Although the Summer In The City Program has not officially started, I have been going to Clark Park recently to observe the community and the activities that occur in that area. I have also been receiving feedback from fellow members on my team about reactions from the children, parents, and advisors from the schools they visit. Analyzing and assessing the community is extremely vital for my research and placement because I am highly responsible for evaluation of the program. I have observed some very interesting facets of the community as well as the city on general.
If I had to choose one word to describe the Southwest Community of Detroit, I would use the word “striving.” The Southwest community is a diverse community that strives to bring unity to the forefronts of the community. Over the past few weeks, I have sen peaceful protests, diversity marches, and community gatherings. All of these events have brought the community together to fellowship with one another and share their experiences and beliefs together. To me, it seems as if Clark Park is the heart of it all, and I am fortunate enough to be in a placement right across the street from it. By listening to some of the conversations amongst the people, and talking with neighbors, the Southwest community is like its own separate city from Detroit. Of course they are Detroit citizens, but the way their minds work and the individual challenges they face as their own group makes their efforts and inspirations stand out even more than the other citizens of Detroit. This side of town has their own sense of independence, to what it seems like to me. I’ve also noticed, that they have many different ways of expressing their views and showing their talents.
I have completely underestimated the power of street art. I used to believe it was associated with thugs, gangs, or just plain taggers. However, the more I explore my own city, I was ashamed of myself because I was so ignorant to the real meaning of “street art.” This picture above is a mural of a building in clark park. When I asked about the mural, a citizen told me that it symbolizes the pure heart and strength of the latino community. I was in awe. I then asked about graffiti and mural painting in the area, and the person replied: “Murals have meaning. They tell stories but also leave room for people’s imaginative input. They convey ideas, show off some cool art, and add beautification to the area. Most of all, it’s noticeable, and that’s why our voices are heard through them.”
This made me even more excited to paint murals with the Summer In The City Program. It’s more than just giving a child a paint brush, it is given a child an opportunity to be apart of history, to be apart of change.
I enjoyed reading your post! I too at one point looked at graffiti being associated with gangs only and not as art. I love art and I believe in good taste and with positive messages, graffiti is wonderful. Hey, did you know that artists travel to Detroit to do graffiti on abandoned buildings? Detroit is known for being more accepting of this art form than other cities and artists from all over the world make special trips to Detroit to use the city as their canvas. It’s like a must for any graffiti artist. Pretty cool, right?