City to open nine Arts Alleys in neighborhoods across Detroit this month
The City of Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE) will join residents to open nine city-sponsored Arts Alleys over the next month and has commissioned 47 artists to install art in the alleys.
The Arts Alley initiative is transforming the neighborhood alleys into vibrant community spaces to celebrate local culture, foster community pride and showcase the exceptional talents of both experienced and emerging artists.
The artists were chosen by stakeholders in the neighborhoods surrounding the alleys. More than 130 artists responded to an open call for the Arts Alley Initiative. The open call was issued by SpaceLab Detroit on behalf of the City of Detroit’s City Walls and Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship.
Thirty-eight artists are painting murals. Another nine artists are partnering with stakeholders to create one-of-kind artworks that include mosaics, portraits and sculptures. Community engagement on the projects was completed in May. All projects are expected to be completed by the end of June.
The North End Arts Alley (9400 Oakland) is the City’s first Agri-Arts Alley and is anchored by the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm. It provides a space that celebrates art alongside the growing urban farming movement. The opening is Saturday, June 7, at 12 p.m. with the program beginning at 12:15 p.m.
The Grand River Arts Alley (6559 Grand River) is a space where the community can engage with and understand the profound depth of African culture and history through the work of artist Olayami Dabls. This art alley will open Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m. with the program starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Burrell Trail Arts Alley (7601 Harper Ave.), named after the Burrell brothers, two brilliant youth who participated in the neighboring Alkebu-Lan Village's programs and were killed in a house fire, will anchor the Alkebu-Lan Village Campus, where youth have learned responsibility and self-defense for more than 40 years. The opening is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:25 p.m.
The Yellow Brick Road Arts Alley (14208 East Jefferson) focuses on youth education and safety, providing a refuge for children to ride their bikes, play and learn about history through a community library and a variety of art projects. This art alley is set to open Saturday, June 21 at 12 p.m. with the program starting at 12:15 p.m.
The Bailey Park Arts Alley (2701 Elmwood) is part of a vibrant redevelopment in the historic McDougall-Hunt neighborhood that includes a new park for children and celebrates the history of the old Black Bottom neighborhood. The opening for this art alley is Sunday, June 22 at 12:30 p.m., with the program starting at 1 p.m.
The Old Redford Arts Alley (17330 Lahser) complements the existing art hub, Artists Village, that serves as both a mecca for emerging and veteran artists as well as a commercial entertainment space. The opening will be Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m. with a program at 11 a.m.
The Bagley Arts Alley (2631 Bagley) is a multicultural community staple that will serve as a gathering space with art that fuses the many worlds that comprise Southwest Detroit. It is next to the Roberto Clemente Recreation Center. This alley will open on Saturday, June 28 at 12 p.m. with the program starting at 12:15 p.m.
The Snowden-Hartwell Arts Alley (17129 Snowden St) is a “Dream Way” that embraces both art and science to create a welcoming gathering space for the environmentally conscious residents living in this northwest Detroit neighborhood that is transforming 17 other alleys on its own. The opening is Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m., the program will begin at 1:15 p.m.
The Passage to Wellbeing Alley (14600 Korte St), Home of the Manistique Community Treehouse, anchors the surrounding community through a series of spaces designed to promote wellness, good mental health and access to nature. This alley opens Saturday July 5 at 3 p.m., the program will start at 3:15 p.m.
The selected artists – most of whose work can be found on the Detroit Mural Map at detroitartsandculture.com – are:
- Oshun Williams
- Ijania Cortez
- Nicole MacDonald
- Danielle Ward
- Mike Ross
- Jennifer Maples
- David Swartz
- Trae Isaac
- Rahmaan Barnes
- Marlo Broughton
- Jesse Kassel
- Layton Scarbrough
- Shirley Woodson
- Jonathan Kimble
- Gail Beasley
- Tim Smith
- Joseph Smith
- Donald Calloway
- Angel Kelly
- Gil Johnson
- Andre Trenier
- Juliana Sanroman
- Tunisia Howard
- Sanders Skip Bryant
- Fel’le
- Desiree Kelly
- Munera Kaakouch
- Ani Garabedian
- Waleed
- Vito Valdez
- Christine Bossler
- Jaz
- Simone Rosia
- Amadeus Roy
- Olayami Dabls
- Tony Rave
- Tony Whlgn
- Jamar Atkinson
- Andrea Slomczenski
- Cameron Jenkins
- DERKZ
- Jonathan Sandberg
- Phil Seth
- Pat Perry
- Bethannie Steelman
- Chaz Miller
- Jason Phillips
About Spacelab SpaceLab is a vibrant hub where smart, innovative solutions thrive. Our dynamic community fosters meaningful relationships among artists, designers, builders, and creators, sparking innovation, and empowering them to explore new opportunities and expand their impact. Partnering with city leaders, we work with artists to beautify and enhance urban environments through public art projects. See more at spacelabdetroit.com
About Detroit ACE The Office of Art, Culture & Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) partners with organizations across the region to enhance and grow investment in the fine and performing arts and the city’s rich culture and history with a special focus on artistic entrepreneurship and support for Detroit’s creative workforce. Follow @detroitcityarts on Instagram and Facebook. See five years’ worth of ACE work @ https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae8130edcc.html.
About City Walls City Walls is a blight remediation and public art program that that hosts an artist residency program called the Blight Abatement Artist Residency Program (BAARP). Chosen artists paint walls and viaducts that have been freed of graffiti as well as property whose owners have received a blight violation ticket and choose to have a mural painted to satisfy the remediation portion of the ticket.