Arts and Scraps
All those extra coffee cans, felt scraps, video tapes, and aluminum foil that's often headed to the trash have a home at Arts and Scraps. The East side non-profit takes in unused materials from local businesses and residents, then creates art projects for educators to teach with.
Yasmin and Daja during their class field trip to Arts and Scraps
A glimpse of Arts and Scraps packed storeroom
Peg Upmeyer co- founded Arts and Scraps 21 years after seeing the need by teachers for basic materials that could be used in hands-on school projects. As a former teacher herself, Upmeyer had also witnessed the waste of usable materials by households and businesses. They've moved 4 times in 21 years, Upmeyer says the hardest part in the beginning was getting people to understand what Arts and Scraps does, "21 years ago, saying 'we want what you throw away to recycle it into materials for kids' was not in the mindset like green is right now. Now, when we call a company and ask for materials, it means something."
She says they've done a lot of business in the last few years, due to the economy. Large chain stores are cleaning out warehouses full of stuff to save on rent and Arts and Scraps's own storehouse has doubled in effect. Their target is under-served kids, Upmeyer says they'll often have boxes of mismatched crayons which volunteers will divide into dozens of small packets for children who may have never been given a new set before.
Arts and Scraps takes anything that's small, clean, and safe for kids to handle. Find out how to donate or volunteer at ARTSandSCRAPS.com.
Hamtramck Collective Hatch
Photography by Hatch co-founder Chris Schneider
WDET's next featured organization is the Hamtramck collective Hatch, a group of more than 50 artists whose aim is to be a meeting point for like-minded folks. The group is in the process of renovating the former Hamtramck Police Station into a gallery space, education center, and a physical location for artists to meet and collaborate with each other. Hatch will open their yearly showcase of group members work next month during the Metro Times Hamtramck Blowout. Called Hatchback 4, the show opens at the group's adopted home, the lovely Cafe 1923 on Holbrook. Listen in this week and next on Morning Edition, The Craig Fahle Show, and All Things Considered as we talk with Hatch about their work.
WDET’s First STAR Recipient is… The Trinity House
( Photo: Michael Hacala )
Livonia musical venue The Trinity House has been chosen as WDET’s first STAR Program recipient. The cozy, 90-seat venue specializes in local and nationally touring Folk, Americana, and Acoustic acts. It’s a mainly volunteer-run organization, kept in operation by a dedicated group of people whose passion lies in the traditional and roots music genres.
The Trinity House itself dates to the early-to-mid 19th century and was originally a Christian-denominational church (There’s still a charming old graveyard in the backyard). After its use as a religious house was over, the Trinity was used as a venue for local theatrical productions until the late nineties, when Concert Coordinator Bill Keith began regularly booking live musical acts to perform. Keith says the Trinity’s past lends an aesthetic ambiance to performances, a certain old-world charm that’s hard to find among modern concert venues.
Tomorrow on WDET’s The Craig Fahle Show, hear an audio tour of the Trinity House and an interview with Annie Capps, organizer of this Friday’s Songwriters Anonymous Showcase at the Trinity House. Find more information at www.trinityhouse.org.
