Neon lights the way!

For my last post I would like to talk about Greektown station. This is a high traffic area due to the casino and all the great food down Monroe Street. The title is “Neon for the Greektown Station” and is the work of Stephen Antomakos. Here is the description from The People Movers site, “A stunning, colorful series of neon designs adds a sense of excitement and festivity to Detroit's most active nighttime entertainment district. Free-form neon tubing stretches across the sides and windows of the station, then arches across the guideway, with sculptural raceways adding a feeling of motion to this innovative art form.” 

I would say I saved the best for last, and I feel most would agree with me. Yea all of the art along The People Mover track is great to look at and talk about. Its just something about the glow of neon lights over a busy city that makes me stop and see the city from a whole new light. The city of Detroit has had its ups and downs that is cretin, but Greektown casino was one of the first casinos in the city. This casino has become iconic to the city as The People Mover itself.  This around the Greektown station has become “the” downtown area of Detroit. 

Most people done event recognize the neon lights because of the casino, they think its part of the casinos bright lights to lure you in and gamble. This is not the case it was not done to lure guest into the casino, it was done to be seen by people during the busy city nights. I would say that this is my favorite station because it goes unnoticed for the most part. People don't stop to enjoy how the neon lights up the street and brings color to what would be a dark intersection. Detroit should consider spreading out its art to reach all areas of the city to bring beauty where there was once despair, mush like these neons have brought Monroe Street.  

Here is a picture of the Fredmont Light show in Las Vegas, if you haven't seen this, do yourself a favor and go it this summer. Las Vegas is a great town full of neon lights and shows the true art that is neon. I am a city kid at heart and this is the reason I saved Greektown for last, I feel this is the heart of Detroit. 

Thanks to Google Images for all of my great photos.

Rat Rods??

The Detroit Red Wings and Autorama at Cobo filled the city and crowded The People Mover this weekend. I was more than happy to ride The People Mover to Cobo from Greektown Casino. I take a ride every chance I get it's a great way to see the city but still stay warm. So naturally I would like to discuss the Art at Cobo this week and some of the cars I seen while at Autorama. 

I guess, first I should explain what Autorama is, it's an indoor car show that is made up of older cars, its specializes in whats called “Rat Rods.” The classic Rat Rod is made up of old parts and painted with flat paint or not painted at all. The best part is how creative the builders get with using kegs for a gas tank or beer cans for a radiator overflow tank.

In short Autorama is the “poor mans” auto show and I love it. I like the fact that for one the cars are being used and not just a waste of money. I don't understand why someone would buy a car to look at in the garage, I would want to drive it and see what it could do. Here are a couple photos of the great cars that were at Autorama this weekend, if you missed it. 

Cobo is known for its auto connection, they have had auto shows at Cobo for a while now. This is a good reason to display some Detroit history and is the reason for its art work at The Cobo People Mover station. The title is Calvacade of Cars and the two artist are Larry Ebel / Linda Cianciolo Scarlett. 

Here is the description on The People Movers site:

“There are 2 Fords, 2 Chryslers, 2 G.M.s and 1 Cord. The artists first created this design by taking photographs of the actual cars. Then they chose the colors and the arrangement of how things should be placed and sent it to Crovatto Mosaics. Crovatto is located in a little town in Italy, and its chief industry is making venetian glass mosaics (too expensive to have done in the States). To make the venetian glass, workers pound out very small pieces of colored glass and put them on individual pieces of mesh. They would then ship the pieces of mesh to us. Installation was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.”

This is a great description, and I am sure it took a great deal of time to assemble. I know it takes me a long time to put together a 1000 piece puzzle, this would have taken me years to complete. This is a great piece of art and you have to see it in person to get the true beauty of the cars and the work it took to assemble. 

Are you a fan of Jigsaw puzzles?

What is your all time favorite car, and why?

Sea shells by the sea shore?

This week I continue our tour around Detroit, The People Mover keeps moving around and around. 

This weekend I watched a movie that asked the question, “ When a butterfly leaves its cocoon, does it see how beautiful its become, or does it still see a caterpillar?” 

This is a great question and is true about art, we all see it in our own way. We see the world through our life experiences and art is no exception to this rule, this is why I am so passionate about art and classical music. The tile work here is very similar to something you would find in Art works from India. 

This is a great introduction to our next stop on our great journey around Detroit. Ms. Tobin is the next artist I would like to talk about after spending a year in India she was inspired to create the tile work at Fort / Cass Station (picture to the left). 

Here is the story from The People Movers website: 

“The artist spent a year in India and was very much influenced by the Islamic tiles found there. The famous Taj Majal in India has tiles with similar design. The design is based on a pattern of very large red X's and smaller black X's. For the glaze on some of the tiles, the artist used ash from the Mt. St. Helen volcano eruption. This piece was very tedious to install. It took six weeks, seven days a week to complete.” 

This is an untitled piece of art but the tile isn’t alone Fort / Cass also has a sculpture that is named Progression II, its made out of bronze this was the work of a woman named Sandra Jo Osip (the picture to the right). I see a form of evolution like a river wears away the land. It looks to me like a shell that has evolved over time.  

What do you see when looking at the pictures? 

Do you think a butterfly sees the beauty it possesses? 

Do we see the greatness in our own life, our own beauty or purpose?

Ref:

http://bit.ly/zgjugC

Don't wake the Ram!

I have selected a video to show the thrip around the city. This is a great one minute tour of the city via Detroit People Mover. It goes a little fast and might make you sick if you watch too closely. This gives you a great front row seat to the People Movers journey around the city and all of the wonderful stops. Now I know you cant see the wonderful art we have been talking about, but this still a great song and video none the less. I wanted to give everyone a chance to see the ride and experience The Detroit People Mover if you haven't already. Just keep in mind its way slower in real life then it is in this video. 

Now I wanted to talk about Renaissance Center station or Ren - Cen if your a local. But lets not get caught up on names and lingo now, lets focus on the art at the station. 


Title: Siberian Ram
Artist: Marshall Fredericks
Station:Renaissance Center Station

The bio for this says it all:

“The emotional and spiritual beauty of this cast bronze sculpture fuses with the functional form of the station architecture. Mr. Fredericks, who has earned an international reputation for exhibitions, awards and monumental sculptures, captures the warm and gentle spirit of this beautifully regal ram. The lush green backdrop for this piece, designed by Pewabic Pottery, is created from handcrafted historic Pewabic tiles donated by the Stroh Brewery Company.

http://bit.ly/A6nojd

Again the back drop is a the historic tiles of Pewabic pottery that is located just outside of downtown. The bio reads, “the emotional and spiritual beauty” this to me says it all, we all have emotional and spiritual beauty in our own ways don't we? The great thing about art and life is we all see it different and thats ok. Mr. Fredricks doesn't mind if you don't see the same vision he had when creating this piece of art. I see a goat just waking up and trying to get his body in motion. I see myself trying to climb out of bed in the morning to another day. 

The art goes far beyond this bronze goat once you awl into the Renaissance Center your surrounded by beautiful architecture in the main floor of the Ren - Cen. I love the River Walk (in the summer of course), and the best way to get there is through the Ren - Cen. You can also see many of General Motors new cars inside the building as well, they like to show off what they have been working on. What do you see when looking at Mr. Fredricks ram? What is something that stands out at the Ren- Center stop?

Moving on up

Title: On the Move
Artist: Kirk Newman

http://bit.ly/xie0Br

Our next stop on The Detroit People Mover is Michigan Ave., and has two works of art at this stop. The first one I see when at this stop is the one called "On The Move" that I mention above by Kirk Newman. Kirk had envisioned the people running to catch the train with briefcases in hand. I am sure we have all been in a hurry to get somewhere before. However, most of us have a car and can just drive faster to make up lost time. This isn't the same in a big city, when you have to ride a train, you must run to catch the one thats about to leave. The station has two works of art On the Move is one and the "Voyage" by Allie McGhee is pictured to the right. I do like the art at this train station its contemporary and different. However, I feel that the rushing people have a reason to be in a hurry and its to get back to work after a long yummy lunch at a local coney island. Michigan Ave. stop on The Detroit People Mover is home to the coney war and one of the greatest bus stops of all time. What would Detroit be without a Coney Island the coney war has been going on in Detroit for some time now. I like  Lafayette Coney Island myself but we all have our own reasons. 

http://bit.ly/x6n9oP

What one do you like the most, Lafayette Coney Island or American Coney Island?

http://bit.ly/yy7dcq

 I mentioned a bus stop earlier and would like to talk for a second about what makes it great. First off, its Rosa Parks bus stop and provided a picture to the right. This stop was in memory of what Rosa Parks did for civil rights. So once again we have art that will catch your eye but the story behind it is much better. I realize that this is just my story but I would love to hear your story, tell me what you think about Rosa Parks or what Coney Island is better, or even talk about the art. I have enjoyed the "On The Move" art and still like the idea that we are all in a hurry to get no where fast. Sometimes I think when we rush it never works in our favor. Life lesson slow down and enjoy your time here, before its too late. 

A step back in time

Title: In Honor of W. Hawkins FerryArtist: Tom Phardel / Pewabic Pottery

Station: Times Square Station

http://bit.ly/x4CvVO 

"Detroit's Pewabic Pottery is one of only two active turn-of -the-century pottery studios in the country. Its work, known for deep, richly-colored glazes, can be found in classic structures in Detroit and across the nation. Tom Phardel's design recalls the art deco style, using glazes reminiscent of Mary Chase Stratton's Pewabic work during the hey-day of America's Arts and Crafts Movement." (http://bit.ly/w2Gq52)

http://bit.ly/AxO2om

Now that we all know something about the next stop on our tour, lets talk about why I like it so much. I know in my last post that I said I only like art thats different. This art is much more than just some tiles on the wall it has a history with me and the city of Detroit. The tile for the Times Square stop was made at Detroit's Pewabic Pottery. This is what makes it special to me I have toured Pewabic many times and made some tile there. 

Before I get into that, lets get some history on Pewabic Pottery. It's a small shop just outside of the city of Detroit. This is a great place to take the kids on a rainy day or even take a date, you can tour the shop and then make some pottery. They have all kinds of different pottery on display from mosaic work to different kinds of hand made characters. 


Here is some history from Pewabic's site,"Pewabic Pottery was founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry (later Mary Chase Perry Stratton) and her partner, Horace Caulkins (developer of the Revelation Kiln), at the height of the Arts & Crafts movement in America. Pewabic's first home was a stable on Alfred Street in Detroit. Four years later, Pewabic Pottery moved to a new facility on East Jefferson designed by architect William Buck Stratton in the Tudor Revival style. In 1991, the building (which still houses the Pottery) and its contents were designated a National Historic Landmark and today is Michigan's only historic pottery." (http://bit.ly/x2e4wG)

http://bit.ly/yI3oGy

They have tile work all over the city and most people have never even heard of them. One building that I love to go and see when in the city is the Guardian Building. This building was made to be a bank and is now used for many different reasons mostly offices. You can take a tour of the Guardian Building, as soon as you walk in look up. This building has an amazing ceiling and you will probably fall in love just like I did. However, this blog isn't about the Pewabic pottery all over the city or the Guardian Building  even though I could write a blog about each of these topics. This blog is about the Detroit People Mover and all of the great art it offers to its riders. 

The Pewabic Pottery stop on the The Detroit People Mover as you can tell is special to me because I know about the history. When I see the art at this stop I remember all of the times I made something at Pewabic Pottery, or toured the shop. I like the people mover because each stop has a little piece of history with the city, they all have a story to tell. 

Have you been to Pewabic Pottery?

Whats your favorite Pewabic art in the city?

One man many names...

http://bit.ly/yc2t4j 

Title: Catching UpArtist: J. Seward Johnson, Jr.Station: Grand Circus Park Station

I decided to start a blog about something that I feel gets a lot of bad publicity, not only in the city, but here in the suburbs as well. Now, don't get me wrong I have been one to say bad things about it as well. I have heard it all from “it's a waste of money” to “its pointless because it doesn't go far.” Regardless of how you feel, I see it as a monument in the city of Detroit.

It has been a moving billboard for over two decades. “The 2.9 Mile track takes about 14 minutes to go around the loop and has 13 passenger stations” (http://bit.ly/AzNMXx).

All 13 stations have unique and personalized pieces of art, this is what attracted me to The People Mover. I love unique art and Detroit is home to some of the best. The Heidelberg Project is one that I find amazing. Check it out if your in the city with some time in the summer (http://bit.ly/ArSteF).

I found that of the fifteen artists that have art work along the people mover track, nine of them are from the state of Michigan. Over the next couple of weeks I want to look at each station and talk about what I think about each. I personally believe that if you have seen the artwork and knew the background you would also love the People Mover as much as I do.

One station that I enjoy is the Grand Circus Park. This station has a life-size man in bronze reading his newspaper. This was personalized with the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News in the statue. I am not the only one that likes it because the people of Detroit voted it the “‘most popular’ by the people of metropolitan Detroit” (http://bit.ly/y1Cchn).

I would say this Bronze statue stands out the most to me because of its simplicity, it catches the eye of everyone that passes by it. I like the idea that he has been reading the same paper for over 20 years. I know he isn't really reading it, just maybe skimming it, or browsing it. Now, on to some background information. It was made using a “lost wax process” where they poured the hot bronze over a form and melted the formed wax away.

This is not an original to Detroit. There are six of the same statue around the world (http://bit.ly/y1Cchn). However, the personalization is original. All of the different cities that received the statue have there local papers in his hands and on his briefcase. It’s still not your typical painting on the wall or tile artwork, and thats why I like it the most.

I make sure that when I am in Detroit ridding the People Mover I stop by and say hello to Samuel (now, thats my personal name for him) you can name him yourself and thats part of the beauty of art we all see it differently. I am sure he has many names and everyone sees and loves him differently. Just like a real person, we see and feel differently about each other, and some of us even have many names and titles. Stop by and say hello next time your on the People Mover at Grand Circus Park.

What are your first impressions of the People Mover?

What station do you remember the most, and why?