vanessa.hooray

Geometry

2010-08-12T18:10:00.001-07:00

geometry, originally uploaded by vanessamiller.

Sometimes life just makes sense.

tomorrow!!!!

2010-08-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Model D http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/detroitpsk081010.aspx ahead of time for getting me into the PSFK Salon at the DIA tomorrow! http://www.psfk.com/

I look forward to hearing Jerry from Loveland http://makeloveland.com/ speak on a panel, as well as meet other great thinkers and movers!

and because i can't post with out leaving a photo...

here is a sneak peak of the interiors i shot for the Woodbridge pub!

long time no see...

2010-08-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
No point in giving the listed explanation why i haven't been posting. I'm here. i've been working hard...
a quick run down of this summer...

I have also been managing thebeehiveproject.com

visiti visit!

Oh boy are you ready

2010-05-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Because I am. The Things I am workinon right now are massive. the biggest projects i have ever worked on. get ready for a blitz in blogging. here we go round one.

10 years ago I was a 15 year old dancing in Hart Plaza as Ritchie Hawtin Blew my mind closing the first year of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival. I have attended every year since...we sure have been through alot together... 2006 was the first year I was officially assigned to photograph the festival..... working for Real Detroit weekly (http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/) at the time.... i dug my feet into the electronic party scene and followed every twist and turn the beat took me on. See my set from the fest here!http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller/sets/72157594179783774/

by some twist of fate... richie hawtin headline that year too.

I also did a shoot with Bocci Hair Salon team this weeked... my favorite raw image so far.

the big slow down

2010-04-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

I have written this over and over. how to catch up. Where do i begin.

I have been writing this blog for about a year and a half. I started with a clear vision, to shed light and photographs of daily life in Detroit. I have searched tirelessly for the positive while acknowledging the bad. Here i am at a cross roads in every possible avenue of my life including this blog.

I have not posted because the past month and a half held some very unfortunate circumstances. I am still learning how to live and accept the things that have happened, my friends and family have been the key getting through this. Them along with the wonderful hands of time; healing bones and putting things back into their places.
I am unsure where tomorrow may take me... i am unsure what photographs i may make... I am making plans to move forward while listening to my heart and body.

I need to stop feeling bad for myself so that i can start doing good for other people.

Living in a city without mass transit woes

2010-02-25T18:56:00.001-08:00

My trusty automobeast seems to have caught a cold, whether it is the freezing temperature or she is growing weary in her old age it makes me realize the true implications of living in a city without a functioning network of public transit. My bike can take me far but mass rapid transit would put my mind at ease.

In other news;
Art things.

Women : A celebration of Art and Culture from philip southern on Vimeo.

The womens event we held at the crofoot was a smashing sucess. We exceeded all of our goals! We built a network of professional relationships with amazing women and were able to make a donation to the Michigan Womens Foundation http://www.miwf.org/ ! See this movie I created along with Katie Barkel (Kate Mcqueen), Lauren David and Amy Kaherl

Love & Bummers & Women's Stats Loop from KATE McQUEEN on Vimeo.

We recieved an incredible amount of press for the event and the definite highlight of the evening was at midnight when Jessica Hernandez performed!

Jessica Hernandez singing during Women : A celebration of Art and Culture. from philip southern on Vimeo.

here are some other photo galleries and articles

http://detroit.metromix.com/events/photogallery/women-a-celebration-of/1773128/photo/1773359
http://detroit.aiga.org/events/2010/02/39793289
http://www.tv20detroit.com/news/local/83894477.html
http://detroit.metromix.com/music/article/women-a-celebration-of/1757080/content
http://michiganwomensforum.blogspot.com/2010/01/women-celebration-of-art-culture.html

http://www.metrotimes.com/calendar/event.asp?whatid=134132
http://thecrofoot.com/blog/2010/02/09/women-a-celebration-of-art-culture-in-the-crofoot-2-13-10/
http://www.wba-oakland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4
http://www.clickondetroit.com/family/22523785/detail.html
http://www.metromodemedia.com/filterd/womenatwork2010.aspx

Phew, the recovery from this amazing event had to be rushed because i will be included in 2 more shows... on in March at the Detroit Artists Market and on in April in Rochester!

I was able to get to some photos that have been on the back burner however.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller/4363833403/sizes/s/
the get up kids, Majestic Theater, October

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller/4363832643/sizes/s/
the hub bike sprints

detroit on a snow day

Phreddy whischusen

that is it for now. look up to the future... i will spend the first week in march on a much desired and needed vacation but will be interviewed on NPR tomorrow... and showing and shooting lots and lots when i get back!

manic friday

2010-02-05T12:21:00.001-08:00

if there is a theme with which i am Particularly concerned, it is the contemporary failure of love. I don't mean romantic love or sexual passion, but the love which is the specific and particular recognition of one Human being by another- the response by eye and voice and touch of two solitudes. the democracy of universal vulnerability.
- Isabella Gardner

Blogging feels like a step forward even though i am caught in the same routines... or i feel that way... still each day is different. Each day lately has been a mess of a hundred new challenges.... i have to deal with all of these while improving on the routine... no wonder i have been feeling a bit manic.

manic pixels. the problems caused by resampling.

with the help of a few beautiful best friends... an amazing house and the ever talented Make-up and hair of Erica Dubroy we shot these images

on top of that a few of my friends are getting married so i made this for their save the dates! Congrats Jamie and Holly!

If you are looking for something to do tonight, my neighbors, Blank Artists are turning 5!!!!!! Bring your party pants and dancing shoes... http://www.blankartists.com/

I should be doing yoga above Mexican Town Bakery tommorow morn and enjoying Soup on sunday... a community dinner getting started to fund local creative grants.
if you need more infor about any of these things please feel free to e-mail me. Vanessa.m@mac.com
Happy Friday!

it has been a month....

2010-02-03T21:08:00.000-08:00

wow alot has happened.....

http://www.thecaid.org/detroit_lives.html
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2010/01/best_of_metro_times_calendar_d.html

Still from a film i am working on with the help of the very awesome Katie Barkel, Amy Kaherl and Lauren david. It will be shown at the Women event at the Crofoot in Pontiac on Feb 13th.

when i don't blog for awhile i get all clogged up like a hose... i don't want to subject you to a rant so i will try to keep this short....

Over the past month the busy buss has continued to truck along.... less time spent shooting then doing; having meetings... prepping images, doing comercial work and wrapping my head around some personal issues and upcoming projects.

But i have taken some images...

To me, she looks like she belongs in a renaissance painting done by one of the great masters. I really love it. Hard to believe she is only 22... you can tell she is an old soul. Jessica Hernandez Check out her music here ---> http://www.myspace.com/jhernandezmusick

Lastly I would like to give a shout out to the Icehouse Project. After seeing my "Make it Happen" portrait series at the Detroit Lives Exhibition they ran some of my stuff on thier blog. see what they ran here here
http://icehousedetroit.blogspot.com/2010/01/while-i-feel-that-terminology-saving.html

I have to return the favor (not that they need it). Their project has been receiving incredible amounts of international press and was on the cover of the Detroit Free Press. If i can get out of work early enough ever i have been promised a sneak peek and i will be requesting how they feel about the negative wrap out of town artists and journalists have been receiving.
high five guys good job!
PHOTO BY TOM STOYE http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1038032089
""

And I know I should go but I will probably stay

2010-01-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

The holidays though chaotic, beautiful and everything in-between, crystalized in the form of 10 of my friends huddled under blankets in my living room listening the song "Polar Opposites" by Modest mouse.

"Polar opposites don't push away
It's the same on the weekends as the rest of the days
And I know I should go but I will probably stay
And that's all you can do about some things"

The break from my 9-5 went by far too quickly, but every moment of the past few weeks have been punctuated by something great, or terrible. This roller-coaster we ride has me strapped in on full speed into the future. One I cannot predict but have extremely high hopes for.

From funerals, to late night celebrations, children opening gifts and more heart warming then i have ever felt... i might as well start where i wanted to... where i left off.

I believe fully we are living in a critical time of change for our country and our city. I am reminded almost every day the struggles we are fighting will bring about a better tomorrow. I am inspired by the personalities around me.. their strength gives me the power to keep moving and pushing and stretching the boundaries of what i feel is possible.
The recent projects and conversations i have taken on are dealing with some very controversial and important issues upfront.

I can write explanations for everything but the only thing i will ever stand by or believe in are the photos, documented proof that these amazing things have and are happening.

I shot this photo in reaction to how i have been feeling about current womens issues.... Things that i thought were normal for me to deal with, i am realizing are more the product of societies expectations and preconceived notions of the female. Working on a project with the Michigan Womens FOundation and the Crofoot in Pontiac... i sat with 10 women discussing the things that had shapped our lives and had the revelation that i am not alone in these struggles. Feeling like you need to excel, never show emotion for fear of appearing weak, closing off other women, and not feeling safe walking around my nieghboorhood. I'm now interessted in delving into these ideas.. discecting what they mean to me... this is a rather vulgar image of a women more interested in drinking glass then doing the dishes....

This is a self portrait feeling frustrated about the same things....

and another

That being said i was privileged to be one of the few to watch singer Jessica Hernandez Play on a bridge covered in snow and christmas lights on the Cranbrook Campus. Her beautiful voice warmed up the area which was surrounded by woods and quacking geese.

lauren watching

On a warmer note, Cass Collective celebrated it's 25th happening. The monthly event has been carrying on for the past years under the leadership of muscians Andrew Davis and Andrew Beer. Many local performers have entertained in the corner of Cass Cafe. Currently Cass Collective happens every last sunday of the month. 8pm-2 am it is a place where i often meet friends like family... have celebrated 2 birthdays (24 and 25). Warming hugs, wild dance parties, cold drinks, cosy hearts.
Happy 25 Cass Collective!

Amy kahrl made an installation asking what issues are most important to detroiters?.... i sense another project in the works...

thats it for now. more to come.

Au Champs-Élysées

2009-12-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

Something about the cold. It makes everything more difficult...It makes warm places and people so much more inviting. Walking around Noel Night all of my joints felt stiff (could have been because of the layers or the heels on my boots) All it took was a little of Detroits magic to ease the chill force me to clasp my frigid fingers around my camera.
After grabbing dinner (a delicious bbq veggie pizza) from Motor City Brewing Works i darted across the lot into two of my favorite stores, Urban Bureau and City Bird. I once walked in with a friend after a cold bike ride and he commented that a store like that is where you buy presents for a girl like me! It is so true. Both are filled to the brim with urban inspired and often locally made merchandise, from sleek home ware to kitschy cards. I purchased a wedding card from urban once that i liked so much i forced the couple to open it at thier reception (Disclaimer: a gallon of cheap vodka may have been involved in this decision). City Bird the newer of the two is owned by some of my friends, Andy and Emily Linn. Thier space is part gallery/vintage clothing store/boutique. I hope santa knows what items i have my eyes on... if not i will be making a trip back.

As i ducked out of the crowded stores i was, to my amazement. bombarded by a marching band... like real live musicians complete with flag girls and high stepping drum majors! They played in front of Traffic Jam/Snug for about 10 minutes before i followed them (way better then an ipod on a walk) towards Wayne State where we unfortunately parted ways. We snagged some free coffee on the street, it was then i located the zillionaire bike crew who had just watched scientists doing experiments. I could spend years describing all the cool stuff i saw on noel night let me leave it at this, if you missed it this year, you will not next. I strolled through old time dance parties, The Museum of Anthropology (Corktown Workers Row House exhibit), Detroit Public Library, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Science Center, Scarab Club and back again to my cosy home in Woodbridge. However, the night was young with no end in sight. Music reverberated on my humble block people were spilling out of the now green shack on the corner as some punk band played, huddled around whisky drinks and shuffled shoulder to shoulder at the pub, and gyrated frantically to the bands playing at the scrummage house. Feeling like the only place in the world, my phone blew up until the wee hours of the morn about parties happening all the way on the south side of the neighborhood. If you have never experienced Detroit like this you have not experienced it at all.

Not to mention the annual pancake breakfast i had attended that morning. In one of the more stunning victorian homes in central Woodbridge neighbors are treated to breakfast delights including steaming coffee and wonderful conversation about revitalization, hope, and recollecting memories. Each visitor writes their name and the number of years they have lived here. Connecting newbies to the quarter century club inviting discussion about tactics for surviving here (not that it is incredibly difficult, just trying at times).

It is not until i write it all down like this, that i realize how busy i really have been. I spent wednesday in the suburbs doing a shoot with RMS studios and Vintage King, then later that night discussing other shoots with the incredibly talented Stylist Erica Dubroy. Thursday i met with a program director for the Michigan Womens Foundation to discuss our partnership on an upcoming project and spent the entire evening discussing the changing role and reality for women all over the world. I was sick as a dog on friday until i attended a committee meeting for said event, and then Pancake breakfast, Noel night, a shoot on sunday followed by vegan potluck dinner. Oh me oh my. Where does the time go. okie i need to finish this up so i can edit photos and try to alleviate this recent batch of insomnia.

If this sounds like an advertisement for woodbridge i hope not. I've got sad songs stuck in my head and a bad taste in my mouth. sometimes it's better to think about good times then the harder ones.

also: any female artists. submitt to this!!!!

hooray snow.

2009-12-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

Winter is on my doorstep. My roommate and i put plastic on our windows to try to keep the heating costs down. The first snow flurries are expected tonight... perfect timing for Detroits Noel Night (http://detroitmidtown.com/05/noelnight.php?msub=77), the only time when snow is nice... the past few years i remember slipping and sliding down woodward, ducking into establishments to warm my cheeks, building hearts at the Detroit Science Museum and slow dancing at Cass Cafe. Trudging around in snow boots, white washing friends, watching polish and Indian dancers at the International Institute. Noel night is great. It's Dally in the Alley during the winter, with the support of all of Detroits' cultural institutions. My friends and all of their family usually come. So you should too.

On another note, with winter setting in, this economy thing is starting to whittle away at my foundations... the holidays and insurance premiums... the frustration that has been building up, the feeling that your efforts are useless... it's time to be proactive and take some responsibility for ourselves. Cheers to things getting better. Finding strength within ourselves and the arms of others. if we stick together we will come out on top.

One last thing, why the hooray? I was asked the other day why Vanessahooray, i should have some of my clients and editors answer this question... i approach every assignment with a positive attitude, so often in correspondence i would say "hooray, this is going to be awesome", or "Hooray, i'm so pumped you liked them". People, especially in the electronic music scene... some only knew me as hooray. So Hooray for being a Hooray. It's a pretty great thing to be.
a href="http://twitpic.com/q4lev" title="Share photos on twitter with Twitpic">

Detroit, New Frontier

2009-11-02T23:04:00.001-08:00

Detroit, New Frontier

Posted using ShareThis

sleepless in detroit

2009-11-02T23:03:00.001-08:00

for some reason i had a flashback to doogie howser right now.... hmmm... too bad my screen isn't blue, and i don't have prodigy, or a doctorate... yet. anyways. i have been relaxing the past few weeks and had some amazing opportunities come my way. a few are still in the planning stages so stay tuned for them... however i was very fortunate to be included in a photo essay about Detroit as the new frontier by a website called Shareable. I was refereed by a good friend and amazing organizer Mike Medow. Jeremy Smith helped to pull it all together and Aaron M. Renn provided words. Thanks guys!

check out the whole thing here... http://shareable.net/blog/detroit-new-frontier

also posted some new pics on flickr www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller

I've done everything but go for a long bike ride to fall asleep, my typos are happening more frequently, and i think it may be time to fall into the covers and try again. have a good night folks. promise i will be back sooner then later with exciting new plans!

Round up!

2009-10-14T09:24:00.001-07:00

It has been a very insane few months here in Detroit. Probably the busiest time of my whole life, many good things have happened and i feel privileged to live this life. The most concerning issues have been Michigan cutting funding to students, and the growing distaste for out of town documenters and journalists... for self preservation i have stayed out of the debate. However, the argument is very valid. Talk about stimulating the local economy, these media outlets should be utilizing the people who live and work here. The amount of surface coverage of the city of Detroit, feels exploitative to many locals... to tell a uniquely Detroit story, they are looking in the wrong places.

The Detroit story, only as a notch in ones' belt makes us no more important then a one night stand. This is becoming more and more apparent as carbon copy stories of decay, and failure are reaching news stands. Even the stories of hope are being recycled... there is even now a drinking game about it... go here to play, http://dyspathy.com/?page_id=1106 i can promise it is a good time.

Aside from that we have accomplished much in this marathon, the shows started with the Post-apolptic Motor City at 323 East in royal oak curated by famed local art critic Robert DeValle

the outside of the gallery was transformed by cass corridor and international artist chris turner

i contributed this image of a tired worker at Lafeyette Coney Island

Up next was the second installation of the Analog Social Experiment at Dally in the Alley, the best festival in the mid-west, took place inbetween the apartment buildings of Cass Corridor, the Diverse festival drew over 8000 attendees, 30 bands and many vendors. People were dancing in the streets from 10 am untill about 2 am, and Recycle Detroit (ran by friend Sarah Kubick with the help of the recyclowns) turned 85% of the trash into gold.

The installation was a great success and many of the visitors contributed, creating a visual record of the event.

people dancing in the street

In the between we did some exploring

ate some delicious vegan brunch

had some labor day bbq's in woodbridge

saw the opening of the Taubmen center part of the ford educational system and College for Creative Studies. Promising 90 percent of freshman will graduate, and 90 percent will continue onto higher education (the graduation rate of freshman in Detroit Public Schools is 21 percent). CCS Design and Graduate programs, along with 300 residents are also housed in the building, which was General Motors old Headquarters.

as that renovated structure was re-opened, Detroit City Officials tore down the classic and beautiful Lafayette Building.

-see more photos of the inside here http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller/sets/72157604132550295/

Between all of that... I shot a few Weddings, a few Oil Fires and began teaching a class at CCS.

Had a show at the Detroit League of Photographers studio in the Russell Industrial Center, as part of the Detroit Art now Weekend.... and am finally wrapping everything up with a custom Skate Deck show in Philadelphia. The Proceeds from the show will go to benefit the non-profit stay true... it is a group of internationally renowned artists, who will descend on love park for an evening of genuine ruckus. FInd out more about the event here----> http://awwsweet.blogspot.com/2009/09/good-wood-x-stay-true-x-philly.html

this is one of the test images for my deck.

so thats about it. going to relax for a little while now. edit months of backed up images. Pack for philly. Hopefully i will see you there. Over an out.

-vanezzy

the danger of the single story

2009-10-09T09:17:00.001-07:00

This is sloppy, fast, but i feel powerful.

After watching the Ted Talk Titled, The danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, her message can be applied to the city of Detroit. She crystalized an idea and message that i have been grappling at for some time now. I would like to call out the journalists who have entrenched themselves in the home that Time Magazine purchased this summer and ask them to look beyond the mayors office and national headlines for thier topics of interest. http://detroit.blogs.time.com/ What they have been assigned to do will have serious effects to the image of city, and if they do not do it well, the people who live here will be the ones to suffer.

Adichie says "The media can create a single story

show a people as one thing, only one thing over and over again.. and that is what they become."

I would also like to implore that Time magazine and any other media establishments recognize, and levy the talents of the documenters, journalists, and photographers that have been living and working to show an honest and raw portrait of life in this very misunderstood place, and have been doing so long before the fall of our auto companies became an international dilemma. Long before the the decay, urban prairies, independent venues, and local gardens became tourist destinations.

Once again Adichie says " It is impossible to talk about the single story without talking about power... to be greater then another... stories are defined by power, when, how, by who and how many stories are told. power is not the abality to just tell the story single of a person, but to make it the definative story.

The single story creates sterotypes... which are incomplete.

The single story robs people of dignity"

See her complete talk here...

sometimes you have to admire

2009-09-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

wedding photo by Ryan Southen

there is something about some photographs... that you cannot put a finger on and could never replicate. it is a mood of the light, the moment, when everything was perfect, the most critical snap of the shutter and you know the instant you hear it. That sound is what we live for, and in those moments we should be alive. with every fiber of our bodies experiencing and savoring something truly incredible before us. whatever that may be.

We should learn to recognize and appreciate these moments of our lives everyday.

This photograph was taken by Ryan Southen http://www.flickr.com/photos/southen.... and i think it is breathtaking... fit best with what i wanted to say. Ryan is a very talented Wedding, Portrait, Architecture... really anything goes photographer. and a stand up gentleman. just in case you were wondering.

please don't hate me

2009-08-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

So..... i'm am kicking rocks with my head down for a sec... avoiding eye-contact with everyone i have ever gone to school with.... anyone who went to art school.... quite alot of people. I was asked my metro times to interview for an article on avoiding art school cliché's. This is awesome! However answering these questions and not sounding like a complete asshole, is/was very difficult.

I tried to be honest, admitting the fact that myself and my work at times is the ultimate cliche... i guess the only thing i really tried to get across, is the fact that whatever you do, whatever kind of art you may make... if you have a valid and strong point to it, you have surpassed the cliche. What is left that is original in our visually soaked culture, your mind, your opinions, your ideas. That statement in itself can seem like some art school induced bullshit, but i believe it to be most true.

I spent years photographing the abandoned buildings in detroit because i was bored, i liked it, i thought it looked cool. At one point i had to lock myself in a room covered in hundreds of my images and decide why i was actually doing this. I ripped my hair out, stomped around the room, until i realized it was because i was curious and i wanted to learn how to use images to make a positive impact. It's a road i have still been walking down, but i have learned more about humanity and myself, then most people do in a lifetime.

Oh gosh i hope vice magazine doesn't hate me... i am in love with thier investigative reporting, and if i could make photographs like Terry Richardson, Ryan Mcguinly, or Dash Snow (rip),step into thier shoes for even one day, i would probably mess myself. I have voiced my recent addiction with shooting into the sun.... ugh. it is happening it is coming. no more excuses. i stare at images like theirs all day on ffffound.com... jeeze louise.

anyways, it is what is is. i'm excited for the opportunity, and the beautiful photo taken by my chicago friend Carey Primeau http://www.flickr.com/photos/careyprimeau from in my studio at russell

also i will be showing new work in a group show at the 323 East Gallery in Royal Oak on friday.

Stay tuned for more. should be an interesting week. hope i don't get any banana peals thrown at me.

bike vs. truck

2009-08-11T07:09:00.001-07:00

I try not to make my blog personal. but this is a very personal story of my recent bike vs. truck collision. I apologize ahead of time, but people keep asking what happened and reading other blogs like this has made me feel a little better about what I am going through. Hopefully you never experience it, but if you do or have maybe you can relate. Sorry this came out a little more whiny then i had hoped.... i really am very lucky that this is all that happened to me.

It was Tuesday evening and I was taking a quick ride over to my friends place. He just moved into a loft above Planned Parenthood on cass (we have been making fun of him ever since. a single dude living up there, I’m sure you can imagine the rest). Anyways, it's about a mile from my house, all was smooth until a guy in a truck didn’t look before he made a left from cass onto prentis, the street I happened to be crossing. It's one of those moments where you are thinking, no way this is happening, oh shit it is, and your body reacts naturally to the upcoming events. Fingers pulled the brakes, mind says no time, and my arms pulled me to the right to avoid a head on "mowing over". From what I can remember (I black out in times of serious trauma to my body) my left side collided with the truck and next thing I knew I was screaming at the driver to back up because he was on top of my bike. The following moments are only flashes; body still in one piece, bike in unknown condition, bandanna on the ground... strangers walking over to see if I was ok... and me texting my boyfriend that I had been hit by a car.
The driver got out immediately apologizing and asking if I was ok... I didn't really know to be honest.. Looked down saw the scrapes and bruises, right knee swelling... but everything still worked so the only answer I could rationally give was yes I am fine. The guy who hit me was nice.... the strangers called the police, retrieved my bandanna and carried my bike to the sidewalk for me.... I kind of stood around in awe of what actually happened... boyfriend showed up worked on my bike, police came by I spoke to them... I didn't want to make a report and get the kid who hit me in trouble... I only knew a few things; boyfriend had my bike in some what working order and my joints were all still bending.... after exchanging information with the driver and police I walked away, I walked my bike to my original destination. I guess I was in shock.
Upon arrival I downed some ibuprofen, was introduced to the folks I was supposed to be meeting and took a seat on a couch. Sitting down I started to sink more and more into it.... my muscles began to freeze up, and my boyfriend started giving me worried looks, as I told the internets what had happened, my interior, my guts as I explained it felt like they had fallen into a pile that were then put into a vice grip. We decided we were either going to the hospital or home, and I walked most of the way, unsure of what to do, feeling like someone had punched me 1000 times in the stomach and then gone after my knee with a baseball bat. We got home and aj (the boyfriend) began strapping ice packs to my extremities as I laid perfectly still to avoid moving at all, avoiding as much pain as possible.

This really is a sob story... I’m sorry; I will get to the positives.

So the first night I couldn't sleep... aj stayed up with me at 4 in the morn, I felt afraid that I could have died in the accident, and was still in enough pain that I felt I could at any moment... I drifted to sleep at one point and woke at 8 am decided it was time to go to the hospital. My mom took me to Harper, part of the Detroit Medical Center, they swooped me right up. I got to wear one of those awesome gowns, and slippy socks. They checked me over; I was x-rayed, fed and filled with painkillers. Probably one of the best hospital visits I have ever had. I was in and out, assured all of my pain was from bruising and swelling, and that I would be feeling it for a while.
Well I’m not a fan of painkillers... numbing the pain doesn't fix anything, so I headed out to my life-long Chiropractor and they began to put my twisted vertebrae back into place. (During this trip I also picked up my 5d Mark II, this will come up soon. I've still been too sore to use it properly)
This is the part where I give my laundry list of injuries:
Bruises cover the left side of my body
Hips, legs, shoulder move like rusty bolts
Right knee seems perpetually swollen
Whiplash and several misplaced vertebrae mid-back

Most of the pain has been inside my body.. the bruises have really been the least of it... but they continue up my thigh onto my arm, and my swollen and bruised right leg.

About 4 days after the accident I had managed to kick the vicoden to the curb, but was still needed ibuprofen to feel ok. I missed a few days of work, any position other then laying down legs outstretched was unthinkable (for 8 hours at least). Caught up on shark week, continued work on the star wars series. Saturday was the first day I got back on the bicycle. I love riding in the rain... it makes me feel particularly alive, plus no feeling compares to the drying off and warming up.
Unfortunately, I also took my bike to the shop for an accident report. Turns out, the frame I have restored and customized for the past 3 years, had taken it's last ride. I put over 1500 miles on her, solidified life-long friendships, and had endless adventures on my Raleigh. When I first pulled her out of a pile, kotter pin cranks dangling off, people scoffed at me, I made the list of work she needed and called her the bike of love. The steal frame has beautiful lugs, something I just couldn't look past and I poured my heart into her.

My bike that was totaled.

In the accident her fork was bent beyond repair and the entire frame was twisted to the left. All in all I feel very fortunate to have walked away from an accident that totaled my steal frame. I have learned about so many other terrible accidents, all of my injuries and bruises should fade, kinda makes me think this blog post is silly.

It's been a week now. Finally finishing this epic blog, sitting on my futon with my roommate watching "catch me if you can". It has been the warmest and rainiest days of the summer and my knee feels extra achy tonight. However I am getting better, shopping for a new bike (looking at the Kilo TT, which I will then customize), feeling good feeling great. This whole experience is a reminder of the wonderful people and community i am surrounded by. Many, many thanks for all of the well wishes. Ready to take on the world again. Lets hang out soon. Miss you guys.

BTW: I am looking for a 47 and 50 mm track bike i could stand over to see what size works best.

rejek shun

2009-07-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Above Flick is Andrew Davis, former sound engineer of the white room studios, he had a few to many on the 4th of july and ended up like this in the yard of the grey shack, across the street from the Woodbridge pub. We Barrel rolled over there until we hopped on the bikes and rode to tour detroit with special guest (and former Detroiter) Mike Servito, all the way from NYC. The party above Eph McNallys on woodward was hotter then a sauna, and quickly became a scantly clad, gyrating crowd. I can't tell you when i left but the sun was rising as i rode down commonwealth towards home.

I'm trying to write a blog so i can feel better about my writing.

I have been rejected alot lately. dont feel confident with my writing or photos. gotta make more, experience more, so i can fall in love and believe in what i am doing again.

Upcoming events.
Meeting with the incredible Detroit Documentarian Bill Rahuser
Photographing the Allied Media Conference (Official Photographer)
Work in a Post-Apocalyptic city show at 323 East, curated by Robert Devalle
Good Wood-Philly
Analog Social Experiment v2.0 at Dally in the Alley
Planning Events With Detroit Lives! Phillip!

some more studio work

by amy hubbarth

2009-06-04T12:55:00.001-07:00

250, originally uploaded by treegirl12.

do not know why i look terrified.. but this is me shooting the detroit electronic music festival. whoop thanks pretty lady!

new directions

2009-04-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

taking things in a new direction

Dear blog-o-sphere,
It's been too long, it really has. The last conversations we had, were not well. It has been a long hard winter, but spring has shown her face, despite the still biting cold and rain on my window, she is here.... i guess she is being timid, as most of us are after a nap.
Some people fall in love in the spring, i kick my own ass into over drive. In the Past month i have executed a 3 day shoot of our bike shop, over 25 formal portraits of the movers and shakers in detroit, and traveled over 1000 miles to shoot another 8 gigs of wedding and travels in the east. (Please note i have had some good assistance, and people are getting excited about my projects).
My body is tired and sore, my mind is aflame, i hope that as winter eases her grasp, i can awake from hibernation... and continue to deliver news from the streets of this wonderful city.

much love
-v

young at heart

2009-04-21T10:46:00.001-07:00

young at heart, originally uploaded by s o u t h e n.

this was taken on a recent trip out to the east coast coast, i was lucky to be invited by two very talented photographers, bobby alcott and ryan southen. even luckier that ryan caught this image of me being an uber nerd, on the turnpike somewhere in jersey. drawlin pictures to keep my mind busy from missing my detroit. Although, i think i left a piece of my heart in philly, i can not wait to go back.

no more whining

2009-02-16T08:08:00.001-08:00

for gosh sakes. get it together. okie.

message to myself. i'll give more of a real.. not sappy update after work.

yet again

2009-02-15T16:59:00.001-08:00

church mouth, originally uploaded by jeremydamaske.

thats me in the middle of an abandoned church on valentines day.

i havn't posted for a long time.

i'm pretty sure no one reads this right now which is ok.

i've been livin my life. trying in vain as usual to live it right. made some things happen. inspired several people to do things that would change the world but somehow i can't keep my own life together. i can help others with theirs but then mine crumbles again.

i guess thats the breaks. i had several new years resolutions. so far none of them have lasted. i am misrible at watching out for my own well being. a sucker for guilty pleasures.. i guess it is what inspires me though...

i havn't written for weeks. but the second someone fucks up in my life, i can't stop.

anyways here is the meat, yes i said meat, of the problem. if i had a dollar for every boy who has promised to build me a website. i would be a very well-off lady. i need to learn it on my own, but i would rather be photographing something or riding a bike then staring at a computer. so vanessahooray.com version 85 million point oh, has been pulled again.

i never had real hopes of it happening, you can only do that so many times. but. thats what it is. yep, i'm mopey. want to take some awful photographs and break bottles.

boys and girls.... whoever thought of that should be kicked in the soul.

so sick of this.

got to keep making it happen.

belle isle ice

2009-01-26T09:07:00.001-08:00

The Man on the Silver Mountain, originally uploaded by country_boy_shane.

recaperooski

2008-12-14T23:08:00.000-08:00

a long stressful weekend in the d. worries invaded everyones brains as we were hit with a blow from the senate on thursday night. i retreated to my favorite things, good friends. this is how we kept smiles on our mugs.

threw things out of windows.

my friends new pup

the ice got the best of us

mr. zach norton of child bite bundled up

defecation

2008-12-09T22:28:00.000-08:00

from atop the wurlitzer, summer 2008

blogging about detroit has been pretty exhausting lately. i'm watching my friends, family, and co-workers lives crumple around me and doing my best to hold mine together. I think i may know solutions but they will take time and i feel insensitive for offering them.

On this cold rainy day the need for change has never seemed so apparent. I was confronted head on with several victims (who happen to be very dear friends) of the economic crisis and had to bear witness of their tears. I was left speechless, i have no words to comfort them, for all the hope inside of me i cannot see a clear path to a brighter future. I can only offer hugs and support.

One of them pleaded with me to show the dirt, the gritty side.... to earn support in washington for the bailouts. So here is a small laundry list of not so positive experiences i've personally had whilst living and loving here in Detroit.

-Mugged, spring 08
-car broken into, 3 times
-house attempted break-in, once
-bike stolen, once
-witnessed homeless folks using intravenous drugs, a few times
-human defecation on the street, once
-witnessed persons having sexual intercourse on the street, once
-violently confronted by homeless, a few times
-threatened violence, a few times
-witnessed auto theft and other crimes, alot of times (stopped a few)
-arson fires, a few
-death, no confirmed number
-threatened by wild dogs, several times
-witnessed violence against bicycle rider, once

oh gosh this list is depressing, It's also true.
here is my grittiest story. one that resonated with me for awhile.

On a warm friday evening i found myself at Demongos, the local watering hole, some friends informed me the wurlitzer building (an abandoned building i had been itching to explore) was wide open. So after a few cranberry vodkas i agreed to adventure into the night. When i turned the corner down an alley to climb through the open door i saw a man relieving himself, number two. For some reason stumbling upon another human being shitting in an alley is one of the most disturbing experiences of my life. These streets bleed.

A friend and I were mugged by a group of 13-17 year old kids, the cops never came.

thats all for now.

taken inside the wurlitzer

sick

2008-12-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

I've been arguing for days about the validity of saving detroit. I have read a few articles that have come out in the past few days about the destitute situation we live in. They came from resources as wide as the new york times and a publication by the College for Creative Studies. I am sick so i will keep this short. Right now our way of life hangs in a balance, the basis of our (Detroit's) economy hinges on the decisions of a few law makers in washington, and the effects can and will be catastrophic. It is for this reason we are currently under extreme scrutiny; are we worth bailing out.

The lives of hundreads of thousands of people are at stake here. Not only in the Detroit Metropolitan area but across they globe. I have felt the atmosphere clinching up from my boss, my dad, my friends. Everyone is bracing for something horrible, something right before a holiday meant for rejoycing and spending. However, regardless of what happens we will walk away or stand up, hurt or not, life will still go on and we will make do. But the reasons you should care surround you. Your friends, family, anyone who has ever been touched by Detroit should care. If you've ever danced to our music, driven or rode in our cars, had your life saved by the research someone's family member made with automotive innovations, stopped at a stoplight. You should care. The world will not function the same without detroit. It cannot, economies do not collapse and leave the ones surrounding unscathed.

sickness is consuming me good night and good luck.

saving detroit

2008-12-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

the birds, taken on belle isle dec. 5 2008

There was an article published in 2005 titled "Reality vs. Perceptions: An Analysis of Crime and Safety in Downtown Detroit" It was prepared by The Michigan Metropolitan Information Center, and WSU. You can download your own copy, just google the above information.

The first line of the article in capital letters reads CRIME IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT IS MUCH LOWER THEN NATIONAL STATE AND METRO AVERAGES. To be exact the crime rate in downtown detroit is 26% below the national average. By now it should even be safer, from 2001 to 2004 the crime rate had dropped 22%.

The study also took into consideration the fluxation in population during the auto show and various other special events, estimating Detroit welcomes over 19 million visitors per year, and during those times the crime rate is still under 12/100,000 people.

I write about this because this weekend i was confronted with alot of ignorant negativity about Detroit. People aren't educated enough and their lack of understanding perpetuates the misconceptions that plague this city. This article is the perfect example of the reality of life here vs. the way people perceive Detroit to be. At what point will people let go of aged stero-types and aknoledge the peope here making a difference.

if i can change one persons opinion of detroit i have made a difference. if that person changes anothers, and then anothers it grows outwarldy, then i will have made an impact. i am one person but i am not the only that feels this way. thats the start, and by holding onto to old misconceptions and sterotypes, you are part of the problem. hopefully some of my work writings and efforts will have taught you otherwise. we have a long way to go but hope is here. it is in every lit window, storefront, on every corner and in our hearts. the rest of the world will wake up to that. i, and many other people believe in the power of the people in this city.

My friend Kevin also took on the same topic, though a little more poetic then mine. please read his blog Detroit Lives! http://fuckwishing.blogspot.com/

up all night

2008-12-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

sleep comes in waves. for most of us here in the d. New york never sleeps but Detroit never stops if you know where to go. Pretty sure Tyler (of the misinformants) and Brandon (belle isle academy) hadn't slept a wink when i took this photograph of them at a day party at the old miami. Brandon was screaming at tyler for me not to take this photograph. I could make an entire entry about this boy and his love for vamilla scented garbage bags. for now this is enough.

Detroit in the winter is an interesting place. It slows down people hibernate. People pack the bars huddling drinking Whikey for warmth. Motor City Brew was packed tonight for art Wednesdays. Big Whigs from the Dam, and GPAC, and CCS all attended Matt Hanna's opening. Reminds me of the song "hooray" by minus the bear.

its cold and snow's actually on the ground of this no-snow town.
and instead of cars, street's trafficing in sleds.
men become boys again.
and there's a war on the corner with no guaranteed winner.
its just a snow fall of snow balls, evidence of the winter.

And i can feel my hands again.
we're almost home.

it's 2 pm and our snow is falling still as our good city lay still.
and our friends are packed around some no smoking bar
warming on alcohol.
we step into the silence, yeah, AND we step slowly and quiet.

All boys come on and girls join up
just don't grow old.
All boys come on and girls join up
we're almost home

This is all we want:
Time to be with us,
a home to lift the cold.

Still cold, the snow's turning into rain and melting away and
All these days slip by us
so let's keep them.

All boys come on and girls join up
just don't grow old.
All boys come on and girls join up
we're almost home

Nain Rouge

2008-12-02T23:10:00.001-08:00

A ghost that haunts detroit. The Nain Rouge, apparently is a dwarf that appears coincidently with horrible things that happen in the D. Since Detroit was founded this little bugger has appeared before the catropshoic Detroit fire that destroyed most of the city, prompting Father Richard to coin Detroits motto "spearmus meliora resurget cineribus", we hope for better days, it shall rise from the ashes. as well as before the riots on 12th street in 1967. i hope i don't run into him. read further.

Apparently Detroit Beer Companies "rouge beer" is named after the creature.

"The Nain Rouge, French for "red dwarf" or "red gnome" is a mythical creature that originated in Normandy, France[1], as a type of lutin.
In the United States, it haunts Detroit, Michigan, United States and feared by its residents as "the harbinger of doom." (Skinner 1896) Its appearance is said to presage terrible events for the city. The Nain Rouge appears as a small child-like creature with red or black fur boots. It is also said to have "blazing red eyes and rotten teeth." (Skinner 1896)"
-stolen from the ever so trusty wikipedia

this is the only rouge i've seen in the city. it tried to kick my bum. this little jerk lives at Crow Manor, a collective located on trumbull just past grand river.

2008-12-01T22:33:00.000-08:00

i'm tired of blogging. it's making me question the things i really value in life. so, out of continued habit. and nothing better to do then, well, sleep or smoke cigarettes, neither of which i am particularly fond of. i'll return to something that seriously inspired me.

"every man, woman and child is creative. It is Impossible to wake up without inventing and re-inventing the world."

"creativity is a reason to continue with vigor in daily lives, Hope.

Pier Giorgo Di Cicco
poet laureate of toronto

When i was at the Creative CIties Summit a few months ago, i was sitting on top of the Detroit Chamber of commerce. Listening to violins and drinking wine, i snuck away to phone my dad and tell him i was 5 feet away from the poet laureate of toronto. The next evening at another wine drinking event (intellectuals are wino's) he sat down next to me, and began to tell me how much he loved detroit, how he could taste it. I think i blogged about this before.... i just thought it was noteworthy again.. it meant alot to me.

hopefully tomorrow i'll feel better about all of this. maybe it's the rain that has consumed the city. my skin is itching and my insides are aching to shoot. but with the darkness setting in well before i can escape my job, and freezing raindrops.. i am in a funk. i don't even know what to do in the winter. for the past 6ish years every weekend i shoot my bum off. and work on the flicks all week. ugh.

ugh.

2008-11-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

crazy holiday weeeekend. friends were in town from alabama.... we celebrated. much.
view the rest at www.flickr.com/phoos/vanessamiller

lots and lots of music and rowdying. and not back to your regularly scheduled programing.

i watched fordireifesake and the weakend and wafflehouse play thier last/reunion shows.
went to americas best party. funk night at the russell industrial center...

also saw kids perform at the cave space

i think i need a break from blogging. or inspiration or something.

tanksgiving!

2008-11-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

happy tanksgiving <--- not a typo. I'm stuffed i hope you are too. internet connection will be working again at my home tomorrow. so i'll be back up and running. giving you the sickest weekend preview known to history.

Blank Artists

2008-11-24T20:55:00.001-08:00

Another day another dollar. I was sent something very awesome today, it made my cheeks hurt from smiling. check it out. By Aj Manoulian!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=10015100
http://www.myspace.com/propmod
So in funnier news this blog for the past few months has been brought to you by the Blank Artists House and, well Chad from Proper Modulation. My nieghboors two doors down. The entire Merek block seemed to be stealing internet from them and upon the now locked connection... well, this blog is dedicated to them. For their generous service.

The talented troop of Dj's and party promoters have been movin' the whole world, keeping it real calling detroit thier home.

Credit: Rob Huebel

thrown across tables

2008-11-23T20:07:00.000-08:00

Thurday- whiskey appreciation at the woodbridge pub
friday- Scrummage benifit, rooftops, and late night bankle action.
saturday- Tricks skids competiton and crashing a vivios benifit
sunday- DIA, people watching, Cranksgiving, alley catting and cass collectiving
blur.

time for the montage.

the stoop

2008-11-19T16:00:00.001-08:00

Previously in the blog i have reveled about the quiet of my new nieghboorhood (the other end of Woodbridge) but the other evening on my balcony, i kinda missed the action of the old house.

pictured here---->

It's located right on Trumbull, almost at Grand River, I lived there for a year with 3 friends.

One night my roommate and I were sitting on our stoop; the best stoop ever, drinking before a bike ride and a woman coming out of our neighbors house (the same front door as ours) got into her car. Immediately after pulling out of her spot another car going 45mph on Trumbull side swiped her, sending the two auto's into a third parked across the street. Everyone in the area ran out of their apartments screaming, while Vince and I sat perplexed to have seen such a thing. I grabbed some of the younger kids to calm them down. We called the cops, and they arrested the woman from my house for a DUI. All in a good Friday evening, sitting on the stoop.

whelmed

2008-11-18T22:15:00.001-08:00

i"m too overwhelmed with thoughts right now. this image is of the empty lots in the MOTOR city. on the eve of a major automotive bailout. one has to wonder, where our country would stand if we had invested in alternative fuel sources, public and alternative transportation, and also fell out of our love for constant sprawl. Life would be much different.

OH B*TCH MUNNY!!!!

2008-11-17T21:33:00.000-08:00

another night where i have a few too many things to talk about. Luckily one thing stands above the rest... We now have another thing to be proud of our very own FUNK NIGHT was voted the Number One Party in America by paper magazine!!!!!!!

The boys just got home from the ceremony in New York and i am lucky enough to be sitting next to the statue they won. OH BITCH MUNNY!!!!!!

The cute little disco ball clad character summarizes almost a decade of dirty detroit partyin', that apparently won the heart of a nation! The hardy event started by Scott Craig has changed locations several times, but took on a life of it's own at CAID (the Contemporary Art Institure of Detroit, formally the Detroit Contemporary). Since then it has changed venues and thanks to the tireless promotions, sick tunes, and good venue selections the crowd has followed. This impartial photographer has taken notice and made it my favorite night out of the month for as long as i can remember.

Funk night follows in the strong tradition of the Untitled Parties which received national recognition from Rolling Stone as one of the best parties in America. It is a prime example of the fact that we like to party.

The next one will be the last friday of the month at the russell industrial center. better not miss out.

Here is video i shot three years ago at caid... not the best quality... but you can see the crowd.

caid funk night

2008-11-16T22:13:00.001-08:00

Vincent York with his Guvvy.. The rest of these will be on detroit metromix.

Not much to say today. my sleep tank stays perpetually empty about now. I'm not complaining. i've spent my waking hours in some wonderful situations lately. i hope for them to continue.. even if that means i never sleep more then 3 hours a night, ever again.
Tonight i sat with some very awesome characters at the local watering hole Motor City Brewery. There is a new Record Label on the block, woodbridge records, run partily out of the Grey Shack on Merek and Comonwealth, They've signed The Summer Pledge, Noman, and I. Crime. Pushing on through and making things happen several of the woodbridge gang discussed establishing a record store across from the Woodbridge Pub with partial Emergence (www.emergencemusic.net) label owner Mike Medow.

People changing the shape of the world one street corner at a time.

Other then that i covered the Guvvy awards. The governors awards in arts and culture, i hung out with Devin Scallion, and watched as Lois Teicher won a life time achievement award.

the snow is beautiful.

the white room

2008-11-12T16:42:00.001-08:00

The skyscrapper that houses the White Room Recording Studio located at Grand River and Griswald is almost completly abandoned except for the 3rd floor where i am curently sitting in this room ------>

Once through the frosty glass door you hop on an old school elevator and walk into a few beautiful rooms filled with music equipment. The rest of the floors are filled with odds and ends from when artists used to squat. I am here listening to my friends band, The Summer Pledge, complete the recordings they've been working on for the past few months. This recording studio, where kid rock once brought in jacuzzis to track one of his albums (for better or worse), is bieng sold. My friend Andrew Davis and his friend chris are trying to save it, I am told they are in the vision process, and thats about all i can publish on the internets.

I spent the greater part of today overwhelmed and baffled by the world. The world moves fast always, and i often feel like i need to step on the brakes... but today felt different. Lately i've been feeling this crushing feeling of an impending crisis. but i know it's not only me. We are living in volitle and uncertian times. Who knows what tragedies or victories are coming our way. Yesterday I learned that my bosses husband was forced into early retirement because GM cut 3,500 more employees, my friend Angela was violently mugged and beaten blocks from my house, a friends mom had surgery to fight a brain tumor, my friend Aj lost his 2 year internship just as he graduated, and after all of those aweful things.... my friend Jasmine and Andrew are having a baby. They have created something that trumps all the bad in the world, new life, new possabality, a reason for us to keep fighting. Right now the entire world is holding it's breath, no one is confident in which steps will move us forward, but daily on our streets in our homes and in our hearts life does not wait, it cannot. Regardless of our finicial situation, what part of the world is at war, what city buildings are crumbling under thier own wieght, the sun still sets and it also rises. we have to keep the flame of hope alive.

I've been trying to write an article about Detroit and the many ways i can see our future. My thoughts are supported by years of research. I can't get over the feeling of being overwhelmed. life in general is not helping.

detroit city on the move

2008-11-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

dreaming of summer.

This is my old neighbor Alex, Camilles sister. In this photograph she was 3 years old. One day i was fixing lunch in my kitchen and they started spraying my with a hose through the open windows. Alex is the baby of her family, i think at one point there were 7 people living in the flat above me. The little girls loved to come into my room and touch anything they could reach and would often cry when i would explain i had grown-up things to do. I have to admit it was fun playing with them in the summer. helping them ride bikes, picking veggies in our garden, and plying in the mud.

"you are about to witness the very exciting story about a city and it's people.
it will be an adventure that will open new sights in familiar sourroundings.
it is a story of a city seeking new horizons in a resolute contest with great challenges.
that city is detroit, home of nearly [one million] people back in 1701 long before this land become a nation, caddiliac planted the colors of france on detroits shore, and thus began a rich and inspiring history which has brought detroit to its finnest hour, the today of which we are apart. yes detroit is enjoying it's finest hour, there is a rennisance, a rebirth in this city, there is a newness in detroit. i am honored to be serving as [photographer] at this most eventful and productive period in detroits history and i am honored to be a participant in the detroit story."

"This public domain film narrated by then-mayor Jerome P. Cavanaugh was made in 1965 to promote Detroit. The city faced many urban problems and its population was in decline. These difficulties were amplified by the 1967 riots, which are seen by many as one of the most significant events which led the city into a forty year decline. Since the mid 50s, the population has dropped by half and the infrastructure has been destroyed or has decayed due to abuse and neglect"

in this cold city my home is a burning ember.

2008-11-09T21:52:00.001-08:00

the first snowflakes, on my balcony last night.

So blogger was down lat night and i was unable to publish my normal weekend wrap up. which is wierd. so now i am plugged up like a hose with too much preasure.... i have ideas ready to burst from my seems.

There are a million things that i would love to put out to the world everyday and it's hard to decide which ones are worth anything.

First i have to include a correction and appology.. then i'm going to include photographs.. they can tell a story.

ATTN: the Funk night at russell was NOT put on by CAID. It was produced by Mike Mackool, Fank, Nicole, and Ernie. They throw killer events. Anything with thier name on it will be hoppin' and right now they are working Slow Jams Monday at the woodbridge pub, which seems to be gaining Momentum. Monday nights drink special is $5 beer and a shot. Who could go wrong?

I spent the later part of my saturday, and early sunday at one of there events... well Mikes last night as Fourth Horizon. Ghostly recording artist Michna played the motor city movie house at the russell. i dont think anyone could leave the dance floor.

anyways.

i spent thursday enjoying the last warm day of the year.

my cousin and pushed all the leaves in an empty lot of a house they just demolshed into a pile... upon jumping into them she pulled out a large chunk or brunette hair. needless that was the end of that.

we went and climbed trees instead

saturday i found myself at a jewish synagogue... the one on state and griswald.

Oren and Courtney organized the event where Benny Stoofy, the misinformants and a few others played. i sat under a sign that read no smoking on the sabbath drinking a beer, and as usual pondering the irony of life... sometimes. which makes me laugh uncontrollably.

i left early but i heard the dance floor was packed till the wee hours. around 5 am.

Later that night i found myslef inside of a building i have always wanted to adventure in. I was let in and asked not to link the photographs... so here one is. i can only tell you it was a fulfilling experience.

Sunday i was awoken by my best friend and kidnapped to Detroit One Coney Island on woodward. I almost burst my kidneys from laughing so hard at our afternoon breakfast.
I spent the rest of the gloomy afternoon adventuring around some of my favorite spots. Blowing the clocks off of dandylions, and exploring an old friend, the Globe Trading Company. I took a photograph there on a sunny day once after talking to a homeless man who inhabits the space for awhile. This photograph has garnered me some notoriety, it is not online and i would like to keep it that way, but it is of the light streaming in and the man (Oscar, i'm pretty sure is his name) reading a book. About the time i took that photograph, 3 years ago, is when they first announced this historic building was going to be turned into luxury lofts. The Globe was one of the first steal structures in Michigan, and Henry Ford was an intern there. They built boats once upon a time.. and if you need more information i have the complete application to make it a historical site. I could go on for hours.
Anyways, 3 years later the sign is still on the outside advertising the lofts... but the inside has not changed and oscar still lives there.

In this photograph there is a tiny white light in the center. that is Oscars reading light. you can view it better on my flickr.

i was there untill the sun completly set.

Around the block from the gobe is one of my very favorite spots in the city. i spent an entire summer there. i still go back to get away, but the meaning has changed. the people have faded away. construction on the riverwalk has altered the landscape. But on this cold gloomy day, it felt like Montauk from the scenes in eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.

call me a hopeless romantic.. then i sipped hot chocolate as it snowed.

i need to figure a better way to upload photographs. these small ones are silly. see them larger on my flickr. www. flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller

the story of after the election

2008-11-05T22:45:00.000-08:00

this is my favorite photo of the night. it reminds me of the future.. hope, smiling faces, diversity, cars and bikes... cities beautiful.

the rest have been posted at www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller
and on metromix detroit http://detroit.metromix.com/events/photogallery/party-pics-election-night/752843/content

Friends and Family,
Regardless of your political affiliations we are lucky to have witnessed history being made last night. I sat in a small jazz bar that was recently restored from the 1920's surrounded by about 60 friends, one block south of woodward, a few from Camptius Martius(the main square downtown Detroit). I walked in the moment CNN called an Obama victory and the entire city seemed to explode. People were dancing in the streets, waving flags, sparklers, obama signs and shirts. People were screaming the national anthem and strangers were hugging, there are few times in life when you can feel such energy and hope among a group of people. The area i was in, Capital Park, is impoverished, there is this small jazz bar open only on fridays and saturdays, across the street from a strip club, down a block is Detroits' Transit Terminal which is home to many homeless. On this eve Larry Mongo the Owner of Demongos (the bar i was at) played Obamas speech over loud speakers and messages of hope resonated across the old buildings. There was a roar of car horns and people so i rode my bike over to woodward and saw the closest to peaceful riots i have ever seen. There was talk of a bloodless revolution, and a man holding an obama sign was screaming "it only took one vote", over and over. Traffic was stopped and human beings in celebration, flooded the intersections. It all went on until about 1:30 when police closed woodward and the parties were returned to individual bars. I was lucky to witness this happen in Detroit, i was there with my camera and the beginning of my photos are on my blog vanessahooray.blogspot.com . I have to finish the rest today for metromix/freepress and i have many more stories.. but hooray guys... this is awesome.

words fail me

2008-11-04T22:36:00.000-08:00

more to come

on the eve...

2008-11-03T21:47:00.000-08:00

no photo tonight.

on the eve of what could be the most important election of our lifetime, a decision that will affect the future of the globe forever, I want you to close your eyes and envision the tomorrow you would like to see. What will it look like and who will be there.

I want you to consider all that you can do, all that is within your power to make this world a better place. as well as the steps it will take to get there starting by just bieng a good person. I don't want to preach about the importance of voting... it is becoming nausating and redundant, but would like to make sure you at least consider the fact that you have control of your future. You can make a difference. Also that every chip in the wall is a step closer to the other side. The power of community and togetherness... is unbeatable.

Good night and good luck and i hope tomorrow we wake up on the dawn of a new future.

little teeth

2008-11-02T22:20:00.001-08:00

today is epically long. i wanted to discuss these things. i wrote most of it at cass cafe and i thought this hot chocolate and the light streaming in looked pretty sweet.

1. my 5 favorite things about detroit
2. what i did for the past week, Including halloween parties at the russell industrial.
3. why alleyways and powerlines are so romantic.

First thing this morning i was asked to list my 5 favorite things about detroit.
1. the streets. they breathe 2. the people. they live 3. the places. have history 4. the communities. they fight 5. all of those things together make this detroit, an incredible alive place to be.
here is a link to the rest of the thread.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/exposuredetroit/discuss/72157608577660937/

On saturday night my roommates boyfriend broke up with her through a text message. He said she was possesive and emotionally immature. However i wonder....what is more mature, her trying to get an answer out him for the past 2 months or his text message break up. It's another example of how technology has changed our interactions with one another, and what pisses me off about that. Technology is bad for relationships of any kind. Yes, we are more connected then ever before, but i feel like it is shrinking my amount of close friends because when you can be connected all the time, people don't take into consideration that life still happens. I'm equally to blame for the lack of people to people interaction in my life. I am connected through myspace, facebook, twittier, blogspot, ichat, virb, flickr, yayhooray and my phone, people have 24 hour access to creep stalk me if they want. However i'm pretty sure they are all busy upating thier status and creeping on the webs, just like i do.. for at least an hour a day. I blame the nets for the deterioration of friendships, romantic and not, also have had them used and have used them to piss me/other people off. I also find out about peoples relationships, and even define my own on the internets. Two of my friends were engaged tonight and i found out instantly, thanks to the webs. For some reason. there is something wrong with this to me. However i am a avid participant.

Anyways, my friend Andrew Davis curated an art show on Halloween night titled Recollect Dead. He ordered Vans slip-ons, and chuckas then sent them to artists across the counrty to create them with one rule, make the shoes about something that has passed away. He works under his clothing company SImplified, and is now more seriously pulling together the Aww.. Sweet group. He also curated the GoodWood shows that happened in Brooklyn and Detroit, produced the Art Battle Knives Out. His stable of artists spans the globe, he stays in Detroit to make it happen here.

So what do these things have to do with one another? The shoes i spent all week working on at russell are my pretend tombstone...to the death of technology. One shoe was painted with the sad mac face, and the other the pc blue screen of death. They accompanied a 12 x 18 piece of cardboard with the words, fatal error, the death of technology written in binary code using chalk. If i could i would walk to your house, unplug your computer and have a conversation.

The 29 other shoes were sahweet. Leo Espinosa's (botston) were a crowd favorite... along with Mike Burdick (New York), some were tragic others funny. Some Were direct references to the Mexican Holiday Dia de Los Muertos. Professors from College for Creative Studies also participated; David Chow and Don Kilpatrick.

Not only was it an art show it was a Halloween dance party with adult beverages and a DJ, the Cave Gallery a the Russell Industrial stayed packed untill about 2 in the morn when the rest of Detroit began to pour into Contemporary Art Institue of Detroit's produced Funk night.

Which brings me to the next point....

Halloween at the Russell Industrial Center

Was incredible. There were at least 3 large events going on in the Industrial complex on one night. All of them were promoted by independent sources, and took place in the artists studios. By 2am it seemed as if all of Detroit had come out, at least one thousand kids filled the halls dressed in costume, i couldn't recognize anyone and i wandered the halls from party to party. I spoke with my friend and one of the Hallow-palooza dj's, Robert-David Jones about what he thought of the event; He said he thought it was great espicially in a city like Detroit. That with such little promotion people came out in such great numbers to support our artists and Musicians. With such little promotion, and little to no media coverage how can people know that things like this happen in Detroit? How can people know we have such a vibrant culture? Lets change this.

Alleys and Power Lines

I went for a quick walk today. I looked down a familiar alley way and asked myself what i found so beautiful about it? The place i was standing was framed by the overgrown leaves and bushes, but i could still see for blocks behind the houses. Telephone poles were clumped together down the length and i thought about the power-lines they carried to each of the houses and business. How they sustained life to so many people in such small places. In a city we claim a small space, make it our own as much as possible using the same architecture used for many years... it becomes ours alone,
if you view it from the front. And only for the time we spend there.
Behind the walls and years of use, lofty ceilings and ancient woodwork, behind our back yards, urban gardens, patchy grass.... behind our safe fences, in our alleys, we are still all connected. Thats what i noticed... on this lazy grey sunday.

"There are powerlines in our bloodlines." - The Decemberists

Lastly. Please. Please vote on tuesday.

recollect dead

2008-10-31T13:34:00.000-07:00

if you attend on holiday party/event tonight, come to this. the shoes are so super sick. This is why i didn't get any sleep all week.

Opening reception: Friday, October 31, 2008, 8 pm – 2 am | Party
RSVP: andrew@cavedetroit.com
On view: Friday, October 31 – Sunday, November 02, 2008

The Gallery at CAVE
1600 Clay Ave. Detroit, MI - Russell Industrial Center Building 4. 3rd Floor.

Detroit, MI—Recollect-dead, Loosely blends the spirit of Halloween and traditions of Day of the Dead with sneaker and skateboard culture. Featuring 30 pairs of Vans shoes designed by a strong line up of Detroit based artists including Donald Kilpatrick, Dave Chow, Joe Schlaud, Kristina Rafalski, Vincent Troia, Aubrey Stalnaker, Nate Morgan, as well as Boston based illustrator, Leo Espinosa and many others. This is a Halloween Party that encourages costumes, dancing, viewing and clean fun.

The theme of the show is inspired by the Mexican holiday “Day of the Dead.” The artist is asked to pay tribute to the death of something of meaning and inspiration, and certainly is not limited to human loss. Included with the shoes will be a 12x18 additional work that will accompany the shoes and help narrate their ideas. Shying away from the standard day of the dead subject matter, artists are expected to reach beyond the holiday's traditional symbols and motif. Halloween costumes are encouraged, and expected to push creative limits.

Plenty to eat and drink and a costume contest held during the night with goodies to give away to winners. DJ Johnny Mac will keep the vinyl coming all night so tell you’re momma you won’t be coming home.

All work and shoes will be available for purchase. Artists may be commissioned for specific sizes in shoes. For press inquiries or information about the work in the show, please contact Andrew Davis at 248.361.1752 or andrew@cavedetroit.com.

For more information visit www.chiipss.com, and www.andrew-davis.com.

####

Aww Sweet is a visionary event planning and curating organization that links exhibits, artists networking, and parties all under one roof to inspire people's involvement within their community's art scene. http://awwsweet.blogspot.com/.

CHIIPSS is a local skateboard shop owned by Pat Miller located in Plymouth, MI. Pushing for the integrity of skateboarding in communities and skater-owned shops. http://www.chiipss.com/.

argo not... Yes!

2008-10-29T23:36:00.000-07:00

I have been too tired to change into pajamas lately so this will be quick. today i was given a tour of the Argonaut Building, the ex-GM headquarters was donated to College for Creative Studies. The Eleven story structure will house a charter middle and high school, as well as many new facilities for CCS; droms, Graduate School, moslty design programs.

Okie i will go into the tour more. i promise for now here is one of the professors looking over blueprints in the academic offices.

create every day

2008-10-28T23:06:00.001-07:00

my shoes, pre-paint

Life for this little lady is super busy right now. I've spent the last few days up in the russsell industrial center working on a show my friend andrew is curating. As well as producing my personal work, other various stories, and making a piece for the show.

The russell Industrial center is the place i took a photograph of the wolf/dog daisy on the roof. It was a factory abandoned, but has since been converted into artist studios. It's pretty concentrated of the two million square feet some perts are desolate while others are growing artwork and fostering community. My good friends, part of the Aww Sweet Collective, Invisiblebully, and cave gallery, they have brought the old shows at bobs classic kicks, good wood detroit 07, good wood brooklyn 08, art battle 08, and now are doing an exchange with Canbrook. I had a discussion with an media mogul in detroit, and he asked why we don't have strong art collectives in detroit. I told him we did, and imediatly went to andrew with the idea of starting a zine. soo look out for the future of aww.. sweet. zine, website, web store. come out on friday it's gonna be aww.. sweet ruckus.

how we post to keep peace?

2008-10-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

I wandered around africa today, it's actually the largest brownfield in Michigan, the old Belle Tire site. It's a large piece of property on the river, i've read that the land is so contaminated you would have to remove the soil up to 6 feet... I'm sorry i'm really distracted.. my friend just sent me this video documenting the sensation that is the song "It's so cold in the D"

anyways here is one of my flicks from todays wanderings in the hail.

The story of the balloons..

I had a dream where i was on a train to san francisco to teach young girls. On the way i got lost and started wandering around a huge moving mall. The principal of the school called me (my friend Ellesworth) and told me it was ok to wander for a while. I walked down a street filled with stores and was swallowed up by a sex shop, completely surprised i fell out the door turned a corner and was at a bike shop. continuing to wander i walked down a suburban street and all the sudden it started raining. when i looked up there was a little black rain cloud floating above me. On second glance it was a group of black balloons.. so today i recreated it. kinda.

see the rest at www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller

birthday

2008-10-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

i'm so tired. it's my birthday. so this is not a proper post. but i shot this today. and i finished the flicks from the paper factory.. so look at www.flickr.com/photos/vanessmiller

good night.

grey day

2008-10-24T10:34:00.001-07:00

while most of you are lamenting the cold grey days.. i'm actually super excited. they allow for very even exposures. and interesting muted colors. thursday night was filled with pre-birthday celebrations, and lots of dancing to love is a battlefield, and discussions about the collective conscious.

Anyways, I love shooting on grey days.. i've tried shooting in the rain.. but i always worry too much about my equipment. Lucky enough i live in Detroit and i get about 4 months of grey weather.

Fact: i have shot two full bodies of work in the winter (the original Detroit ruins; four-ish years of 35 mm, and the midwestern rural abandonment series: Detroit, Iowa, Missouri shot on 127mm film using a vintage yashica). I don't love running around with my hands frozen changing rolls, of film. I love not spending my summer in a darkroom.

This was a grey day wandering around some new buildings on Rosa Parks. This place had been a functioning car scrap yard until about a month before i shot this. Walls were already knocked down and it had suffered from some fire damage. The floors were caving in, this is on the second level and i was walking along the rafters, and support beams. i can't get ove the trees through the foggy window.

Across the street on the same day i shot this

it was another abandoned car shop. as i was standing reading a bunch of old letters i had found, a section of this building collapsed, right above where i took this photograph. My body ran for the door. i havn't been back since. Take note of the christmas theme. It runs throughout my photographs of abandonments, there is a reason i will get to another day.

I don't know why those flicks are messed up.. ugh. anyways.. tonight you should go to the grand opening of the book caddy, a fee block party on washington ave.

blue velvet

2008-10-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

I often forget about the city that lives with in my city, Hamtramack. The small community is nested a little north of where i normally run around town, but i was drawn there on a shoot for a metro times article. Wednesday nights are usually bumping at the new coffee house THC (trowbridge coffee house). The boys from the cycle/4th horizon keep the crowd moving while Mike Petrack and his lady friend serve up tasty drinks. Tonight they had free champagne for ladies, and Kristen makes a delicious raspberry chocolate martini. (Although you'll have to coax it out of her). The Bar/coffee spot is really beautiful comfortable and has a diverse crowd.

My friend Andi and I ventured down the street (3 doors) to the infamous Belmont, where we hard there was a rumor of Karaoke... we were treated to a group of people singing, and getting rowdy, blue velvet, and white wedding, and psycokiller were in rotation, and this boy even coaxed me up to do a duet. Adam is in a band called the Dead Bodies, he is gearing up to release Dead Bodies 3.0, www. sexydeadbodies.com. He is also a classically trained pianist, but he told me karaoke makes him nervous. Tonight was pure goodness...

Random quote about Detroit:

"if you sifted all Detroit in a wire basket the beaten solid core of dregs couldn't be better gathered" -Jack Kerouac from "On the Road"

knobs

2008-10-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

A friend challenged me to a photo game.. he asked me to photograph something that inspires me, and then he will do the same back. He lives in cali, so we will see how this works.

Today i chose knobs, the knobs in my bathtub, i could have photographed all the knobs and switches in my house... i will, this is a start. The reason these are interesting to me is because after living here for two months i still can't figure them out. I constanly turn them the wrong way and the water gets too cold, or hot. It made me think of displacement, anytime you are moving often and constantly adapting. The same idea applies to switches, i sometimes turn on the fan instead of the light. I wonder how long it will take.

Cold weather set in today, I turned on my heat for the first time, i chickened out and drove to work. It is sinking in my skin. I rode my bike to the Russell Industrial Center for the Model D Speaker series on transportation. The topic is placing light rail and arterial rapid transit through out the city, along with 400 miles of bike lanes. Hertel is a very passionate speaker about light rail he feels we are very close. However when a speaker on bike lanes begins by laughing about the lack of traffic along Michigan Ave. he looses credibility in my book. Over all i really appreciate Model D putting on these events. There was a large diverse crowd gathered, and some very good connections were made.

Courageous Dream's Concern

2008-10-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

To counter Rodriguez pessimistic take on Detroit, and to stay in the music arena. Here is another famous Detroiters' ode to the "D". Written by Jack White from the White Stripes, and the Racounteurs.

'Courageous Dream's Concern,' by Jack White

I have driven slow,
three miles an hour or so,
through Highland Park, Heidelberg, and the
Cass Corridor.
I've hopped on the Michigan,
and transferred to the Woodward,
and heard the good word blaring from an
a.m. radio.
I love the worn-through tracks of trolley
trains breaking through their
concrete vaults,
As I ride the Fort Street or the Baker,
just making my way home.

I sneak through an iron gate, and fish
rock bass out of the strait,
watching the mail boat with
its tugboat gait,
hauling words I'll never know.
The water letter carrier,
bringing prose to lonely sailors,
treading the big lakes with their trailers,
floats in blue green chopping waters,
above long-lost sunken failures,
awaiting exhumation iron whalers,
holding gold we'll never know.

I've slid on Belle Isle,
and rowed inside of it for miles.
Seeing white deer running alongside
While I glide, in a canoe.
I've walked down Caniff holding a glass
Atlas root beer bottle in my hands
And I've entered closets of coney islands
early in the morning too.
I've taken malt from Stroh's and Sanders,
felt the black powder of abandoned
embers,
And smelled the sawdust from wood cut
to rehabilitate the fallen edifice.
I've walked to the rhythm of mariachis,
down junctions and back alleys,
Breathing fresh-baked fumes of culture
nurtured of the Latin and the
Middle East.
I've fallen down on public ice,
and skated in my own delight,
and slid again on metal crutches
into trafficked avenues.

Three motors moved us forward,
Leaving smaller engines to wither,
the aluminum, and torpedo,
Monuments to unclaimed dreaming.
Foundry's piston tempest captured,
Forward pushing workers raptured,
Frescoed families strife fractured,
Encased by factory's glass ceiling.
Detroit, you hold what one's been seeking,
Holding off the coward-armies weakling,
Always rising from the ashes
not returning to the earth.
I so love your heart that burns
That in your people's body yearns
To perpetuate,
and permeate,
the lonely dream that does encapsulate,
Your spirit, that God insulates,
With courageous dream's concern.

This is a photograph of my friend Kat, backstage at the Cut Copy show at the Magic Stick. To say the least i know the cut copy boys enjoyed their stay in Detroit. I know we will always be fond of our little Aussies.

Today was not very exciting.. i spent most of it wrestling with technology, and getting paper-cuts on my eyes, going over research about these thoughts
Would it be possible, if michigan adopted a creative economy, to turn Detroit into one of the most desiriable places to live on the planet? What is a Creative Economy and could it us out of our financial crisis? I believe the answer to both of these questions is yes.

This, Our beloved polis

2008-10-19T23:29:00.000-07:00

This sunday finds me sitting at the Woodbridge pub listening to Rodriguez. He grew up in detroit, and according to off the record his music is inspiring revolutionaries around the globe. so detroit. get inspired.

here is a letter he wrote for Off the Record.
This is a walk through Detroit. But be protected. Our history reads: Not so peaceful. As you take this tour, be sure you stay with the Living. And should you find yourself, a snowflake in an ocean of Darkness, be secure. The Force is with you.
Taking a ride on the bus, might be one quick approach. Especially a crosstown, like the Dexter. These buses don’t run on a regular schedule but once you take this ride, the cultural diversity will become clear and obvious.
At the waterfront stands the Renaissance Center, now owned by General Motors. This is the company that is crying poverty. This is the biggest building in Detroit. Before this it was owned by Ford (Motor Company).
Go to the City County Building and you will be confronted with the security measures that are being taken there. This is a city under siege.
Visit the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, flanked by the Wayne County Jail. It is in the vicinity of one of three magnificent casino skyscrapers newly built to continue to drain this impoverished, undereducated, politically-abused population.
This is a city of victims. Everyone I know and everyone I have met have told me their stories of rip offs, of theft, of violence and of urban mayhem. And I am a musician. They confide in me like others might confide in a priest.
Stop in at 36th District Court. Be witness to the sociology there. The Courthouse sits next to Ford Field (NFL) and Comerica Park (MLB), reflected in the strobe lights of the Fox Theatre and Hockeytown Cafe (NHL). Once there, betwen Woodward and Griswold, pass by what is known as, Urine Street. The stench of it will almost knock a person down.
As a person is en route to a place called Capitol Park, you will find an area adorned by ten dead trees, with a statue of the first governor of Michigan. Governor Mason. His head swarmed with pigeon shit. This is not far from historic Campus Martius where a monument stands to commemorate so many who sacrificed so much in the Civil War.
This, Our beloved polis. - Rodriguez

these are the lyrics to his song sugar man which is on repeat right now...
Sugarman
Won't ya hurry
Coz I'm tired of these scenes
For a blue coin
Won't ya bring back
All those colours to my dreams
Silver majik ships, you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet MaryJane
Sugarman
Met a false friend
On a lonely, dusty road
Lost my heart
When I found it
It had turned to dead, black coal
Silver majik ships, you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet MaryJane
Sugarman
You're the answer
That makes my questions disappear
Sugarman
Coz I'm weary
Of these double games I hear
Sugarman
Sugarman
Won't ya hurry
Coz I'm tired of these scenes
For a blue coin
Won't ya bring back
All those colours to my dreams
Silver majik ships, you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet MaryJane
Sugarman
Met a false friend
On a lonely, dusty road
Lost my heart
When I found it
It had turned to dead, black coal
Silver majik ships, you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet MaryJane
Sugarman
You're the answer
That makes my questions disappear

Dj Mehdi off of Ed Banger Records played a show a the magic stick on friday, he was off to nyc to record a new album.

people tried to tear the stage down, they were so pumped. the rest of the mehdi pics are going to be on metromix detroits site.

we ended the night in Camillo Pardo's Studio

we all painted, here is Camillo

ernie guerra AKA erno the inferno, part of tour detroit, the cycle, 323 east and so on

house party pointing at the white house

saturday everyone came out to the new dance party at cpop, this is ara

these are people making out

this is hodge

this is the reason you have a filter.. in case your drunk best friend drops your camera. this is me also having a serious heart attack in the basement of cpop... oh dear.

and this is what i did with my sunday, wandered around the secret garden... i used to come here every sunday, with a group of graffiti artists, they would paint and i would shoot. Every room is a memory. we came here untill the drama that is graffiti caught up with us, and the building became a battle ground. revisiting it today was nice.... on a pilar on the roof it still says "what up vanezzy." the rest of these will be on www.flickr.com/photos/vanessamiller

good night.

i took this picture 10 minutes ago.

2008-10-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

So I guess Thursdays are going to be my day of repose. I must break from my baby blog. By Thursday evening i am usually bursting at the seams from my long work week and spend the whole night causing trouble, rebel rousing, stiring the pot, whatever you may call it, it's where i often get the best stories. Thursday nights in Detroit are too good to spend blogging. So this is the friday morn, tired at work wrap up.

Last night i attended a lecture at MOCAD (museum of contemporary art Detroit), the artist was Jamil Shabazz who famously documented the early 80's hip-hop scene in new york.

His old work is amazing, and raw. The body is held together by the way he approached his subjects and had them pose for candid portraits. This method separated him from his contemporaries, like Nan Goldin, photographing complete strangers made his work fresh and interesting.
However most of the work he showed at the lecture was over the past 6 months, and he needs to progress. The same method is not translating well in this time period. His ideas are strong, he wants to show hope, love and beauty, but there is an obvious loss of the raw grit, which seems often to be more true. It seems to document a time period you must show all facets of life in order to do it justice. For all the bad in life there is good and vice versa. I could babble on this for hours.

After the lecture Kieth, Eric, Nicole and i went for a bike ride. There was no agenda so we headed towards the water. With nothing to do, we pointed our compass in the direction of alcohol, and began our search. I heard the Motor Lounge at the book caddy is now open to the public, but it was not adventurous enough. It was beer o'clock somewhere in this town and we were going to find it. A quick detour took us through Capital Park, the bus terminal (for the time being), and after an obviously intoxicated man on a bike almost took us all out, i looked back to see him flat on his back on the pavement. Capital park bodegas do not sell booze, by the way. We hopped down Grand River towards one of the only Liquor stores i know in the CBD (central business district), well the only one open late. The Greektown booze spot, over priced but very convenient, located between the golden fleece and the funny greek souvenir store. My bike bag got heavier it now contained the following things:

ok, so i have all the supplies for an adventure. what next? find a place to enjoy the gems i carry 'round. A ride down the riverwalk proved in vain, there was a hockey game and it was crawling with people, Which reminds me, Happy Birthday Dad and Karen <--they were at the game.

We rode the opposite direction towards belle isle. There is a series of state parks along the way. The landscape is punctuated like this: riverwalk-carosoul-big nothingness-teenage sex hill (another story)-marina-parks with the lighthouse-chene park-rattlesnake club-hidden river ride.... etc. etc. till you get to africa and then belle isle. So, when your looking for a low key place to chill and drink a 40, what is better then a big lighthouse across the street from border patrol? Nothing really. So we camped up under a huge willow tree, and shivered while telling amusing stories and debating weather the splashing in the water was geese or otter. Which in retrospect, there are no otter in Michigan. Wtf nicole? Cracked Skulls, alien dogs and broken stripper poles later, we finished our beverages, hypothermia had begun to set in and we could no longer hear each other over the chattering of our teeth.

The cold sweat that went along with the chilly night was a comforting feeling as we cut through traffic up to oslo. Located on the corner of woodward and john r oslo is the hip sushi joint in the city. It has a long tradition of housing some of the best electronic parties in the past few years. I've seen Moby, Richie Hawtin, Troy pierce, Matthew Dear, Ryan Elliot... the list goes on, in the basement. The sound system was specially fitted by a company named Burst, to be sure you get loud clear sounds, and the dark interesting decor adds to the atmosphere. Anyways, this night it was not very busy, except in the basement there was a wedding going on. As i walked down the stairs they were carrying Grandma out. When she wasn't on the dance floor, the disco clad bride was behind the bar sharing her life story. One member of our party nearly clubed her and ran away with the dress, but this blog does not condone that, at least not on her wedding day. After crashing a wedding, and getting our dance on, it was time to put the pedal to the pavement.

We rolled past the abandoned davids on woodward,
david whitney

david broderick

Hotel Eddystone

and harbor lights

up through the cass corridor, danced past the old miami where frankie banks was rocking the dance floor.

and ended at our final destination. Cass Cafe. Dollar Black Label night and Shay sh sh Shaynes Birthday Party. By the time we got there the b-day boy had been whisked away to the Bomb.com restaurant Slows, took over a table and joined in with the roar of the other thursday night revelers. Time flies, we shared stories, tattoos, debated who was going to have a worse day at work the next morn, and where we could get the best mexican food considering our location and the increasingly late hour. Edmundos, in mexican town is the right answer. However for these tuckered little ladies Doritios would have to suffice.

I brought my bike into the gas station picked out our delicacies and plopped them down near the register. For some reason the clerk asked me if i spoke french, (this actually happens often, because i speak in a joke accent. at the wrong times), so i replied je n'parle pas francois, well, Com si come ca, meaning kinda. i havn't since high school. He said "J'mappele Alex" (my name is alex), and i said "J'mappele Vanessa" "Je suis en petit poulet" (i am a little chicken.) We laughed.. then i added pointing at my bike. "Tu vais un Pormenade un Velo" which kinda means do you want to join me on a bike ride? I was joking and we laughed, he said something i couldn't understand and told me he was from france, and told me if i gave him my number we could speak french all the time. i laughed paid for the chips, told him i want to learn espanol and ran out the door. laughing because i got hit on, the result of in broken french asking a guy on a bike ride. I laughed myself to sleep. the end.

If your looking for something to do this weekend

Friday night.
Detroit Summer is having an office warming party at the new space, the 555 gallery, invincible and others will be playing, starts at 9
Dj Mehdi- from ed banger records (justices record label) at the magic stick. Presented by paxahau and fourth horizon

Saturday all day
Eastern Market octoberfest 1-5 (i've heard)
Magic Stick -against me
C-pop Gallery- funky dance party (goes till 4am)
crow manor- kozmo and stretches' going away. (small gathering)

camile

2008-10-15T22:55:00.000-07:00

Introducing Camile. She and her sister will appear a few more times down the line. I used to live below them when i lived at my trumbull house. I went all winter without talking to them until one summer day, i was cooking in my kitchen with all the windows open, and i could hear them playing. I went out into the garden to get some veggies and a game of water tag ensued. Though the family above me was very nice, about 8 people in all, the girls had very little supervision, and i often found myself an authority figure... but i loved to goof around with these lovely lades.

This story.

One day i ran out of my house and into my car, i was running late (like usual) and camile wanted to play. I fought through her sticky fingers, made it next to my car, and through her pleas promised to play with her later. She looked down, looked up at me and said
"your toenails are blue?"
I looked down, looked at her and said
"well i guess so."
Hopped in my car and sped away. I had "important" adult things to do.

When i got home that afternoon Camille and Alex greeted me at my car door and to my surprise thier hands, feet, and nails were covered in blue nail polish. It was a very flattering gesture, and this photograph was taken right as i opened my car door.

bio-log

2008-10-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

Shawn from toronto told me tonight, that i need to proudly represent my space on the tubes. so hooray. i am too tired to feign excitement, but i am.

These awe inspiring days are exhausting, the people speaking on stage, and the people i am meeting irl (proud blog term) are all amazing. The poet Laureate of Toronto Pier Giorgio Di Cicco told me today, he feels home in Detroit you can taste it. He also asked me if i knew people were exploring the abandoned buildings, i told him i knew a thing or two.

During Piers opening comments he said

"Creativity is a way of life. It Commands alligence and the love of the creative person. It is tireless"

Also Notable Richard Flordia today was speaking about how the Finacial Crisis will be solved by the creative class.
100 years ago 50% of the population worked in agriculture
50 years ago 50% in manufacturing

because we have concured distance and are outsourcing manufacturing

today 45% of the population works in the creative fields.

with the world banks freezing large sums of money,

"when you can't move millions of dollars at the blink of an eye, the only thing left lies in human biengs."

"It's not the machines that make our factories great. It is the knowledge and intellegince of the people who work there."

tonight ended at the woodbridge pub with the realizaion that cameras do not last forever. and i am exhausted. i promise i will make a longer one. soon.

btw.. debate watching party tomorrow night at the woodbridge pub. come one, come all.

sitting in the sun on the riverwalk

The end of the night. i felt like this.

compassion before passion

2008-10-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

in the morn, hanging with Governor Granholm
sometimes i feel very lucky. I dont understand how i end up where i do sometimes. I listened to the poet laureate from Toronto today say,
"Compassion before Passion"
"a city is where ones destiny is discovered through other people, enjoy yourself by enjoying others."
and that
"creativity creates a reason to continue with vigor in our daily lives, Hope"
-Pier Giorgio Di Cicco

then i went to lunch at Eph Mcnallys, came back to Bill Strickland bringing me and the entire crowd to tears, by his gracious and humble attitude. The man who has won more awards then i could ever name off, and feeds welfare moms, and poor children gourmet meals, while teaching self sufficiency and dignity, said

"People are a function of the little things"
"you don't have to be rich to look at the sun"
"All poor people don't have is money, which is a curable condition."
"Treat people like Poor people, they will behave like poor people. Treat people like World Class citizens, thats what you'll get."

He encouraged us to keep moving, to find our place, and make this world the place we wan to live.

Soon after i found myself on the 19th floor of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, hiding in a dark room overlooking the city, sipping a glass of wine, wondering how i got here and what it all means.

I could write forever about today, how i was moved over and over, the new facts i learned, that i may start working for Model D!!! I could also add in my criticisms, but my eyes are burning. my body is tired. i must sign off. night loves.
lost in a sea of lights

guilty pleasure super special sunday edition

2008-10-12T22:24:00.001-07:00

Cause i fell fast into the land of dreams on thursday i thought i would give you a special sunday edtion. a fairly personal one.

I think people in Detroit forget how awesome it is to be here on a sunday. In the summer espcially, but when it gets cooler it just means it's time to pull out those great warm sweaters, and get to know someone a little bit better.

Tonight i rode down by the riverwalk, in front of the Renaissance Center and chomped on an apple. Sitting on the steps i watched the passers by. Couples, groups of young girls, a cute boy jogging by, and then loners like me, as well as a few homeless folk and security guards just seemed to exist in harmony, the giggles of the girls, the nice breeze, the quiet waves, and the hum of cars driving over the ambassador bridge comfort the heart. Then the lights of Windsor, and the bridge, and the towering gm headquarters help your mind wander. Sundays in detroit are made for long walks, or lonesome bike rides, reflecting upon everything, and indulging in guilty pleasures. Once i could take no more cute coupley action by the water i split to Camptius Martius where the fountain in the middle of this city, played a show for me. I could watch it for hours, mesmerized, listening to the popping sound, and footsteps surrounding me. On the way home i stepped into Cass cafe to see some familiar faces for a moment, then climbed the stairs to my apartment where my roommate made the cutest pie ever made... with little hearts on it.

I need to get my rest, tomorrow is a big day. I will be photographing the Creative Cities Summit, hanging out with Jennfer Granholm, Kenneth Cockrel Jr. (who is my nieghbor) and trying my best to represent a group i'm afraid may be under represented.

for sunday, here are a few guilty pleasure photographs.
the pie!

andres riding a bike on the riverwalk in front of the ren cen.

Hodge at the old Miami

a new personal project.. writing in binary on sidewalks. this reads i am real this is not.

i am glad you are alive...

2008-10-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was so amazing.. by the time i got home.. i was too tired to write about it. so here this will chronicle all.

It started at midtown deli, where i finally found a place to make me my favorite bagel. Garlic bagel, with Jalepeno's and cream cheese. Not only that, but i was early enough to purchase it and arrive at work early!

Then while getting cosy at work, my friend called me dancing in her car to the Freddie Le Grande version of "Put your Hands Up For Detroit!" (originally made by detroit, well Ann Arbor native Matthew Dear).

So I have Bagel, new bouncy ball at work, and this song, along with my best friend to get my day started!

little did i know it would get so much better.

A man named Andrew Mcfarlane who runs Michigan in Pictures http://michpics.wordpress.com/, talked to the head of the Creative Cities Summit and got me a pass... so because of him i will be shooting it all next week!!! hooray! I am so excited to go and participate with some of the most brilliant urban planners, on how to build sustainable creative economies!

http://creativecitiessummit.com/

So this was all at work, as soon as i got home, Mr. Bobby Alcott http://www.bobbyalcott.com/slideshow.php offered to take me to the WIngs opener in a limo, I regretfully declined because i had a bike/camera adventure planed with a dear friend.

This is anthony, we have been friends since we were 15. Our paths through life have been strangely intertwined ever since. Amongst a crowd of hundreds of thousands we found each other after not seeing each other years, and as soon as he comes into town the streets, incessantly announce his arrival, and that of his alter ego, Kosmo, the space bunny. I have suffered through many an existential crisis with him.. this was much more relaxed. just an adventure to African Town.

African Town is the vision of an artist who owns a nearby African Bead museum, He has now taken over more than an entire city block. There are 2 buildings covered in mirriors that were glowing as the sun set, Lighting the entire area... and a yard filled with other installations. It's located at Grand River and Grand Blvd, They provide classes in bead making and Bundles, the man we met, is awesome. I'll go into this more another day. The next adventure blew my mind for two days straight.

The Baltimore Round Robin

Took place at Mocad (Museum of Contempory Art Detroit) over 2 days. It was a traveling group of Musicians and Artists who have more energy in thier bodies collectively, then anything i have ever seen. For two days.. they set up around a room, and performed all different kinds of music, the audience stayed in the center, and the artists often interacted with the entire group, asking us to do things like sit, or form a train that went around the block. Lead by Dan Decon, at one point he was screaming the similarities between Detroit and Baltimore, the stuggles of living in a Post Industrial City, and how we are all in this together. He had the Crowd Screaming I am Glad i am Alive. People wern't just dancing, they were breaking, and letting go. You should go to the round robin if you ever can, you should drive hundreads of miles to take part... the entire thing was incredible. Another highlight from the first night was the ethereal band Beach House.

the rest of the flicks will be on the detroit metromix site.. and my flickr.

and after all that.. i got a new spoke card. and went home and crashed out. I'm late! to go back to work this had to be continued!

the streets

2008-10-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

It's late at night and i'm sitting on my balcony, thinking about how i love seeing the stars.
I can't tonight, like most nights, the city lights stamp them out. However, i can hear the wind blowing through the trees and that is comforting. I hear the rumble of cars on 94, sirens in the distance, and even a few rouge gunshots. When it rains I hear it drip between the houses, and i can watch my neighbors eat dinner from my kitchen, as well as hear when their phone rings, all these thoughts make me feel at home.

The Streets,
always moving, never pausing, ferocious at times, giving at others.
I've seen everything in Detroit, wandered down every alley, all hours of the day.
I've seen defecation, procreation, overwhelming grief, death and life. I've seen love, people starting over, and people giving up.
These streets are real, they are honest, they are bent, broken and reborn.

People live in detroit, there is not time or room, for glamour, or facade. this is you, this is me, we are equal, we are one.

But not always.

For all the bad there is equal, good.
In our community, people here are trying to fight, with our dire circumstances, trying to live, and help others live. People believe, and I believe, that we are fighting against odds, and we will overcome, and we will celebrate our own victories.

For every stranger i make smile, to the building recently rehabbed across the street, we will celebrate, together.

I love Detroit with every fiber of my body. When i need it, it's there, moving, breathing, it sits beside me, and we are one. The sounds of the city and I, my late night lullaby.

in rainbows

2008-10-07T22:12:00.001-07:00

All day today my mind kept wandering to an image frozen in my head. As i sat at the bronx last night a older man stumbled in and sat across from me. Budwiser in hand, he fidgeted uncomfortably, and i fought the urge to stare. He sat under one of the only lights in the bar, like a spotlight, showcasing an object of importance, yet in a corner. The hood on his dark bulky coat was up, and he seemed unconcerned with his surroundings.
Who was this man and how did he end up at the bronx at 1 in the morn?
Among the crowd of college students, and locals, he just looked so out of place... not in an elitest way, but more of a sad one.
It reminded me of one time at the police station in ferndale, (i was paying a speeding ticket, don't speed on 9 mile). Anyways, there was an elderly man crying near the door... i just remember my heart hitting the floor... this was the same feeling. Also, something i never really thought about untill right now. Why do we repress the feelings of compassion, we have for one another... and why i wanted to take his photograph so bad.

anyways.. here we go, one more time!

i shot this double rainbow on the eve of the opening for the hub bike shop, located on cass and MLK. August 11, 2008. The Hub is an extension of Back alley bikes, a collective of people providing transportation to the diverse population in the area. They host classes, group rides, children's programs, provide bike maintenance, and also sell complete bikes and components. At the opening the sun peaked out for long enough to bring about this beauty. All the party goers flooded into the street. This shot was actually hard to take because my hand were covered in pizza grease. eww.

The shop is open tuesdays through sundays, go in and have a chat with joey, jack, or ben... all masters of their craft, all great people too.

back from the windy.

2008-10-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

after a long weekend.. this chilly weather can dampen the spirits.. something nice about the crisp fall air, disappears when your tired.

Tonight after napping like a cat in the sun on my couch, i finally emptied all the boxes from my apartment (almost), I finally gave places homes... and tossed loose ends.

The end of the night found me clutching a candle at the bronx bar, to keep my fingers warm.. and then using my fingers to draw shapes with the light on the faces across from me. The Bronx is the darkest bar in the city... at night, upon exiting, the moon will seem like a spotlight. It seems to take 20 minutes for the eyes to adjust, and you will smell like you smoked 8 packs of ciggerettes. But it is a detroit classic, and a neighborhood gathering spot. They have a sick jukebox, pool table, some nights they offer haircuts.. and have awesome grilled cheeses...

On the ride home my lungs nearly exploded, because of the cold temperatures...

Which is why we need someone at home to keep us cuddly warm.
however, according to the following article, we have the 2nd highest ranking of single people, in the US and A.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/going-solo-in-the-usa.html;_ylc=X3oDMTFpaTViZTJvBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDOTc2MjA0NjUEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawNnb2luZy1zb2xv

I shot this photo on the roof of the Russell industrial center one night. This dog was found north of here, and looks like a wolf. You can here her howling in building 3 of the artists complex. Even though she is really nice and her name is Daisy.

for steve

2008-10-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'm playing a trick on you. I'm actually on the 20th floor of an apartment building over looking chicago right now.
so this is kind of about something this summer. a real treat.. this photo has never seen the light of day, but since i have left you, i wanted to do something special... here it is.
Mom, Dad, Grandma please close your eyes. this is not parent proof.

I really love this photo of my friend steve taken at his loft space. He recently disappeared, for a week or so, and while we wondering where he went, my friend in New York, was surprised to see him appear on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. So we found him in LA. Detroit kids on the move. Steve will show up in these flicks again. He is a good part of this community. Thats about it. i just thought it was interesting. okie sports fans. I might wait till monday when i'm back in the D, but i hope you guys smile much, over the weekend.

love prevails

2008-10-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

when i started this, all of 4 days ago i was worried i would not have enough to write about, but wouldn't you know i'm afraid i might have too much. Today was going to be dedicated to a friend who had disappeared, only to be found on the Jimmy Kimmel show last night, but my friends Dan and Marta decided to get married today. They were gracious enough to let me come photograph it.

We met at forans where they were finishing their beers, and filing out the paper work. The wedding party was small just a few good friends. We walked in the rain down through Hart Plaza, where a reverend with the word vengeance tattooed across his tummy performed the ceremony. The whole thing was rather romantic, and simple, although i'm not sure Marta would admit that ever. The two giddy kids then rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after. Congrats guys!

the first day of october

2008-10-01T22:55:00.001-07:00

October tends to be a particularly... amazing/tramatizing month in my life. Today was freezing cold (57 degrees), i'm not ready for it. So here i go, diving head first into October, and into blogging... I felt today should be a fairly monumental photograph, to go along with the somber mood i felt all day. Something equal to the the gray moody skies, the fall warns us, are coming.

This Building is located on the cities west side. It used to produce rubber, i believe, and i remember coming home to my house in woodbridge, and seeing the flames off in the distance. My friends and I hopped into my car and followed the billiowing cloud on the horizon untill we ended here. The photographs from that night are buried on my hard-drive, and i promise to dig them out. However i watched this business burn to the ground. I returned to shoot this 3 years later.
Only a shell was left.
There were stripped cars and engines inside, it stands next to a still fuctioning auto business (though what kind i cannot say), I climbed up onto the roof, even though i could see the depression around the columns. The cement structure is slowly failing. It is still sourrounded by a large dirt field, and the building, alone with nothing on the horizon reminds me of a third world country. Exactly what a war zone would look like.
My friend is a realtor in the area, Dave Shanaman, (if your looking for commercial property in detroit, get ahold of him). Anways, he told me they were scouting this sight to open another school, but the ground was too contaminated from the fire for children to be playing on it. So I suppose it will still stand. A memory looming over the nieghboorhood.
This was a chilly cold day. But i eneded it warming my heart and tummy at Motor City Brewery.
the sloping in this photograph, is the floor collapsing

a manifesto of sorts...

2008-09-30T17:57:00.001-07:00

i have written and re-written this so many times... in the past few years. This small text touches on some of my hopes, and ideas i've held on to consistently. I want the images to speak for themselves. but incase that is not enough for you, read this.

For the past 7 years i have been documenting life in detroit.
-I have photographed over 40 abandoned buildngs, comercial, industrial, and residential spaces.
-I have amassed over 10,000 images,
- I have scaled walls, escapped wild dogs, spent nights without sleep
-I have traveled these streets by foot, bike, car whatever it has taken to capture photographss of every human emotion, in a city facing major struggles.
- I have tried to collect a series of images that tell a true story; one full of hope and life in a very misunderstood place.

Eventually I would like to collect these photographs and stories into a book, which will document the years i have spent here.
I am a visual artist and who is trying to use my tools, these photographs, to bring positive change to this city.

Some call Detroit the most modern City in the world. a predicition of the future of all cities; based on the fact that more cities are losing population then gaining(according to the Shrinking Cities Studies initiated by the Federal Culture Foundation, Germany, in cooperation with the Gallery for Contemporary Art Leipzig, Bauhaus Foundation Dessau and the Journal Archplus). Between 1950 and 2003 Detroit lost half of it's poulation (-50.2%) while the sorrunding areas grew 171.3%. We are losing people at a rate of about 2 people per day. 10 years ago detroits average income was half that of the suburbs and in 2002, 26.1% of detroits inhabitants lived below the poverty level.

Looking over the press releases for the study which included a series of books, essays (which i highly recommend downloading from the website) and a traveling exhibition, It claimed of all cities (in the world) Detroit has the most striking architecture of abandonment... with one third of the city derelict. It says "visitors should Prepare themselves for dystopian scenery".

HOWEVER,
I see a different city every day I walk out my door. I want to show a different picture of what has been left behind in modern Detroit and the people who are here making a difference.

Things like my nieghboors walking their dogs, and people helping each other at the bike shop don’t make national headlines. But together not only can we make this city the place we want to live, we can show the world that even though some left, what remains is strong, young and putting up a fight.

Many programs/groups are taking advantage of this cities negatives, and turning them into positives. These projects are reusing existing spaces, haboring community, and creating self sufficiency, as well as new forms of labor. They are promoting youth synergies and keeping people active in the city.
Another side to the revitalization of Detroit is the power housed in its vibrant underground culture. This city has a strong tradition of creating unique visuals and sounds that can be seen and heard around the globe, from Motown to electronic music these art froms are bred from Detroits streets and smoking sewers.
-late night parties in unsanctioned venues
-street festivals
-alley cat bike races
-local bars
-and art galleries
are acting as hubs where youth can meet, and network. Some of these events draw hundreads of people, often heavily influenced by art, fashion and music, overall creating life in a place many hve tried to forget. Movements like this have already revitalized cities such as Brooklyn and Venice beach, and it was through documtation that their culture was exposed on a national scale.

A question I am still asking myself is how to harness all of this energy?

... and i don't know the answer...thats for you to decide. you as an active viewer, citizen, human bieng, the world is yours to be made, seen, imagined however you like. the only thing we can do is make change happen, slowly, one day at a time.

Acetaminophen, diphenhydramine hci and phenylephrine hcl

2008-09-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

in life there are the haves and the have nots, those who have allergies.. and those who do not.. i envy the later group, because they don't have to deal with the constant runny and stuffy nose, sinus junk, itchy eyes, that let me tell you, make me a very attractive human bieng, every fall and spring. not to mention for the past 4 years i have lived in houses, aged around 100 years old.. and filled with black mold.. and well, a century of dust.... then there is a known fact that because temperatures are slightly higher in the inner city, and detroit is about 1/3 green space, the deadly pollen season begins earlier and lasts longer. HOORAY!

but really i love this place, and for some reason i named today the first day i would start blogging about living here. everyday.. for as long as i can keep up.. and even though i just ingested Benadryl Allergy & Cold, and am waiting for the sleepy effects to calm my restless legs.. anyways you get the point, i live here. here are some of the interesting things that happen.. every day.

Detroit City of tomorrow

As i shot this photograph on a tuesday night about 1:00 in the morning, a homeless person* across the street started laughing hysterically... it freaked me out a bit and i made a quick escape.. only to run into like 3 other screaming homeless folk*, Desolate at this time of night, earlier in the day, downtown had been corner to corner full of people, there was a tigers game, and Sigor Ros played at the Filmore.
I rode my bike back and forth across the city cutting through traffic, stopping at the bike shop, and the gigantic brownsfield just before belle isle (the largest in the country, the belle tire site), and back up into corktown, woodbridge, then finally downtown, to watch the icelandic group preform.. There was alot of wandering before i stumbled upon this lonely scene... but i felt it's what we all want to envision, Detroit, "City of the Future"

*homeless folk to be politically correct.

"you are about to witness the very exciting story about a city and it's people.
it will be an adventure that will open new sights in familiar sourroundings.
it is a story of a city seeking new horizons in a resolute contest with great challenges.
that city is detroit, home of nearly [one million] people back in 1701 long before this land become a nation, caddiliac planted the colors of france on detroits shore, and thus began a rich and inspiring history which has brought detroit to its finnest hour, the today of which we are apart. yes detroit is enjoying it's finest hour, there is a rennisance, a rebirth in this city, there is a newness in detroit. i am honored to be serving as [photographer] at this most eventful and productive period in detroits history and i am honored to be a participant in the detroit story." **

**i took this quote from a film, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUbsw28PCpA
more information about the film;

"This public domain film narrated by then-mayor Jerome P. Cavanaugh was made in 1965 to promote Detroit. The city faced many urban problems and its population was in decline. These difficulties were amplified by the 1967 riots, which are seen by many as one of the most significant events which led the city into a forty year decline. Since the mid 50s, the population has dropped by half and the infrastructure has been destroyed or has decayed due to abuse and neglect"