The Heidelberg Project (link here: http://www.heidelberg.org/) tour, led by Lisa, kicked off our day with a healthy dose of urban art. The beautiful outdoor exhibit resonated with a profundity unique to each of us, so instead of summarizing it for the whole group, here are our individual opinions...
Disclaimer: the pictures don't do it justice!
Sarah-It was impressive to me how the Project was able to illustrate the unconditional love, forgiveness and powerfully strong sense of community in the neighborhood.
Kevin- Heidelberg is a real example of how one man's trash is another man's treasure. It showed that no matter art is made up of or looks like, it can move someone in a way that one cannot explain.
Kayla- The one thing that really stood out to me was the Polka Dot House. It was the start of the Heidelberg Project and is now referred to the "White House"... possibly resembling where the heart of Detroit is, or the true governors of Detroit...the community.Amanda- The most inspirational part of Heidelberg for me was the fact that when some of the houses were vandalized by fire, the community is willing to take those responsible back into their neighborhood to be helped and listened to. That is a trait that you would not see in many communities.
Jessie- At first, I had a really unpleasant reaction to the house that was covered in decaying stuffed animals. It looked like a perverse expression of childhood and youth. However, the guide explained to us that the artist's intent was to show how natural and beautiful the aging process is. To see old stuffed animals breaking down in the elements, but still maintaining their whimsy and fun, was turned upside-down from me from feeling sad to feeling natural and joyful. I was grateful for the change in perspective--especially as I begin to move from "young adulthood" to straight-up adulthood! It's important to acknowledge and embrace the beauty in aging.
Jennifer- When i first saw the art, i have to admit I did not know what to think of it, in fact it first made no sense to me. After the guide explained it i saw it in a whole different way and saw the meaning of the art.
DJ Doc- I was emotionally moved into amazement and shocking silence when the group was introduced the
museum pieces of shoes placed in an oven reflecting the Jewish Holocaust and shoes hanging from trees representing the lynching of African-Americans. In its simplicity the piece powerfully illustrated the pain of the times and the importance to never forget.
Vernadette-The art piece "Mona Lisa" really captured my attention because it reflected the struggles of the Native Americans, but created something beautiful out of it. It was representative of the Heidelberg Project's purpose in Detroit and what the artist was trying to convey. Which is that struggles can truly be transformed and create positive outcomes within a community.
After reflecting on the art, we visited Earthworks--the site where we will be volunteering time later in the week--and were given a tour and history by Shane. The Capuchin Soup Kitchen (CSK) is a well-established organization in the Detroit community founded in 1929 and dedicated to not just putting a bandage over the wound that is poverty, but teaching skills which allow people to help themselves out of bad situations. (Fun fact: the CSK funds the On the Rise Bakery also!) The Earthworks garden itself has existed for 16 years and furnishes healthy alternatives to people who might have only had access to processed foods. Shane feels a sense of purpose in his work, and his message was especially powerful for Kevin and Jessie who had anticipated meeting him for the past few months. According to Shane, people of Detroit should be known for their "creativity and resilience."
Some of the group members took a walk to a local bookstore called Source. Janet, a staff member of the store, supplied valuable insight and background which widened the lens through which we look at Detroit. She challenged us to examine what motivated us to come to Detroit, the questions we should ask the people who live here, and the bias which we might come across in the opinions we hear.
For dinner, Megan and Sarah welcomed us into their home to share some delicious vegetarian chili and some stimulating conversation. Jessie met Megan at a social justice conference earlier this year. Students and staff from Loyola University in Chicago and University of Detroit Mercy joined us to create a well-rounded group. We discussed the pros and cons of deciding to live in Detroit and exchanged wisdom about life decisions as important as home ownership.
We happily expanded our table to include new friends. We're Living for the City!
-Detroit Table Sharers
