform our front porch to a setting for artistic exchange during our artist residency program, the Porch On TAP.

During her residency she will focus her work with a small group of middle school poets who have never composed and performed original works for an audience—working to develop experiences and skills in writing, collective participation/feedback, and performance. Additionally she will facilitate Spoken Word 101 workshops with younger youth to promote exposure to written and performance arts. 



ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitthealleyproject, 8869avis, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, candidathepoet, spokenword, potapComment
Walking The Alley, Andrea Identifies Public Art Installation Location
Walking The Alley, Andrea Identifies Public Art Installation Location

Andrea walked the alley along TAP to identify potential locations for her public art installation. In the end she found a perfect location that both she and the property owner are excited about.

She was curious about and interested in local plant life along the alley and shared a little about several plants native to the region around Mexico City, where she is from. 

After the walk and talk she identified this garage as an ideal location. We reached out to the owner and he was excited to offer it as a canvas for her installation. This garage is ideally arranged and located to host an installation that celebrates our collaboration by housing two engraved poster prints of plants local to Detroit and to Mexico City. One on each side. In the middle will be a mural depicting bird houses with several birds, local to Michigan and to Mexico, by Southwest Detroit artist Bryant Valdez.

During Andrea’s residency Bryant was exposed to printmaking for the first time and took an immediate interest in it—learning new techniques and approaches daily with her instruction. Eventually he attended almost every workshop she offered during her time here.

They are eager and excited to work together on this project to create an installation, in partnership with the homeowner, for the community to enjoy. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitpotap, 8869avis, thealleyproject, swdetroit, southwest detroit, andreanarnoComment
Graficanarno Welcomed As New Porch On TAP Artist in Residence
Graficanarno Welcomed As New Porch On TAP Artist in Residence

Graficanarno is a printmaker born and living in Mexico City. She believes art is a powerful tool for radical social transformation, especially in our uncertain times. Together with her collective, Mujeres Grabando Resistencia , she has engaged in campaigns to raise awareness about and challenge various social conditions including femicide in Mexico.

She is a teaching spirit and values creative processes as an important part of community building. Graficanarno travels around Mexico and internationally to share skills through workshops and public installations.

She is joining us, fresh off a workshop series in Chicago and Milwaukee, as a resident artist at The Alley Project. She is helping to inaugurate our new home on Avis and Elsmere as we transform our front porch to a setting for artistic exchange during our artist residency program, the Porch On TAP!!

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitmujeresgrabandoresistencia, thealleyproject, 8869avis, swdetroit, southwestdetroit, potap, andreanarnoComment
Mural Installation Progress Party on Avis and Elsmere

More than 60 neighbors, youth, and artists gathered today to share a meal and watch the mural installation progress with Pherz and Freddy on Avis and Elsmere.

Several of The Alley Project’s networks enjoyed each others’ company, many visiting the building and even meeting for the first time.

The porch was animated with food, music, sketching, stories, laughter, and children everywhere you turned.

As the sun set those who stuck around took it indoors to enjoy the AC and got to see the building lit up and entering sleep mode after a full day of use. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitpotap, thealleyproject, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, 8869avis, pherzComment
Blackbook Sessions with Pherz
Blackbook Sessions with Pherz

Pherz held blackbook sessions this week inviting artists and their families to gather, pass books and stickers around, and sketch.

Everyone leaves with something from someone else who’s work they respect and has the chance to return the favor. The sessions serve as recreation, skill share, and community building. 

Freddy and Pherz got to kick around concepts and logistics for the mural installation that will begin within the next couple days. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitpotap, pherz, 8869avis, thealleyproject, swdetroit, southwest detroit, blackbook, freddydiazComment
Pherz Welcomed as Porch On TAP Artist in Residence
Pherz Welcomed as Porch On TAP Artist in Residence

Pherz is a street artist and muralist from Missouri. He lived in Detroit for several years in the early 2000s and was a regular visitor to The Alley from 2004-2007 as it was just beginning to take shape.

Pherz and writers from his crew spent time with youth, neighbors, and invited other artists to do the same—impacting the early years and development of The Alley Project.

Now Pherz is rejoining us from St Louis as a resident artist at The Alley Project. He is helping us inaugurate our new home on Avis and Elsmere as we transform our front porch to a setting for artistic exchange during our artist residency program, the Porch On TAP!!

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitpotap, thealleyproject, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, pherz, 8869avisComment
Blackbook Sessions And The Art of Exchange
Blackbook Sessions And The Art of Exchange

The art of exchange… reciprocal relationships are formed and strengthened when folks come together to create and share with each other.

Blackbook sessions give artists (young and older) the space to interact as they pass, sketch, ask, learn, and create memories together. Discussing admiration for fellow artists, seeing a sketch come to life, sharing supplies and ideas helps to build talent and community. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroittap232, studioluevanos, thealleyproject, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, blackbooksessionsComment
September Blackbook Session at Studio Luevanos
September Blackbook Session at Studio Luevanos

Music, blackbooks, more stories, slaps, and ideas were being passed around for a few hours tonight at Studio Luevanos on The Alley Project.

People came and went over the course of a few hours as artists hit each others books, passed out stickers, and talked about people who weren’t there that would probably enjoy meeting up soon. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroittap232, blackbooksessions, studioluevanos, southwestdetroit, swdetroit, insidesouthwestdetroit, studio luevanosComment
Studio Luevanos at TAP
Studio Luevanos at TAP

TAP’s spaces and programs are designed to help build relationships between neighbors, artists, youth, and others. Many of TAP’s programs are naturally intergenerational because they are often in and about community… and communities are made of people of all ages.

At Studio Luevanos youth, parents, artists, neighbors, and elders regularly gather to share time, skills, and stories with each other. We believe when this happens it is some of our most engaging, critical work as it helps to build community and skills together. 

“I believe the children need to see people of their culture working with them, talking, listening, and interacting. I was one of those kids that did not experience people who looked like me doing things in my neighborhood. TAP provides a space for this.” - Mary Luevanos


ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitstudioluevanos, tap232, southwestdetroit, thealleyproject, blackbooksessions, openstudioComment
Book Making with Mary Luevanos at Open Studio at TAP
Book Making with Mary Luevanos at Open Studio at TAP

The youth learned how simple it can be to make your own books at Open Studio with Mary Luevanos. Samples, paper, materials, and a portable printer was all they needed to start making their own journals.

They will fill them with whatever creativity fits inside their pages and perhaps bring back to share in a few weeks.

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroittap232, studioluevanos, thealleyproject, southwestdetroit, swdetroitComment
A Night of Sketching
A Night of Sketching

Artists brought old flicks to pass around while sketching tonight. Blackbooks, vintage photos, and nostalgia steered the conversation.

Stories about exploring the city to search out hidden walls and art at a time before social media took the group back in time. Disposable cameras, blackbooks, HEETT, storytelling, markers, New York, Western High School, Carson Street and more came up.

There is an important history to be shared and ideas about how to capture and share that with future generations kept people engaged for several hours. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroittap232, thealleyproject, swdetroit, blackbooksessionsComment
Creating Rocks To Share At Open Studios
Creating Rocks To Share At Open Studios

Open Studio participants learned a little about public art by creating rocks to share with others by hiding them in unlikely places to be discovered.

Mary Luevanos showed examples of other rock projects people have done and talking about what they might do with theirs. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitstudioluevanos, tap232, thealleyproject, southwestdetroit, swdetroitrocksComment
Summertime and Blackbooks
Summertime and Blackbooks

We have spent some time together today and during the last month just sketching and talking about what we’d like to do this summer.

Blackbooks, hitting the walls, collecting/sharing old flicks, ideas about ways to inspire youth and each other, and more. Meanwhile we’ve just been enjoying sharing space… especially in the absence of our good friends that recently passed. 

In the coming weeks we hope to start collecting and organizing old photos we all have of art from around the city from the 90′s on. If it happens we’ll scan and share them sometime soon! 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroittap232, studioluevanos, thealleyproject, swdetroit, southwest detroitComment
Flowers in the Alley
Flowers in the Alley

Flowers are in bloom up and down the alley.

Some neighbors and friends of TAP have spent time selecting, planting, and maintaining beautiful plants that you can see alongside the artwork. Mother Nature also has her way with native plants and wildflowers popping up where they please. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitwildflowers, thealleyproject, southwest detroit, swdetroitComment
Creative Time at Studio Luevanos
Creative Time at Studio Luevanos

Parents, youth, and artists shared time and talents with each other today at Studio Luevanos. 

People bring paper, sketchbooks, pencils, markers, and ideas. We gather in garages and lots. This way we get to regularly share skills, make memories and create new art in a way that costs very little for the return.

“I bring my kids with me so we can spend time time together doing something we love. I want them to be able to open their eyes to the world of colors and creativity in person, not just on a screen.” -Miguel Faz

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroittap232, studioluevanos, thealleyproject, southwest detroit, swdetroit, blackbooksessionsComment
Blessing of the Lowriders
Blessing of the Lowriders

Young Nation hosted the 18th annual Blessing of the Lowriders this year on The Alley Project at Grace In Action. Together with founder Victor Villalobos, GoodTimes and Uso Car Clubs’ Detroit chapters, Motor City Rockerz’ Who Got Da Props, Cumbia Poder, and Stitching Up Detroit this year’s event was a memorable mash of Southwest Detroit culture and tradition. 

Pastor John offered a blessing and Victor laid out the history of the Blessing of the Lowriders for event attendees.

After the ceremony Young Nation announced that HEETT 16 (Hip Hop Elements Exposed Throughout Time)–including a new large scale community mural commemorating hip hop culture and a street festival–will commence this year on The Alley Project after the original HEETT wall from 2000 at Ste Anne and Vernor was buffed last year. 

ProgrammingInside Southwest Detroitheett, heett16, thealleyproject, graceinaction, cumbiapoder, pinnystacos, blessingofthelowriders, usocc, goodtimescc, swdetroit, southwest detroit, hiphop, stitchingupdetroit, youngnation, tap725, motorcityrockerzComment