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.
Open Studio returns to Friday evenings from 6-8p at #TheAlleyProject. Crayons, cameras, and puppets animated the lots today.
The ELCA’s Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) visited The Alley Project today for some history, a tour, and workshop.
The youth are in town for the ELCA’s large gathering in Detroit this week that will have 25,000 youth from around the nation in town for workshops and service projects
Thanks for spending time with us and hope to see you again soon.
CALENDAR: Blackbook session and documentary screening at TAP at 4:30pm on July 18th! Bring your markers and books for this session and a screening of the New York graf classic #StyleWars.
Over the past couple months, Young Nation has been working with neighborhood youth, adults, and business owners to transform the vacant building and empty lot at the corner of #Avis & #Elsmere into a community space. These are some pictures from our workshops at #8869Avis.
Today we recovered Pancho and Palomo at TAP! We got to meet our neighbors from a block away that we didn’t know because of the number on his collar. Welcome and hope to see you at Open Studio soon.
Live in the community and looking for an original location to have your child’s birthday party? TAP would love to host with art instruction and activities, space, and anything else you may need from us. Here’s some pictures from this young lady’s birthday party today at TAP. TAPpy Birthday!
This week marks 5 years since around 30 supporters from The Alley walked from Avis and #Elsmere to Lawndale and #Vernor to cast their community vote to support the project. This was the beginning of our transition from The Alley, started in 2004, to The Alley Project!!