Detroit Dream Project

IMG_0544
Originally uploaded by quidquid

Some new photos of the Detroit Dream Project, one of our 2007 Civic Arts installations.

Thanks for the great photo and giving us a peek at how the project looks today!

To read more about the temple:
Prior blog posts

Detroit Dream Project - Progress Report

During clean up Doxie noticed Bud-e one of our resident poets secretly installed the name plate designed last summer during the Temple build. Thank you Bud-e!

After the arson attempt last fall the pillar was cleaned up and spare pieces affixed, not to cover the damage, but illustrate how the the Detroit Dream Project is a Phoenix from the ashes and is proof of our overall resiliency

SailorMan" Chris Ahart helps to clean up the area around the Temple during our Spring Clean Up

All but a few saplings made it through the rough Michigan winter and were budding - getting ready to burst into life

Just in from our woman in the street in Detroit, Danielle Kaltz (Doxie), reporting to us that one of the Detroit Burners, Jeremy Hockett says his friend, Phill from Seattle is a contributor to a new magazine Just Cause, and the Detroit Dream Project, which is part of our Civic Arts Program, and was designed by BRAF board member, David Best, is featured on Page 39 as part of a story on the Motor City Blight Busters.

The photos above are from the Spring Clean-up Saturday March 28 10:00 AM. The clean up day coincided with the Detroit Project Day that brings over 1,000 University of Michigan students to Detroit to help in clean-up efforts throughout Northwest Detroit. As you can see, the participants did a first post-winter park clean-up to freshen up the site.

Thanks from us at the Black Rock Arts Foundation to all of you in Michigan who are carrying the torch for the Detroit Dream Project.

For Your Calendar:

Saturday June 20 — Sunday June 21: plans underway for our 1st Anniversary Celebration!

Saturday July 18 — The Temple (the Detroit Dream Project) is the host site for Burners Without Borders Detroit Chapter “Benefit without Borders” Volunteer Event

http://burnerswithoutborders.com/detroit-gets-busy/

http://burnerswithoutborders.com/event.2009-01-29.8033323464/

Contact for BWB Detroit: Danielle Kaltz (dkaltz@gmail.com 313.608.4580).

And Doxie says:

Remember, the Detroit Dream Project belongs to all of us.

Together we
will shape how this new artistic pavillion

Previous Detroit Dream Project posts

photos and commentary: Danielle Kaltz (Doxie)

Detroit Dream Project Speaks at the Regional Summit

The wedding at the dedication of the Temple

In June 2008 the Detroit Dream Project was built, and is one of BRAF’s Civic Arts Program recipients. In 2007 BRAF granted them $15,000 and the Detroit Burners were charged to raise the matching $15,000 that was needed to build a temple on an empty lot in Detroit where a crack house once stood. But the process began long before that grant. You have read a lot about the Detroit Dream Project in our blog.

At the Burning Man Regional Leadership Summit, Cynthia “Cooky” Jones and Willie from Chicago talked about that process and here is the project's written summary:

The Michagan Burning Man group represented by their community non-profit (SPARC) in conjunction with the Black Rock Arts Foundation (providing critical grant funding and support), David Best (temple artist), and the Motor City Blight Busters (local non-profit partner, land owner) built a Temple to the American Dream in June 2008 in northwest Detroit, Michigan.

This project began as a dream inspired by Burning Man art projects and our desire to build locally on February 10, 2005. The project encountered numerous issues along the way including materials, design, and a very difficult economy. Despite delays and road blocks the project team perservered, BRAF maintained their commitment and the land owners and community maintained their support and belief that the Temple would eventually be built. After years of dreaming, two years of planning and fundraising, a major design change, and a great deal of sweat, the Temple of the Amercian Dream was completed June 20, 2008.

SPARC and the Michigan Burning Man Community's project commitment is on-going. The Temple's current physical incarnation is hoped to last until summer 2013 (5 years) minimum; its life ccle will be weather dependant and this design is previously untested in a mid-western winter. Future art, gardens and upkeep for this site will be developed collaboratively with the local community, the local kids are project "PAWZ", and the local Burners. We have formed friendships and partners in the long days of a very difficult project.

Like the ripples of a rock tossed in a pond, the results of this project go far beyond the Temple. We hope that most of the ripples are positive like the wedding that occurred on the Temple dedication day, the coat drive for the homeless held on site on a frigid dark December Day, and the many smiles, hugs and tears that have been shared there, and the growth and lessons that we learned along the way.

Community was created around this project in several different ways. At the beginning of the project it became clear that a local non-profit was needed so they created SPARC, The Society to promote Art and Recreation in the Community.

The fundraising aspect of the project was long and arduous. Cooky tells us that at many junctures it seemed hopeless, that the locals would never accept influences from California, that there was no local money to be raised and raising the money in dribbles and dabs was painful, but she knew the day a homeless man gave her $20 for the Temple that there was no going back and that a temple must be built.

In addition, the Burning Man community in Detroit and the other Temple supporters became connected with Detroit Blight Busters, and the dedication of the Temple is timed to coincide with Blight Busters 20th anniversary.

In the fall of 2008, an arsonist burnt a small portion of the Temple. The neighbors caught the arsonist and put out the fire, and it became clear that now the Temple now belongs to the neighborhood.

The community continues to support the Temple.

March 28, 2009
Spring Clean-up
Saturday March 28
10:00 AM
coinciding with the Detroit Project Day that brings over 1,000 University of Michigan students to Detroit to help in clean-up efforts throughout Northwest Detroit. Please wear “gardening” clothes including gloves & dress for the weather. We’ll do our first post-winter park clean-up to freshen up the site. Trash bags will be provided. Feel free to bring beverages or snacks to share.

Previous posts: http://blackrockarts.blogspot.com/search/label/Detroit%20Dream%20Project

photo: Fuzzytek Photography LLC - All Rights Reserved

Holiday Warmth in Detroit

Our woman in the street in Detroit, Doxie, tells me that before Christmas some volunteers got together at the Detroit Temple aka Detroit Dream Project, which is part of our Civic Arts Program, and was designed by BRAF board member, David Best.

Sailor and Doxie organized a clothing drive; some of the local Burning Man community met at the Temple and there was a bonfire and cider and fire spinning and ....donations of clothes, blankets, and foods. Then they delivered that warmth directly to the cold streets of Detroit.

For more information about the dedication, wedding, World Hoop Day, Detroit Neighborhood Day and other community events at the Detroit Temple please see our prior posts:

http://blackrockarts.blogspot.com/search/label/Detroit%20Dream%20Project

photos: Dirtball

Fire at the Detroit Dream Project - Temple

Hello and Greetings, We are sad to tell you that someone set fire to the Detroit Dream Projects –Temple to the American Dream on September 2. The Temple is still standing but has sustained some damage.

Around 9pm that evening a guy was in the park and it appears he may have thrown an accelerant on the back post and set it on fire.

Some locals from the neighborhood saw what happened and quickly hosed the Temple down and from what I am told the neighbors let this guy know in no uncertain terms that he is not welcome back in the area!

We are all very appreciative and in debt to these Good Samaritans!

At this time we are determining what action needs to be taken to repair the damage and may need some assistance i.e. some good old fashioned community elbow grease and general support once a plan of action has been made.

We are obviously very disappointed by this unfortunate situation, but like the Phoenix from the Ashes we will regenerate and rebuild. Did you know our logo is the Phoenix rising over the city of Detroit?

And that is what we plan to do this coming Sunday, September 14, 2008 at the Temple site located at 17363 Redford Street, Detroit Michigan, next to the Motor City Blight Busters Head Quarters from 12 noon til after dark so we can get some fire performing in hopefully!

We will be hosting an informal workday and potluck fundraiser that day to help assist us in repairing the damage to the back post of the structure.

Won’t you come out?!

Your presence and support would be very appreciated! If you can come out to help or just enjoy the day with us at the site we would be very happy to have the company! Any help will be put to good use! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (313.608.4580) or any member of SPARC through the website. Thank you on behalf of SPARC and the Detroit Dream Project!

Danielle Kaltz (~doxie)\

The Black Rock Arts Foundation would like to thank Doxie for all of her work in gathering both the local Burning Man Community and other local people who have been dedicated to making the Detroit Dream Project thrive, and SPARC and to the Motor City Blight Busters for all of their help and support in helping repair the Temple. I made a donation this morning and I hope you will too!

Financial Donations:

http://www.donatetoblackrockarts.org/

Please be sure to specify "Detroit Temple" in the COMMENTS area.

In-kind Donations:

http://www.detroitdreamproject.com/contact/

All contributions (including equipment and monetary donations), may beconsidered tax deductible contributions and would be greatlyappreciated. Contribute to the Detroit Dream Project and help make alasting impact on the landscape and spirit of this community.

Detroit Temple - World Hoop Day

In our continuing saga of of documenting what community events are happening at the Detroit Dream Project. Check out the video to see how the Temple is being a base for the neighborhood!

I give you Faith's report on World Hoop Day:

Blight Buster showed up to help set up and and then our first round of kids were just walking by and we hooked them in and they stayed for about 2 hours (and finally won a hoop!!).

Peachy and Doxie who took flyers into the neighborhood to attract kids. I think kids going home with hoops brought more back to us. The fire department showed up (just in time for fire hooping) And started hooping with us! They read about it in the Livonia paper!! And they want to be involved next year. They are clowns on their off time!! How awesome is that!We gave away 15 custom made hoops!!!! The kids were so excited!! I haven't counted out how many small hoops we gave away, but there were quite a few.

And there are already plans in the works for next year.

And Doxie's Report:

So another year of World Hoop Day has past..it was 8.8.8 if you did not know...next year it will be 9.9.9 and yes last year it was 7.7.7!!it was a great day for hooping..even if the wind tried to blow Evol away!!

We gave away a ton of kid hoops and 15 custom built ones were raffled off to kids and adults! and the kids picked it up SO quick!! we pulled in kids from all over the hood....and yes now peach knows just how crazy I am ..though i like to think of it as determined ..cuz we cruised the hoods in my little red convertible and i went up to peoples houses where i saw kids outside and was giving away fliers!! and it WORKED!! ...

Revolva was in from Portland to perform..Micha came in with her huge crew ( i love that woman) Faith did her awesome fire hooping !! with the Detroit Fire Department watching and their jaws agape! They showed up with a rig and got out and played!! One of them is a Detroit Fire Department Clown crew and wants to be involved next year...we even got the three other fire fighters to hoop..it was a blast!!

video Revolva

The Detroit Dream Project Welcomes Arise Detroit!

I have another opportunity to give you an update on how the Detroit Dream Project, Temple of the American Dream is benefiting the community. As you know, we have already had a dedication party, a wedding, a fashion shoot, and live music, and World Hoop Day coming on August 8th, and now the Temple was part of Arise Detroit!

But it is more fun if I let Simmer, one of the volunteers and supporters of the Temple tell you about it herself:

So we're coming back from dinner and Kathleen says "let's swing by the temple and see how the space is doing?" We drive up to see the parking lot full of cars and people around - Derrick is at the entrance with a serious face kind of waving us toward some other event in the neighborhood, christian revival or somethin' and I roll down the window and tell him "Just wanted to see how the temple is doing". His face lights up like the greeter at the emerald city when Dorthy says the right words. Waves us into the near full lot to park. We then see a drum choir with dancers performing under the temple with a bunch of folks in chairs sitting/whooping/ and in general enjoying the performance. It was the dream come full circle and it made me proud of the tenacity some people had in making this happen. We did something truly good.

So what, you may ask is Arise Detroit, from the Arise Detroit! website:

ARISE is the acronym for Activating Resources and Inspiring Service and Empowerment. It is a way to link together the hundreds of programs and agencies working on child and family issues anti-violence, parenting, illiteracy, education, drug, neighborhood development, youth mentoring, etc. — to produce more resources, more volunteers and more help for the people who need it. ARISE will create a massive community wide movement, supported by people, non-profit groups, the media and individuals, to offer hope and let people know that they can play a personal role in improving their communities. Detroit has had years and years of individual programs and campaigns. And they have produced individual results. What is desperately needed now is an ongoing Hurricane Katrina-like rescue relief effort to address the chronic social ills that plague our community violence, illiteracy, poor parenting, misdirected youth, inferior education and many others. The resources are here to do a much more productive job of solving these problems but we must be united to do it!

To read more about the Detroit Dream Project!

Detroit Dream Project Dedication a deux

I promised you a wedding and other community events from the Dedication in Detroit. First, check out this video: http://tinyurl.com/6rufpl

And, then direct from Fuzzytek, a Detroit City Photographer and Doxie one of the team members of the Detroit Dream Project, here you go...

The celebration of completing the build for the Detroit Dream Project took many forms. For Greg and Angela it was their wedding day, surrounded by friends. The rain came in the afternoon and most went home, but not for long. Gina came over after doing makeup for the performers at the Redford Theater. She brought a couple models to shoot Identity Fashions at the temple as sunset fell. At night performers spun a glow of flame near the structure as it was lit with colored LEDs.
- Fuzzytek

It was a lovely first day of summer though rains clouds danced above our heads. Despite that we started the days events with everyone doing a Tip Toe Parade led by Warrior Girl around the block that weaved everyone through the Temple to ring a Tibetan bell to start the wedding of Gregg and Angela from Detroit Evolution Lab. The wedding was a beautiful ceremony bearing witness to their amazing partnership and love. It was an honor to behold. The rains held off until just after the ceremony. The crowds cleared for a few hours to return at dusk to start the evenings events! As Blight Busters 20th anniversary events surrounded the Temple we entertained passers by and the curious with glowing poi and fires show of hoops and staff and Strings of Fire performed soulful violin and dancing fire! It was a heart warming to see all the friendships built between the members of the Brightmoor and Michigan Burning Man communities over the last two years gather and celebrate on that beautiful and warm midsummer solstice evening!
~doxie
(danielle kaltz)

And for more news:

http://www.readthespirit.com/explore/2008/06/194-we-just-hav.html

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/LIFESTYLE/806190395

photos: Fuzzytek Photography LLC - All Rights Reserved

-affinity

The Detroit Dream Project Dedication

IMG_9165, originally uploaded by taymar_burning_Man.

It was quite an event when the Temple of the American Dream was dedicated.

There was a beautiful wedding earlier in the day with live music, and then in the evening when they lit the Temple there was fire spinning and other community events.

What a fabulous event, the culmination of collaboration between Charles “Chazz” Miller, David Best, SPARC, the Motor City Blight Busters, the Black Rock Arts Foundation, and the local community.

The Temple is a welcoming shelter for community gatherings, children’s arts camp, outdoor music and poetry readings, and neighborhood BBQ’s sheltered by more than 40 trees.

We congratulate all of the participants for manifesting their vision.

-affinity

photo: Taymar

The Detroit Dream Project - The Temple is up!

The Black Rock Arts Foundation, along with SPARC and Motor City Blight Busters, is helping to make the Detroit Dream Project a reality. The structural work for the Temple is complete but there’s decorative work and some landscaping that will be completed this coming weekend.

The Detroit Dream Project is a collaborative effort to build a community art space in Detroit’s Brightmoor neighborhood. The central structure will be a sculptural pavilion known as the Temple of the American Dream, designed by David Best, Chazz Miller and the community.
The Temple is designed to be a welcoming shelter for community gatherings, children’s arts camp, outdoor music and poetry readings, and neighborhood BBQ’s sheltered by brand new trees. The Detroit Dream Project intends to jumpstart the revitalization of this historic section of the city through interactive art. A driving goal is to involve the community and local artists spreading the message that all people can participate and create together.

The photo includes David Best working with several volunteers.

To see additional photos of the project: Detroit Dream Project flickr Group

-affinity

Sketch: David Best
photo: Fuzzytek

photos: Lea