The Second Annual People’s Arts Festival To Be Held “At the Russell” September 13, 2008

Last year over 4,000 people joined over 200 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and other performance artists to celebrate the inaugural launch of the People’s Arts Festival (PAF) at The Russell Industrial Center located at 1600 Clay Avenue off I-75. This year Festival planners expect that crowd to double – once again securing its claim to being the largest arts festival in the City of Detroit.

The People’s Arts Festival is unique in several ways.

Other than a nominal community participation fee which covers security and other costs exhibiting artists aren’t being asked to pay a fee or hand over a commission on any sales. A music merchandising area will once again be set up for all participating bands with all sales being retained by the performers. Exhibit space, public lighting, sound systems, stages and security are all being provided at no cost to participants by the Russell Center for Creative Arts (RCCA), a not-for-profit group established this year to administer the PAF and other artistic projects at the Russell Industrial Center, or “The Russell” as its referred to by the 80 artists, writers, musicians, furniture makers, photographers, glass, metal and wood workers, craftpersons and designers who operate 120 studios and businesses in the 92 year old complex designed by Albert Kahn. Kahn, the foremost American industrial architect of his day, is sometimes called The Architect of Detroit.

Last year the PAF became the largest free-to-artists festival ever held in the City of Detroit. “We hope to accomplish several things through our sponsorship of the Festival,” said Dennis Kefallinos, the owner of Russell Industrial Center and an RCCA board member. “Once again, it’s part of our way of saying, ‘Thank You’ to the artists and other creative people who have chosen to locate their studios and businesses with us. Last year’s festival brought the Russell family even more closely together and has resulted in the launch of dozens of creative projects – some involving individual tenants, groups of tenants or the community as a whole.

“Supporting the festival is also a way of giving something back to Detroit and proving that there’s still a lot of positive energy in this city. Finally, it’s another opportunity for us to showcase this unbelievable campus. We have seven buildings here and over 2.2 million square feet, so there’s still plenty of room for people who are interested in joining our community.”

“To me the most exciting thing about this festival is still that it has been planned by artists, it’s essentially free to artists and that the guidelines we established as artists have been honored by The Russell management,” said Mark Arminski a globally-renowned painter and poster maker and one of the three members of the Festival’s Artists’ Committee. “The whole feel of the festival last year was dramatic. I think all the artists drew from the energy of the crowd. We couldn’t have hoped for more our first year out and this year promises to be even more exciting. We’ve also been fortunate once again to secure the sponsorship of Real Detroit magazine which last year did a spectacular job of moving the festival forward. And, you really can’t say enough about the artists and other members of the Russell Family who have generously contributed so much time and talent to the planning and ongoing organization of this event.”

The Festival will be open to the public from 11:00 a.m. until midnight on Saturday, September 13, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CONTACT THE PAF at mediapaf@gmail.com

EXPLORATIONS OF A PAGE by Richard Wohlfeil ***book release party***

This Sunday, September 7th
at Cliff Bell’s (2030 Park Ave. Detroit)
doors @ 7pm, events begin @ 8pm

$7 cover at which you will receive a copy of the book.

p.s. Angela McBride is supplying fun & fashion . . .
featuring:
Haute to Death
The Sisters Lucas
The Sugarcoats
Gardens
Al Scheurman
Liz Star
Magi

For more info on Richard Click HERE to read his blog posting

pre release copies of EXPLORATIONS OF A PAGE available NOW at 323East.

This weekend is the summers last Tour Detroit, Dont miss it! Featuring Erno the Inferno and Jesse Cory from 323East.

Mike after ALOT of pizza

This is why he can not purchase the domain.

This morning we decided we were going to check out what most have heard of but have never actually seen.

The Russell Bazaar

We made a visit to the Konquest Clothing’s Head Quarters the other night. Check out there cozy spot.

photo by John Bigtacion

This ain’t yo daddy’s disco.

Another great BBQ’ed Artist. The second BBQ of our summer series was truly amazing

We provided a vast collection of 323East styles for this amazing fashion show. Designers include our Show Stylist Angela McBride, Konquest, Anastasia Chatzka, Fatoula. Accessories provided from many artist that we have at the gallery.
Here are a few of the photos that Angela and Justin Reevers captured.

Local News

PUBLISHED: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Permit process foils store’s plan for outdoor entertainment

One-man mime act moved inside; others up in the air.

By Catherine Kavanaugh
Daily Tribune Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — Noir Leather owner Keith Howarth said he has been hiring street performers to entertain outside his business since June 10, when he initiated the Take Back Tuesdays promotion to liven up the “deadest” shopping day downtown.
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However, this week’s show — a one-man mime act — almost was squelched by police. Now, the future of Howarth’s promotion is in question.
Mime Russ Taylor, who performs as Satori Circus, ended up putting on his 45-minute act inside Noir Leather, 124 W. Fourth St., after Howarth learned he could be ticketed, fined up to $500 and even go to jail for violating the city’s special event permit ordinance.

Howarth said he obtained the eight-page application Monday for the $125 permit, but the review process can take 30 days and by then his plans for offering summer entertainment will be thwarted.

“All I’m trying to do is bring a hip vibe to Royal Oak, make it a little like New York,” Howarth said. “I really wasn’t aware I needed a permit. Tuesdays are the deadest days here. Wednesdays and Thursdays we get 300 motorcycles and I can’t have one mime.”

Local officials learned about the mime act and Take Back Tuesdays promotion from an e-mail sent out by the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce. City Commissioner Michael Andrzejak asked police to investigate.

“We were pre-emptive and told the business owner ahead of time that if he was doing anything on the sidewalk he needs a permit,” Police Chief Ted Quisenberry said.

Police officers then checked out the performance Tuesday evening and filed a report.

“He did modify the event and moved it indoors,” Quisenberry said. “As far I know nothing ticket-able happened.”

City officials can be sticklers about granting special event requests and they want to have the requests at least 30 days in advance.

“The city needs to be consistent, and even-handed, in the enforcement of the special event permit process,” Andrzejak said. “Mr. Howarth is a longtime and valued Royal Oak business owner. He is well aware of what is required to hold his special event Tuesday promotions. Any business owner or special event promoter who thinks they don’t need permission or a permit to use the public right of way is just plain arrogant or ignorant, or both.”

The production staff of “Prayers for Bobby,” a movie shot for the Lifetime cable network earlier this summer, learned how strict Royal Oak is about the ordinance when they had to be squeezed on to a May budget meeting agenda. The meeting was one day before they wanted to block off downtown parking spaces for filming outside Pronto! and two weeks before they needed to close Washington Avenue to recreate a 1980s gay pride parade with 1,000 movie extras.

After complaining about the proper process being bypassed, commissioners approved the permit for PFB Productions with a 6-1 vote.

“There have been exceptions, but applicants have to make the effort to have something done on short notice,” police Lt. Corrigan O’Donohue said. “We’ve got these rules so we know what’s going on and can be ready for anything.”

Howarth, who is celebrating his 25th year in business, said time isn’t on his side. The City Commission isn’t meeting again until Aug. 4 so he can’t request an exception to the 30-day rule before his next street performers, roller derby cheerleaders called the Motor City Rah Rahs, are scheduled to appear Tuesday.

“They were supposed to cheer outside and maybe make a pyramid,” Howarth said. “I guess I’ll have them come inside, too.”

Howarth said the city should have a faster, more flexible permit process for small-scale events.

“It doesn’t let businesses have any creativity,” he said. “We need a process that isn’t so cumbersome and involved. Sometimes I’m only booking the acts two weeks in advance.”

The mime drew a crowd of about 25 people, according to Howarth. On past Tuesdays, he said he has paid $40 to $150 for various entertainers, such as Wolfman Mac, the host of a horror movie show who signed autographs outside Noir Leather; Skin and Bones, a guitarist and drummer who beats on a suitcase; and Fraulein Cornelia, who told fortunes.

“The acts weren’t getting much attention so I went to the chamber hoping to get a little publicity,” Howarth said.

…… and not of the huey lewis variety!

Ever since I came home from Chicago I’ve been kickin Boney M’s greatest hits around the office. To those of you who are unfamiliar I say,

Do it Boney.

WOW! What a success, the firts BBQ’ed Artist show was awesome. Thanks to Jason Driscoll aka Kill Taupe for the amazing collection of art he whipped together. The show will be up and for sale until the Next BBQ’ed Artist show with Audrey Pongraz on Saturday July, 26th.

photo by Joe Gall Photography

Today was such an amazing night at the gallery. Everything is coming together so amazingly. It makes me excited how much good energy flows in the store, you can feel the good vibrations when you enter.

I will post pictures soon.
Come in and see our featured artist, Kill Taupe, today (Saturday) from 6-10pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks.
Love Angela McBride.
Peace.Love.Spandex.

Thanks to all that joined us for summber BBQ! back next summer fo sure

Every two weeks for the rest of the summer, 323East is serving up a proverbial smorgasbord of food, music, wine, and, of course, art. Each event will host an array of talented works prescribed by the featured “Barbequed” artist. Everyone is welcome to join us at the gallery from 6pm-10pm on the following dates listed:

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more information about future events.

I took over 1200 pictures this weekend, here are a few pictures to get you excited.

More Photos coming SOON!

While I am at it….

E. Spleece killed it with this track. Every square Inch is available at BlankArtists

This is gonna be dope.

We got a whole lot of new art this week. If you don’t know about Kill Taupe….
You better ask somebody.

That’s what’s up.

Latin Freestyle and this fashion sense needs to make a come back. I’m dead serious……. I’ll call Debbie Deb up , you just show up.

sunrise on roofs

Let me introduce you to Kyle Hall.

Kyle plays a killer blend of soulful house. Inspired by the founding fathers of house, Kyle has mad respect for the roots of his genuine interest. I spoke with him about disco and electronic music. He is probably one of the coolest cats in the game. He lives on the west side of Detroit and was allowed to stay out til 8 am last night. He is 16 years old.

His parents recognize his talent and are supportive and that is what I like to see. It was truly an amazing set. He had the entire room throwing up hands and making those cat calls.

One girl asked me….”where does he usually play out?”

I was like he doesn’t.