Friday, June 12, 2009

Help the homeless this weekend and have 24 hours of fun doing it !

The 24 Hour Community Spacewalk is an event that promises to transform Detroit this weekend into a multi-media production. It will be 24 hours of events around the city performed by actors, dancers, poets, singers, artists and You! Come play a part in having fun, networking and helping feed the cities homeless.

Spacewalk is a 24 Hour will be a festival that will roam throughout the city and is a participatory event, the more you are involved the more fun you will have. Through the support of local organizations each individual, businesses and non-profit organizations will work together to produce the event.

It will help promote local organizations, community services, and churches to change the city's energy with the help of individuals like you. Part of the mission this weekend is to spread Felicity through the city and everyone involved.

The Opening Ceremony will take place at the Belle Isle Fishing Area at noon then with a program and map in hand, Spacewalkers begin their own odyssey. After or even before events on Belle Isle participants can choose any number or all of the events which include a Health Fair at the Church of the Messiah from 10a m to 3pm. 24 hours of yoga will be available in the gazebo at Eastern Market, an Art car parade will happen up Woodward toward the Artist Village and the Redford Theatre then back down to the city center for additional events at Campus Martius, Heidelberg Project and Spirit Farm among others. Be sure to check out the interactive http://tinyurl.com/ncn2as map for a list of events.


The primary movement of Spacewalk, after having moved throughout the city all day and night, will be complete by 9AM. At that time, food will be served to the homeless at NSO provided by a number of generous people and local organization, all are welcome to help.

The woman leading this ambitious event is Warrior Girl, who you can see perform in the Superhero Soap Opera, a Seaholm High School grad who has worked with Cirque de Soleil and recently came home to metro Detroit. She's a performance artist and activist who's lived all over the world. She is working closely with Boulevard Harambee to help see this dream of uniting Detroit come true..won’t you join her!

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Homeless Advocate Goes High Tech; Eric Sheptock

Homeless Advocate Goes High Tech

by Pam Fessler

here is a link to a story on NPR about a homeless man gone digital for the cause of homelessness. Inspiring!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105047997&sc=fb&cc=fp

His personal blog... yes he has a blog and twitters; http://www.ericsheptock.com/

Thursday, June 04, 2009

U-M grad's art project aims to help the homeless

This is from August of 2008..but i am just now learning about it..



U-M grad's art project aims to help the homeless

Michael H. Hodges / The Detroit News

U-M grad's art project aims to help the homeless

By Michael H. Hodges The Detroit News

As final-year art projects go, Stephen Mills' was a little unusual. Most every art-and-design senior at the University of Michigan was pulling together a thesis that involved a painting, a statue or something more conventionally artistic.

Mills?

He designed and built a shelter on wheels for homeless people.

"I pretty much just decided I wanted to do something different," Mills says by phone from New York City, where he's now looking for design jobs after graduating in April.

"And I liked the idea of the project bettering somebody else's life."

In a puckish touch, Mills christened his creation the Homeless Utility Vehicle — or HUV.

Confused about the connection between fine arts and a mobile homeless shelter? Mills will emphatically assure you that he considers himself to be an artist and an industrial-arts designer.

But the truth is there's plenty of precedent for artists engaging in this sort of socially motivated, functional design.

Mills tips his hat to a 1980s project by the New York artist, Krzystof Wodiczko — best-known for video projections on buildings and monuments — who also designed a sleeping-shelter vehicle for those living on the streets.

Judging from Internet images of Wodiczko's vehicle, his metalwork might have been a bit more elegant than Mills', but the latter built in one big improvement over its predecessor: You can push Mills' HUV and still be enclosed by the arching roof, and thus largely protected from the elements.

It's basically a very large shopping cart with a clear-plastic roof and a comfy, insulated sleeping panel — and storage — on the bottom.

Whether or not this prototype ever makes it to the homeless population, of course, is up in the air, though Mills is trying to pursue grants that might underwrite production. He estimates about $900 of materials went into the prototype. But, as he notes, the HUV project wasn't conceived as a solution, but rather, "a concept piece to explore the issue" of homelessness.

Well, it's art school.

But if the HUV isn't meant as a substitute for a real home, it could, Mills and some homeless advocates believe, be a useful substitute for sleeping outside in bitter cold, since its compact size allows one's body heat to warm it up.

As a test, Mills spent one night in the vehicle in March with the temperature in the low teens, and reports that — with a blanket — he was perfectly warm. (If it ever went into production, Mills envisions that the HUV would come with blankets.)

Deb Pippins — part of Washtenaw County's Project Outreach Team for the homeless — wishes she had the HUV around when dealing with one particularly challenging client.

"We work with a lot of people with mental illness," Pippins says, "and in one case, it took five years before this woman would accept decent housing from us."

The HUV, she suggests, might have been a useful half-step that homeless woman might have agreed to much earlier — and certainly would have been a big improvement over sleeping in the woods, which is where Pippins says many of Ann Arbor's homeless can be found at night.

Nor does she think HUV production is out of the question.

"There's a lot of funding for innovative projects like the HUV," Pippins says. "I would hope Stephen could get funding. The HUV may be a Band-Aid on a broken social-service system, but it's a useful Band-Aid and could save people's lives in the middle of winter."

At U-M, the dean of the School of Art & Design, Bryan Rogers, salutes Mills' design for combining "a social conscience with the practical needs of those who could use the vehicle."

But he sees a larger utility, and one more intimately connected with what we normally call art — the HUV's ability to force passers-by to do a double take, and perhaps in the process, reanimate the largely dead discussion on homelessness in this country.

"If something is thought-provoking," Rogers says, "I call that useful. And the HUV says, 'This is real. We have homeless people. Let's make this work, as long as we have them.'"



another video...i would like to see one where it can be converted to a bike!

Krzysztof Wodiczko Homeless Vehicle Project

i really like this artist ..worked with him in the 90's at Wayne State for an exhibition...never knew about this homeless aspect of his work..
its interesting...and i really like the idea of making something like this in a bike form...like the artist did in my next blog!

24 Hour Community SPACEWALK - DETROIT

JUNE 13-14, 2009


24 HOURS OF ART IN THE STREETS AND HEALING FOR MOTOWN - Request for Help

** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **


Contact: Warrior Girl
Telephone: 248.885.4530
Website: http://www.spacewalk.org
E-mail: info@spacewalk.org


24 Hour Community SPACEWALK - DETROIT
Area Creatives Utilize Talent to Draw Interest and Give to Detroit


DETROIT –This month, Detroit will witness a transformation. The 24 Hour Community Spacewalk transforms the city into a multi-media production, created by talented designers, painters, and builders. It will be performed by actors, dancers, poets, singers and many other artists. Spacewalk is a non-profit group with a vision for a NEW, healthy Detroit, to include such things as art projected on abandoned buildings, thousands of participants, and an unbelievable feast for the homeless, with clothing, showers, shoes, eyeglasses and more all gifted to the needy. A number of area churches will also show support with different types of prayer services, one notable contribution comes from the Church of the Messiah which will hold a Health Fair and prayer service prior to the events. Many other area churches will be holding 24 hour prayer services during this walk.

The event will kick off at noon on June 13th at the Belle Isle Fishing Area with an Opening Ceremony. A highlight of the ceremony is a Nigerian ceremonial performance of collecting messages of felicity for the city from guests. These wishes of abundance, radiance and happiness for Detroit will set the event in motion. At this time guests can also enjoy a unique kite flying display.
Throughout the 24 Hours, Spacewalkers will journey throughout the city on an Odyssey that highlights important monuments and points of interest. They will experience various ideas, and follow the 24 Hour Superhero Soap Opera, "Warrior Girl's Baffling Bubbling Bailout."

The primary movement of Spacewalk, after having moved throughout the night, will be complete by 9AM. At that time, food will be served to the homeless, as provided by a number of generous people and organizations local to the Detroit Metro Area.

We need volunteers for preparation, cooking, catering, and food service during the event. We have received a donation for the food budget, and can still use more to truly make this a feast. We have quite a number of people that will already help, we need those who can help prepare and deliver the food.

For those who are looking to do more, after the event, please join in a parade of Prayer from 3-5PM on Sunday, June 14 to begin at Campus Martius.

This event is open to others who are interested in sharing their gifts and talent by joining the group for any portion of this time. Participation from the community to support by viewing the event is also welcome.

There is also a unique call for plein air (open air) artists to join the festivities by painting during the event. For those interested, please contact us in advance so that materials may be purchased for you. All involved artwork will be sold at auction on a subsequent date with a percentage of the proceeds supporting Spacewalk related charities. This group also has an interest in involving Photographers and Videographers. Visit the blog at Spacewalk.org or the Facebook.com group for more information.

For those with an ability to financially contribute to this initiative, proceeds will go toward the cost of a shower trailer to assist the homeless.

# # #

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Warrior Girl directly at 248.885.4530 or e-mail her at info@spacewalk.org. General information is also available at Spacewalk.org.

24 Hour Community SPACEWALK - DETROIT

JUNE 13-14, 2009


24 HOURS OF ART IN THE STREETS AND HEALING FOR MOTOWN - Request for Help

** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **


Contact: Warrior Girl
Telephone: 248.885.4530
Website: http://www.spacewalk.org
E-mail: info@spacewalk.org



24 Hour Community SPACEWALK - DETROIT
Area Creatives Utilize Talent to Draw Interest and Give to Detroit

June 1, 2009

DETROIT –This month, Detroit will witness a transformation. The 24 Hour Community Spacewalk transforms the city into a multi-media production, created by talented designers, painters, and builders. It will be performed by actors, dancers, poets, singers and many other artists. Spacewalk is a non-profit group with a vision for a NEW, healthy Detroit, to include such things as art projected on abandoned buildings, thousands of participants, and an unbelievable feast for the homeless, with clothing, showers, shoes, eyeglasses and more all gifted to the needy. A number of area churches will also show support with different types of prayer services, one notable contribution comes from the Church of the Messiah which will hold a Health Fair and prayer service prior to the events. Many other area churches will be holding 24 hour prayer services during this walk.

The event will kick off at noon on June 13th at the Belle Isle Fishing Area with an Opening Ceremony. A highlight of the ceremony is a Nigerian ceremonial performance of collecting messages of felicity for the city from guests. These wishes of abundance, radiance and happiness for Detroit will set the event in motion. At this time guests can also enjoy a unique kite flying display.
Throughout the 24 Hours, Spacewalkers will journey throughout the city on an Odyssey that highlights important monuments and points of interest. They will experience various ideas, and follow the 24 Hour Superhero Soap Opera, "Warrior Girl's Baffling Bubbling Bailout."

The primary movement of Spacewalk, after having moved throughout the night, will be complete by 9AM. At that time, food will be served to the homeless, as provided by a number of generous people and organizations local to the Detroit Metro Area.

We need volunteers for preparation, cooking, catering, and food service during the event. We have received a donation for the food budget, and can still use more to truly make this a feast. We have quite a number of people that will already help, we need those who can help prepare and deliver the food.

For those who are looking to do more, after the event, please join in a parade of Prayer from 3-5PM on Sunday, June 14 to begin at Campus Martius.

This event is open to others who are interested in sharing their gifts and talent by joining the group for any portion of this time. Participation from the community to support by viewing the event is also welcome.

There is also a unique call for plein air (open air) artists to join the festivities by painting during the event. For those interested, please contact us in advance so that materials may be purchased for you. All involved artwork will be sold at auction on a subsequent date with a percentage of the proceeds supporting Spacewalk related charities. This group also has an interest in involving Photographers and Videographers. Visit the blog at Spacewalk.org or the Facebook.com group for more information.

For those with an ability to financially contribute to this initiative, proceeds will go toward the cost of a shower trailer to assist the homeless.

# # #

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Warrior Girl directly at 248.885.4530 or e-mail her at info@spacewalk.org. General information is also available at Spacewalk.org.

24 Hour Community SPACEWALK - DETROIT

24 HOURS OF ART IN THE STREETS AND HEALING FOR MOTOWN - Request for Help

** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **


Contact: Warrior Girl
Telephone: 248.885.4530
Website: http://www.spacewalk.org
E-mail: info@spacewalk.org



24 Hour Community SPACEWALK - DETROIT
Area Creatives Utilize Talent to Draw Interest and Give to Detroit

June 1, 2009

DETROIT –This month, Detroit will witness a transformation. The 24 Hour Community Spacewalk transforms the city into a multi-media production, created by talented designers, painters, and builders. It will be performed by actors, dancers, poets, singers and many other artists. Spacewalk is a non-profit group with a vision for a NEW, healthy Detroit, to include such things as art projected on abandoned buildings, thousands of participants, and an unbelievable feast for the homeless, with clothing, showers, shoes, eyeglasses and more all gifted to the needy. A number of area churches will also show support with different types of prayer services, one notable contribution comes from the Church of the Messiah which will hold a Health Fair and prayer service prior to the events. Many other area churches will be holding 24 hour prayer services during this walk.

The event will kick off at noon on June 13th at the Belle Isle Fishing Area with an Opening Ceremony. A highlight of the ceremony is a Nigerian ceremonial performance of collecting messages of felicity for the city from guests. These wishes of abundance, radiance and happiness for Detroit will set the event in motion. At this time guests can also enjoy a unique kite flying display.
Throughout the 24 Hours, Spacewalkers will journey throughout the city on an Odyssey that highlights important monuments and points of interest. They will experience various ideas, and follow the 24 Hour Superhero Soap Opera, "Warrior Girl's Baffling Bubbling Bailout."

The primary movement of Spacewalk, after having moved throughout the night, will be complete by 9AM. At that time, food will be served to the homeless, as provided by a number of generous people and organizations local to the Detroit Metro Area.

We need volunteers for preparation, cooking, catering, and food service during the event. We have received a donation for the food budget, and can still use more to truly make this a feast. We have quite a number of people that will already help, we need those who can help prepare and deliver the food.

For those who are looking to do more, after the event, please join in a parade of Prayer from 3-5PM on Sunday, June 14 to begin at Campus Martius.

This event is open to others who are interested in sharing their gifts and talent by joining the group for any portion of this time. Participation from the community to support by viewing the event is also welcome.

There is also a unique call for plein air (open air) artists to join the festivities by painting during the event. For those interested, please contact us in advance so that materials may be purchased for you. All involved artwork will be sold at auction on a subsequent date with a percentage of the proceeds supporting Spacewalk related charities. This group also has an interest in involving Photographers and Videographers. Visit the blog at Spacewalk.org or the Facebook.com group for more information.

For those with an ability to financially contribute to this initiative, proceeds will go toward the cost of a shower trailer to assist the homeless.

# # #

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Warrior Girl directly at 248.885.4530 or e-mail her at info@spacewalk.org. General information is also available at Spacewalk.org.