Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
Interview about the BBAC on The Craig Fahle Show
With 53 years of classes, exhibits, and community involvement behind them, the BBAC is a great example of how a well-run, well-supported non-profit can grow in Metro Detroit. Located in the woodsy confines of suburban Birmingham, the center has expanded greatly from its inception. Originally housed in a residence in downtown Birmingham, the group moved into it's present day location in 1963. At the time, the facility was a mere 1,250 square feet. After 2 major renovation the current building now stands at 25,000 sq. ft. of brightly lit studios, offices, and gallery spaces. Addie Langford, the BBAC's newly hired director, says she was drawn to the job because of the center's mission to teach arts education to people from all over the spectrum of age, ethnicity, and wealth. "The cultural implication of arts in a community is incredible. It's both evident to see and impossible to see. I think the important part is what you can't see....it gives a sense of place and relationships between people", she says. It's clear that Langford believes wholeheartedly in the necessity of self-expression, and that the BBAC provides a much-needed space for it.
Addie Langford, BBAC Director
On this particular day, a group of middle-schoolers are taking advantage of the center's jewelry and metals studio to create handsome animal-themed ornaments to wear. Summer arts camp is one of the most popular programs at the BBAC, where kids ages pre-school through late teens practice painting, ceramics, metals, drawing, and other crafts.
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.
Living Arts
Living Arts in Southwest Detroit believes that when individuals become involved in creating art, they can not only strengthen their community but possibly even save it. While many of their programs focus on at-risk kids and young adults ages 3-17, they also try to engage people of all ages through events like the upcoming Community Arts Day on Sunday, April 25th.
Detroit Flyhouse, a yoga space in Eastern Market, has been working with Living Arts' girls dance ensemble on a aerial dance piece called A Friend Indeed. Dance Collage will premiere it later this month during Community Arts Day.
The Detroit Children’s Choir
Coleman A. Young students Kennedy and Doria sing acapella in the school's gym after choir practice.
Beginning just a few years ago in the mid-2000s, the Detroit Children's Choir is already filling a huge void in arts education within the Detroit Public Schools. Founder and Director Carol Schoch is still involved in the hands-on choral training of the kids. We went to visit a choir practice at the Coleman A. Young Elementary School on the city's westside and got a chance to talk with 2 young choral members, Kennedy and Doria. Hear their impromptu min-performance through the link above.
The Choir extends their reach into the community with neighborhood choirs, which any 8-14 year old can join. Schoch says there's also a touring choir who performs at events throughout the region. The Choir is also looking for volunteers to help with day-to-day operations, schools who are interested in starting a choir program, and sponsors who will 'adopt-a-school' and help the bring the program to schools that can not afford it. Qualified Choral instructors are also encouraged to join and carry out the Choir's mission. More information can be found here.
Det. Children's Choir
Next month, on Saturday April 24th, the Choir presents a collaboration with the renowned Mosaic Youth Theatre for thier 4th Annual Spring Concert.
VSA Arts in Detroit
VSA was created as a national organization 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. The group aims to help people of all ages with disabilities learn through the arts. The local chapter in Detroit operates out of The Children's Center on on West Alexandrine, just a few blocks south of Wayne State University.
Among other things, VSA offers after-school programs in dance, visual arts, and music for teens from local high schools who might not otherwise have a chance to experience the arts. When I visited last week, about 7 teens were in the midst of a performance with African drums, led by an older, experienced musician. They've been chosen to perform in Washington D.C. this June at the 2010 VSA Arts International Festival.
Southwest Detroit’s Matrix Theatre Company
Jose Varela, Laura Perez and Matt Dooley were three of the main writers for “Vanished,” although many were involved in the collective playwriting process.
Since the early 90s, The Matrix Theatre Company has been reaching out to members of the Detroit community who may have little or no experience in traditional theatre. Founder Shaun Nethercott came to the city via Dallas, nearly 20 years ago, to work on a production about the strike of thousands of auto workers in Flint. Shawn and her husband fell in love with the freedom that Detroit offered to the arts and founded Matrix to engage the community in the empowerment of spirit that live theatre offers.
On March 12th, the group opens up a long-awaited, locally written production called Vanished. The play follows an struggling immigrant family in Detroit and the effect that unforeseen deportation raids can have on a family and a community.
Clockwise from top: Actors Tim Seneca, Megan Smith and Benito Cruz, depict a home invasion where an I.C.E. officer tries to detain an undocumented father working and living in Detroit.
A Note About Qualifications
We're extremely excited to have received so many applications from groups all over Metro Detroit to be part of WDET's Star Program. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to fill out the app and give us feedback on what you've heard so far on air. There are a couple things I'd like to make a bit clearer for those wishing to apply:
1- Right now, WDET is only considering 501C-3 non-profits who are actively engaged in the arts, whether that's theater, a gallery, an arts-education center or group, a venue, or one of the many other categories which fall under arts and culture.
2-Applications for singular events are also not currently being considered. While there's an incredible amount of worthy music and art festivals during the summer/fall season, it's much too difficult to time our coverage of your event/ group with the date of the actual event. If you want to get the word out about it, try contacting the producers of the Craig Fahle Show at either cfshow@wdet.org or news@wdet.org.
Thanks again for your great work in the Detroit community and for making the beginnings of the Star Program a success here at WDET.
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.
Next Week!
WDET begins the on air portion of the Star Program next week. Stay tuned as we highlight the work of one of our historic local music venues.
Teaming Your Organization’s Events with the Star Program
It would be beneficial to both your organization and WDET to attempt to coordinate important events with coverage on the station. In the second comment box on the Star application, please list the next 4-5 large events the organization is involved in. Thanks!
