There's a fun-sounding club track by Afrojack in rotation just now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MkGx725tAE.
In it an autotuned voice says: "We should all wear polka dots." Makes me think of Heidelberg/Guyton-style active hopefulness. Likewise, the Palladium Boots doc "Detroit Lives" [[coming to the Burton Theater next Wed. nite) investigates the small but enthusiastic DIYcluster of engaged young citizens who see and are seizing opportunity to make a life here. In the documentary Wayne Kramer [[MC5) says it's the artists who make something out of nothing [[really dig what Chris Turner says too and his work is stunning).
Well, we all see the problems. Lots of clamor on another thread here asking why Finley isn't fostering discussion about how we go about making things better. As small as it is, the micro-financing in Corktown [[facethestation.com) and Phil Cooley's work and vision for Roosevelt Park make me hopeful. Weekly "soups" at Spaulding Court and in SW do too.
I think back to mid-'90s when Elizabeth St. was shut down to make way for Ford Field. I was sad to see small businesses driven out to make way for big ideas. As Larry Mongo says in the "Detroit Lives" doc, "these white kids are filling in the gaps." Well, how do we connect the dots in ways that serve all of the the community?
Next Wednesday is gonna be a busy day. TEDxDetroit goes from 8:30 until 6 at the DIA. Then, there's 2 screenings of "Detroit Lives" at the Burton with Q/A discussion afterwards. Apparently Finley and The Detroit News are paying attention.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vakvr5
Maybe I'll see you there, DYes.