Let's start taking care of things..

As I drove to and from the Art Institute on Saturday, I showed my granddaughter some of the sights along the way. I'm not a big sports fan, but we drove past what's left of Tiger Stadium. Detroit has a big beautiful park now, called Comerica Park.

It was built in 2000 so there was no more need for the historic Tiger Stadium, built in 1912.

I explained to my granddaughter, in my cynical way, that "that's what we do in America,,we don't take care of anything, we just replace it."

The Roman Colosseum is over 1900 years old and is still standing. But our stadium couldn't last 100 years. Tear it down,,replace it. It should be the American Motto. Maybe fit it somewhere on the dollar bill.



I hate to be sarcastic but Detroit is such an example of this. No one took care of anything and now the city is full of old houses, stores and factories. I know a lot has to do with the economic crisis that's been happening here over the years, but it seems to be prevalent here.

Obulant mansions, nestled in safe neighborhoods, now stand boarded up, decaying or burned out.

A burned out mansion sits amid garbage.

.

Can you imagine how wonderful this old house must have been at one time?

Several years ago, my x husband and I looked at a house on West Grand Boulevard. It had 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a parlor, dining room, library, and a maid's quarter. It was completely fenced in and I figured I would get a watch dog to protect me.

It was priced at $120,000. It was in bad shape, but my x was a contractor, so our plan was to work on the house and renovate it while living in it. The neighborhood wasn't the best, but my dream was that maybe more people would come back into Detroit, find a gem of a house, and rebuild the city.

I'm such a dreamer. That deal fell though (glad it did, as I'm divorced from him now)..But, my heart was in the right place. It still is. I have a fantasy that all of my friends and relatives buy a whole block of houses, live there, watch over each other. That will never happen, but maybe somewhere out there, someone is doing just that.

On the way back from the museum, I wanted to show my granddaughter the school and church I used to go to.

It was a private Christian/Lutheran church and school and I went there from 1962 through 1972. Imagine my surprise when, instead of seeing a cross on the top of the steeple, I saw a crescent moon on a golden dome.

My old church is now The Quran Institute..

A view of my old church and school, taken from the alley.



The cornerstone is the only reminder of what this building used to be.

When I saw that the church and school were Islamic, I was devastated. But as I thought about it, it made perfect sense. Better to have the buildings be purchased and taken care of, then to sit and rot and decay like so many others. The neighborhood has changed from Germans and Polish, to Yemens and Syrians. I think I then was more concerned with what they did to the beautiful stained glass windows in the church. Did they paint over them (they were of Christ, Mary and the Saints)..Did they cover them? I couldn't tell from the street.

As I drove home, my granddaughter and I talked. I explained to her that she needed to begin to start taking care of her things. I too have to be more careful to take better care of my car, my home, my possessions. I was never very good at that. I tend to be messy and unorganized so how can I be upset when I see all of the neglected homes I just referenced? I have a few jobs that need to be done around my home and I'm going to work on them this spring.
But my little trip downtown will be a reminder to myself to start now.

Polymer Clay

Here are a few things I've been working on lately.

A grandmother with her three grandchildren

A pregnant mom for a cake topper


A monkey / panda bear cake topper

Michigan Central Building

I have a fascination with old buildings so when I took my granddaughter to the museum, I pointed out some of the abandoned ones along the way.

My favorite is the Michigan Central Building. It was built in 1913 in the architectural style of Beaux Arts. This combined classical Greek and Roman architecture with Renaissance ideas and was used for grand public buildings and beautiful mansions. Features included..

• Massive and grandiose
• Constructed with stone
• Balustrades
  
• Balconies
  
• Columns
  
• Cornices
  
• Pilasters
  
• Triangular pediments
• Lavish decorations: swags, medallions, flowers, and shields
• Grand stairway
• Large arches
• Symmetrical facade

When this building was originally built it was located a few miles from the center of downtown Detroit. The hope was that growth would continue and that the area between downtown and the station would swell with homes and businesses. Cars were not a worry for the city planners, most people didn't own them. They took street cars or walked. The great depression took a toll on the city, buildings did not get built and soon the great station was virtually isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city. During World War 2 it did get a lot of use, but by the late 60s most of it was closed off. It closed it's doors for good in 1988 and has been stripped of it's marble walls, decorative tiles and brass fixtures.

Now the station stands alone, it's silhouette can be seen for miles. A barbed wire fence surrounds it. No Trespassing signs warn outsides to stay out, yet vandals still find ways to get inside.

When I stand and face the Michigan Central Station, protected by the 8 foot fence that surrounds it, there's an uneasiness that settles inside me. The empty bleak windows seem to stare back at me and I wonder if there's someone there, watching. My granddaughter felt it too and kept asking me, "is anyone inside there now?"

I once wrote a short story called, "If I find you". It was based on something I had read about the Michigan Central Station. Someone had written an article about the decaying ruin and mentioned some graffiti they had read. Sprayed on a wall, somewhere in a corridor, were the words, "If I find you in the evening, THEY will find you in the morning." This set my imagination in motion and I envisioned the station housing some hideous monster who killed by night. Inspired by a gargoyle like image on the upper columns of the building, I wrote about a winged creature who crept along the balconies and pediments, waiting and watching.

But nothing so sinister waits there. The once grand building continues to decay. To renovate it might be impossible. No one wants to see it gone, yet no one can bring it back to life. Maybe it has a purpose though. The Michigan Central Station was featured in a few movies recently, Transformers and The Island. Maybe it can be the backdrop for more feature films.

They say Hollywood is coming to Michigan. Maybe they'll see the potential of this once great building and save it.

I hope so. Until then, it stands alone, a bleak reminder of city neglect and urban decay.

The Detroit Institute of Arts

I spent a wonderful day at the Detroit Institute of Arts yesterday with my 6 year old granddaughter, Madeline.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I'm ashamed that there are so many great things to do in our city and I rarely take advantage of them. Sometimes it's because funds are limited, but, to be honest, it's because I think that other things are more important. For instance, I have to do my homework, or work on an order, or clean the yard. But, taking the time yesterday to go to the museum was worth every second that I spent there.

I was motivated and inspired. I made a great memory with my granddaughter. Maybe she was inspired. My visual sense was reawakened. When it was all over I wanted to go home and paint. During the night, I dreamed of great hallways, marble statues and spiral staircases. The images of the works of Van Gogh, Seurat and Monet continue to swirl around in my head this morning.



I will not deny myself the museum any more. I will work it into my Saturdays every chance I get. I'll go alone if need be, but I hope that others will go with me. Discussing great artists with a 6-year-old flutter bug is a challenge. My granddaughter flittered and swirled though the Diego Rivera hall. She stretched and twirled in the American Landscapes exhibit. Although she was very well behaved, her attention span is limited. How much can a 6-year-old truly understand the concept that a painting is 500 years old?



But I would take her again in a minute. Because she did like it. She loved the spiral staircase. The mummies intrigued her. She took pictures of statues, pottery and paintings. She pretended the museum was her castle and she was hiding from the evil queen.

The two of us are a good team. We played eye spy while I rested my knee. We shared a snack in the Kresge court. We both were amazed and a little afraid of the room-sized elevators that took us from floor to floor. We both made a souvenir booklet in the children’s workshop. I bought her a kaleidoscope from the gift shop and I treated myself to a painted rock.





When I asked her what her favorite part of the museum was, she giggled, “the boobies.” I gave her a look like, “seriously?”.. She quickly changed her answer to “the art project.”


Madeline and I took over 260 pictures of our day yesterday. She had free reign of my camera while I drove. Later on, I'll post some more picture of our museum adventure.

Promise yourself that soon you will visit your local art museum, library, science center or historical museum. Take advantage of the cultural events that take place in your neighborhood. Stroll around an art gallery for an hour or two. If you are reading this blog, chances are you enjoy art and creativity. Absorb yourself in it. With it comes a sense of peace and wonder. The visual stimulus lasts for days and it makes you yearn for more.

Things about Michigan I'm grateful for...

It seems like everywhere I go, people are talking about the woes of living in Michigan. They think there's a silver lining in Texas or Tennessee or Arizona. Maybe there is, but I'm not going anywhere. I am so tired of hearing bad news, especially concerning Metro Detroit, the car companies, Mayor problems, foreclosed houses, etc, etc, that I decided I wanted to make a list of 10 things that I'm grateful for.

1. Water. Michigan is surrounded by six quadrillion gallons of fresh water, and over 3,000 miles of lake coastline. There are also more than 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan and, according to the Michigan Historical Center, one is never more than six miles from an inland lake or more than 85 miles from one of the Great Lakes. I think I've personally traveled along 1/2 of those 3,000 miles of coastline. I plan on seeing more of it this summer. "We never know the worth of water 'til the well is dry." -English Proverb
2. Pine Trees. I know everyone has pine trees, but can you hike through a forest of white pines, kicking up sand under your feet and come up onto a bluff that looks over miles of sandy dunes that lead down to one of the great lakes? If you can, then you know how wonderful it is.
3. Diversity. A few weeks ago my sister and her family and I went on our annual traditional shopping spree. In 5 hours we bought hot tortillas in Mexican Town, Fresh produce and spices at the Eastern Market, bought kielbasa and pierogis in Hamtramck (had a great Polish dinner there), stopped in Greek town for some sweets, bought fresh Italian sausages and cheeses at a great Italian market in east Dearborn and ended up at an Arabic bakery for Syrian bread and baklava.
   
4. Snow. Seriously, sometimes I like it. Like tonight when I came home from work. It was dark outside my home, and as I got out of my car, I was met with a soft silence as wispy snow floated down from the dark sky. There was a light scent of smoke in the air; someone had lit a fire. It was a pleasant moment.
5. Spring. Do lilacs bloom in warm climates? I'm not sure, but I would hate to live where there were no lilacs. I planted a lilac bush close to my bedroom window so that in the spring I can smell it's perfumy fragrance.
6. Family. My family is here in Michigan. They live 5 miles, 10 miles and 40 miles away. But they are here, close enough for me to see weekly. I can't imagine being any further away.
7. Friends. I have a handful of friends. It is just the right amount for me. I've had friends come and go and now the friends I have are probably the most important I've ever had.
   
8. History. I'm such a nostalgic person. I drive past a bump in the road and can remember something from my past that has to do with that bump. I remember sights and smells and sounds and can only imagine that if I moved anywhere else, my soul would stay in Michigan.
9. Comfort. Yep. It's all about comfort. It's too scary to think of living anywhere else. It's scary to think about leaving behind my friends, my home, my family, my job, my contacts, and my memories.
10. Hope. No matter how dismal the news is, no matter how many people are facing job cuts and loses, people here still have hope. I see it everywhere I go. People still shop, they buy paint to paint their houses, crafts to decorate, fabric to sew, books to read. I know people are suffering and times are hard, but people still smile and laugh and they keep on living.

I understand there is real pain and fear now because of the economy. I am surrounded by it and don't want to act as if trying to change the way I think will make it all go away. But, it's a great coping mechanism that I use. Being grateful for what I do have helps me. I don't practice Buddhism, but I sure like their sayings.....Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.

What did Debbie do today?


I made several embellishments. Here is a picture of some of them. I used rubber stamps and made little words. I'm giving them to a friend of mine who does Artist Trading Cards. I did an alphabet and some faces too. Kind of simple, but she will find many things to do with them.

Downtown excursion and making clay

For years I've wanted to go to the John K. King's Used and Rare book store in Detroit. I've passed the building hundreds of times and wondered what great books I might find inside, but it wasn't until yesterday that I finally ventured down there.

My good friend Phil drove Mary Ann and I. From my house it took 18 minutes, almost as fast as going to my local library. Parking was limited; we got the last parking spot in the lot. I was told the building was an old glove factory. Proof of that is on a rubber mat by the front door. It says advanced glove company, with an imprint of a glove. There are boxes of free books located near the entrance and two sets of marble steps that lead to the main floor. Although there are 4 floors, I stayed on the main floor for two reasons. One, it was sensory overload for us. Two, my knees were killing me. I could have taken the elevator, but I was too overwhelmed by the amount of books.

I spent most of my time in the children's book section. I found several books I wanted, but settled on one, called "Day In and Day Out". It's an Alice and Jerry book. (similar to Dick and Jane). I love these books. I love the innocence of the children, the family values, the illustrations. The graphics are wonderful.


I found Thoreau's Walden, but it was priced $8.50 and the text was difficult to read. I can buy a new version for the same price at Borders, so I passed on that choice. I did find Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" priced at $2.50. I saw the movie version "The Haunting" when I was 10 or 11 and it was probably the scariest movie I'd ever seen. I saw it again when I was in my 30s. I was up late, lying on the couch. It was so scary I was paralyzed with fear, too terrified to get up and run to bed. I own the movie now, and it's not so scary when you've seen it 20 times, but it still has it moments. The beginning sentence of the story goes like this..

."No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone."

Reading that sentence gave me goosebumps. I think it's because it's so well written. It's so wonderfully creepy.



I found some magazines from the 50s that were perfect for collage and clip art, but they weren't marked. The cashier had to call the owner who priced them at $5 and $20. I wasn't happy with those prices, or the fact that the magazines weren't priced. However, I admit that I think if I would have more money, or if they would have taken a check, I would have purchased them. When I go back, I'm going to check them out again. I wonder if his price will stay the same.

After spending almost two hours wandering around the main floor, I finally bought my two little books, knowing that I'll return. I found a set of 6 volumes of great children's stories and graphics. It was published in the 1920s and the entire set was $125.00. It's on my wish list now. I want that set!

On the way out of the building I grabbed two books. One called Stay Slim for Life. My mom used to have this book and would make diet recipes from it. I couldn't resist it.



Another book I took for free was the 1952 Who's Who in America. I only wanted it because it has over 2500 pages of tiny print that will look great in collage and ATCs. My favorite actor has always been James Cagney, and I found a little snippet about him. on page 370. I can see myself using the pages of this book for all kinds of art projects.


If you love to collect books, I would recommend visiting King's book store. They don't accept checks but do take credit cards and bank cards. I think I will have to visit many times before I feel comfortable enough to really wander around the massive store. It's a bit unorganized, has an eclectic atmosphere (that includes the customers), made me sneeze a few times and probably has something you are looking for.

What did Debbie make today?

I had a very productive day today. I made four cake toppers and 5 clay babies. I've scanned a few of my babies to show you. I said I would show you daily what I've done, but I have to admit, it's very time consuming to take the pictures, upload them, crop them, etc. It's faster to scan them today, even though the images are not the greatest. I'll have pictures of the toppers later.



PS...if you are reading this in your email, I apologize for the spelling errors. I've since fixed them.