The following picture shows a still life I set up for a few students.

(I made the bronze skeleton while studying at Instituto Allende.)

A drawing I’ve been working on:

And from the Lantern Making Workshop:

They’re paintings on pages from an old biology book that I did in 2006 at Penland. I had been saving them to make into a book and just decided to send the pages out individually instead.

Anne:

Claudia:

My mail-mate is from Pasadena, California. It was lots of fun to create a small care package to send across the country to my new friend!

A peek at what I sent:

The folded paper on top is a map of the contents.

To the left is a handmade book (farmers purse) which I stuffed with some MI fall leaves, The metal rooster on the right is actually a pair of scissors, there are some handmade MI beeswax candles among other things.

And drum roll…..this is what I was gifted! It was such a pleasure to open each carefully chosen, made, and written bit. I savored reading all of the thoughtful little notes she sent.

A women after my own heart. We both have art degrees. She’s a painter.

She hand carved all of these stamps and printed little personalized note cards for me!

And now, for my first tutorial!

How to make a Winter Solstice Lantern.

Materials:

* Clear glass jars

* Tissue paper – various colors

* Scissors

* Flat paintbrush

* White glue or gel medium

* Plastic bowl (to mix glue solution)

* Tea Candles

* Wire

* Wire cutters/ pliers

* Optional: Ribbon & Hot Glue gun

1. Collect and flatten leaves.

1a. If using glue, gently mix 1 part glue to 2 1/2 parts water. gel medium can be used straight.

2. Cut or rip pieces of tissue paper in colors of your choice.

3. Brush your medium onto the jar.

4. Stick pieces of tissue on the medium and then brush a little more on top of them.

5. Add a leaf or any other special something you’d like to be on your lantern.

6. To help keep the leaf secure, add white pieces of tissue over it and brush with medium.

(You can use strips too!)

7. For the handle, wrap some wire around the lip of the jar. Cut a second piece of wire to connect to the piece around the lip in an upside U. Twist the wire to secure. Tuck in all ends.

8. Using the hot glue gun, fold a wide piece of ribbon in half around the wire handle and glue the edges shut.

9. Secure the wire around the lip of the jar (and cover the edges from the handle) with more hot glue and a piece of ribbon wrapped all the way around.

10. Once dry, put a tea candle inside.

Please let me know if any parts need further clarification.

Enjoy your beautiful lanterns!

Any guesses?

This Hamtramck installation was done by some visiting artists. (The wood cutout over the window, not the burning.)

We drove passed the Power House Project, which has received quite a bit of press lately.

The Power House Project serves two primary goals:
[1] To develop a model home.
The house, as an architectural experiment, will work as a prototype example or model home for what is possible in the current atmosphere of cheap housing in the city. What does it take to create a truly affordable, secure, sustainable house for under $99,000?
[2] The house is a social art project. (info:phproject)

I had never known about this little block of Farnsworth Street before so was really excited to visit here. There is a vibrant community of people working to restore homes, make art and keep up a wonderful community garden.

I wish I would have put my fingers into the photo to give perspective on this tiny phone.

We quickly drove down Heidleberg Street.

The Heidelberg Project, bearing the name of the street on which it exists, was started in 1986 by Tyree Guyton.

…Guyton began by cleaning up vacant lots on Heidelberg and Elba Streets.  From the refuse they collected, Guyton began to transform the street into a massive art environment. (Heidleberg Project)

and through Brush Park

Homes were built in Brush Park beginning in the 1850s and peaking in the 1870s and 1880s; one of the last homes built was constructed in 1906 by architect Albert Kahn for his personal use. Kahn lived in this home until his death in 1942, after which it was obtained by the Detroit Urban League, which still uses it today.

During the 19th century, around 300 homes were built in Brush Park, including 70 Victorian mansions. However, the neighborhood began to decline in the late 19th and early 20th century, when the advent of streetcars and then automobiles allowed prosperous citizens to live further from downtown. Early residents moved out, notably to up-and-coming neighborhoods such as Indian Village and Boston-Edison, and the neighborhood became less fashionable. During the Great Depression, many of the old mansions were subdivided into apartments, and as demand for housing fell after World War II, the homes were abandoned and fell into disrepair. (wikipedia)

I had completely forgotten about Hamtramck Disney Land, but was so glad when we noticed it poking out of the alley behind Klinger Street.

A retired gentleman named Dmytro Szylak — who came to Hamtramck from the Ukraine right after WWII — created Hamtramck Disneyland. It took him from 1997 or so until 1999 to put it all up. Several of the displays are wired-up and move when he flicks a switch. He also has lights and music wired-up. It’s in the back of an unassuming house on Klinger St. right in the alley. It looks like a carnival for gnomes. [Lenaya Lynch, 04/26/2006] (Roadside America)

We made a stop at CCS and also drove through Russel Industrial, Boston Edison, New Center, North End, Eastern Market, Woodbridge, Corktown, Hubbard Farms, Mexicantown and East English Village. There are a handful of places we didn’t make it too in our short trip…next time!

It was great to tour Detroit and learn more about this city that I love so much. I’m thrilled to think such innovative thinkers and workers may be joining the dynamic community we have here.