PARKVIEW MAGAZINE Issue No. 2 by PARKVIEW MAGAZINE

P E O P L E . P L AC E S. S H A R E D S PAC E S. SALT & CEDAR • BETHANY SHORB • BUILDING HUGGERS • KUNG FOOD • THE GREENING OF DETROIT • KRISSY “THE BUTCHER” ERIK HR’S JAPAN • SUMMER FITNESS • CHEZ CHLOÉ

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MASTHEAD PUBLISHER AND EDITOR IN CHIEF

Ashley K. Parks ART DIRECTOR

Judith Banham / Middlecott Design middlecott.com WRITERS

Natalie Jordan / Columbia College, Chicago Malissa Martin / Sanford Martin Publishing smpublishingllc.com PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jon Adams / Jon Adams Design jonadamsdesign.com Joy King / Joy King Photography light-and-line.com Tim Leon / Tim Leon Photography Timleonphotography.tumblr.com Justin Milhouse / Fresh-Cool-Dope fresh-cool-dope.com CONTRIBUTORS

David E. Beaumont, Ph. D. Doniel Calvin / ID3 Fitness Erik HR / Heavenly Dogs heavenlydogs.org Courtnie Pierce / Likewater Fitness Allante Whitmore / Detroit Social Chair detroitsocialchair.com WEB DEVELOPER

editor

From the

Where I Stand

There’s this concept of a personal legend in the beautifully written novel The Alchemist that connects our spiritual being to that of the universe in the fulfillment of our life’s purpose. It’s a calling that opens up a deeply rooted longing and passion for living and doing something that is greater than ourselves. Its about the imprint our life’s journey leaves tattooed on the face of civilization; the meaning of our existence in this world.

Photography: Jessie Gliesman Studios / jessicahanning.com

It has taken about six years for me to come close to identifying and embracing what my life’s purpose is and to walk, confidently, and boldly into the world that has opened up for me. PARKVIEW has been my space of liberation, like business and community efforts have also been for many others who share these pages. I am always amazed by the incredible things that come from simple ideas and how lives are transformed from a place of complacency to one of fulfillment and a spirit of entrepreneurship. These are the kinds of stories that PARKVIEW represents; people who value doing and giving, thinking and creating, defining moments in time. The kind of people who are busy connecting with others on a personal level and literally making a difference “in these streets.” That’s what life is all about. I hope that as you continue to enjoy PARKVIEW, you are able to connect with the journeys you find throughout our issues and find the inspiration, encouragement, or confirmation to find your own personal legend. Welcome back! Ashley K 2

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JULY 2015 Masthead

From the editor

PRESSING MATTERS

Studio visit at Salt & Cedar

NATURAL BORN FOODIE

Home-story in the kitchen with Jonathan Kung 19 TIES, ART & FREAKY PHYSICS

Interview with Bethany Shorb of Cyberoptix Tie Lab

EVERY OPPORTUNITY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FITNESS

Get moving with personal trainers Doniel Calvin and Courtnie Pierce

TOUCHED BY INK

Interview with tattoo artist Krissy “The Butcher” 53 POINT OF VIEW

Preserving history with Amy Nicole Swift of Building Hugger

THE CITY WITH A GREEN HEART

Building Detroit communities through Greening 67 A TRANQUIL STATE OF MIND

Photographer Erik HR’s Japanese portfolio

STAY TUNED!

An intellectual take on social justice and economic development

MOMENTS DE CHOCOLAT

A taste of France in Detroit with Chloé Sabatier 89 WHERE THE LOCALS GO

One of a kind shopping in Metro Detroit

On the cover: View of downtown Detroit from Belle Isle by Justin Milhouse

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BUSINESS

Walls filled with hanging pages and tables of books at SALT & CEDAR LETTERPRESS.

Pressing Matters

Preserving the craft of letter pressing,

MEGAN O’CONNELL and LEON JOHNSON of SALT & CEDAR

embrace the art-form, creating tangible pieces to be proud of.

PHOTOGRAPHY: J U S T I N M I L H O U S E INTERVIEW AND STORY: A S H L E Y K . P A R K S TRANSCRIPTION: N A T A L I E J O R D A N

The owners MEGAN O’CONNELL AND LEON JOHNSON pose outside of the Salt & Cedar Letterpress studio.

clockwise from bottom left: Cover samples, stamps, and newspaper. SALVAGED CABINETS and storage from an old print shop. Pressed books and journals with vintage magnifying glass. Blocked type-font on letterpress.

THE STUDIO FRONT SPACE decorated

with a vintage motorbike.

Letterpress print. Right: VANDERCOOK CYLINDER LETTERPRESS, built in Chicago.

t’s no secret that printed text is going out of style, being replaced by its digital counterpart. The field of printmaking and bookbinding has either become mass industrialized, or revered as a sacred art; the latter values the process, just as much as the text. Countless hours and days go into simple things that we may take for granted in our text – from setting the type on a press, to hand binding the cover to bring together the complete experience of a book. The art of bookmaking and letterpress embraces its original roots to create excellent, tangible pieces of art through and through. The words of Leon Johnson capture this feeling perfectly. “I’m thrilled that the book can still matter; it’s not about sentimental feeling. It’s a useable system that works. Whether you keep a diary, or whatever; as a system, it reminds us of where we have come from and what we have fought for. The book is in our DNA. We have memories of it that we don’t even think we have. You can hear the pages turn; Megan and I are so bad that when we get a new magazine, we huff the ink (laughs).” Tucked away in the heart of the Eastern Market is a family studio taking part in this traditional form of text. Megan O’Connell, the sole proprietor and matriarch of the business, brought her love of letterpress and the printed art to Detroit through her family and their letterpress studio, Salt & Cedar. “It’s really the most ambitious project to date. We’ve been here for a bit; we just marked our third anniversary, so when I look back on the past three years, I still can’t believe how we have grown. It feels like a decade! We’ve been collaborators and partners, a conduit for so many new initiatives, and our older neighbors in the market. Some really well-known people have come to us, including our very first commission, Mother’s Day 2012…” 13

How many fledgling companies can talk about their first commission being in the hands of global artist, Beyoncé, and shared with the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama? What started as a flyer in the hands of a friend made its way to the hands of Beyoncé’s friends for the mogul’s first Mother’s Day gift. “Apparently, it was something so beloved by Beyoncé. I’ve heard from other letterpress people since that time that she really likes letterpress,” O’Connell said. “We were honored to have done it.” The family originally lived in Portland, Maine. When Leon was hired at the College for Creative Studies in Midtown, Detroit, Megan decided to stay behind with their two sons, so that the oldest could finish high school. Once they all convened in Detroit around 2011, Megan splintered off from her original position at a press and started Salt & Cedar. The name came from her eldest son, Leander, 22, that found a native plant to the area of Detroit called the salt cedar. “There was just this sense that…it would be appealing to people to engage their senses. The two elements have properties of preservation. We knew we didn’t want to call our press anything Detroit related because we’ve seen so many people just overuse the fact that they’re ‘making something in Detroit,’ so we steered clear of that, and we just liked the way it sounded. Beyond its meaning, salt cedar is known to establish itself and thrive under the least likely of circumstances. So we were like, alright that makes sense.” Salt & Cedar describes themselves through letterpress as being their “focal point for investigations into means of production and dissemination–tapping into creative economies and generating fresh approaches and alliances.” Since their first commission, they’ve grown to produce invitations, books, posters, and even host workshops in their 3,000 sq. ft. studio. While they vary by instructors, Leon teaches 14

Salt and Cedar DINING ROOM adorned with book shelves and table size City of Detroit plate.

Intimate dining room table setting with potpourri and HANDCRAFTED BOWLS and goblets.

a 16th century monastery journal structure; everyone gathers around the dining room table, enjoy some good eats, binds their own book, and share conversation about the experience. “People are very emotional about making their first book; it’s like making their first loaf of bread. People get involved. It’s a journal, and it’s blank and it’s your responsibility to use it from there on.” The studio consists of a Vandercook SP15 press; built in Chicago in 1964, it’s a cylinder press that operates by pulling the ink across the surface of the material to be printed on. Megan tells us that “working with movable lead type is really the closest we have to how books were produced in the mid–15th century; the principles haven’t changed at all.” Wedges of wood and font blocks are placed into the printing chamber, the handle is cranked, and letters are pressed.

hat started as an undergraduate interest in Minnesota has evolved into a project that touches not only the clients, but also the Salt & Cedar family themselves. Our interview with them revealed that the letterpress life is no easy task. From creating album covers to journals and books, their hands are quite busy. Leon: “We are working on so many projects right now (laughs). One is for a beautiful restored inn in Newfoundland, on a small island called Fogo Island. They pride themselves in the craft of how furniture is made. There’s a real tradition of ‘if you need something, you make it.’ So they asked us to make the room folders, bound in linen. They’ve also had a tradition of keeping track of the weather, so I’m also handing them two old spiral weather journals, with two entries a page that will be printed on the press. 17

Each day they can make a note of the temperature and tide. We met each other, and they were interested in craft, and the idea of printing and customizing a weather journal. This is what the shop is here to do. We’ve been working on it for three months. It’s handmade and hand-bound so it can take quite a while. That’s the quality of our work.” Megan: “I’m hoping that in the next couple of years, we have the opportunity to reserve some time to kind of focus on more things that have our total sensibility – projects that are of Salt & Cedar, and not just commissions. I’m so grateful for the people who have come to us. There’s just great potential, but it’s the nature of the medium that we use can sometimes pose limitations. You can only produce as fast as your body moves and as agile as your mind is going to solve problems. We visited some other presses, like one in Nashville last year, where you can do so many impressions per hour. It’s incredible and the result is great, but we’re ok with our pace.” When it comes to new ideas and inspiration, they are far from few. Be it from books that she is reading from her own bookshelf to conversations with people, or simply a passion for the way letterforms look on various surfaces, Megan shares, “there’s enough inspiration that flows through; there’s certainly no shortage of conversations (laughs). It’s in our DNA.” Creating a standard of excellence is something that Salt & Cedar not only strives for, but reaches. Megan states “success is not having to compromise your standards” and Detroit has provided them with the positive energy that helps to support their work. The response has been positive all around and Salt & Cedar’s impact continues to grow, as they do as well. saltandcedar.com 18

DINNER

CHINESE STEAMED FISH adorned

with ginger, cilantro, scallions, and red chili peppers.

NATURAL BORN FOODIE

A natural born “foodie”,

JONATHAN KUNG of KUNG FOOD has always

known how to eat and isn’t afraid to share his meal. Welcome to his downtown loft for dinner. PHOTOGRAPHY: J O N A D A M S TEXT: A S H L E Y K . P A R K S MENU: J O N A T H A N K U N G

Cornered paddleboard rests behind FABLE (left) and HUGO (right).

“COOKING SHOWS GIVE ME ANXIETY. PEOPLE ARE PLACED INTO SITUATIONS THAT ARE NOT NATURAL. I FEEL THE AWKWARD MOMENTS THAT I WATCH ON TV.” 23

Creatively designed LIVING SPACE with pillow accented sofa, retro icebox, Chemex coffeemaker, and a collection of pottery.

onathan Kung remembers a time in Detroit when there wasn’t much to do. Old Detroit – when parking on the street and actually finding a good parking spot at the Eastern Market on a Saturday morning before 11 o’clock was the norm. A time when the adventurous person came to Detroit with purpose. Things are changing around here, and they are changing fast. Having grown up in Toronto and Hong Kong, Jonathan is accustom to some of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the world but “there’s still something really special about Detroit,” he says. It’s here where he has made a home and a living in the kitchen. “I started off just poppin’ up, serving food and stuff,” Jonathan says. That was, of course, after completing law school, deciding he would rather cook, and teaching himself to do just that. He is a man who has always known how to eat. Sounds funny but it really is a skill; tasting food, understanding the preparation, and having a palate for foods that many people must acquire. A natural born “foodie.” When he’s not in the kitchen himself, he can appreciate good old fashion fried chicken or the delicacy of authentically prepared Japanese sushi. “I refuse to learn how to make sushi because I need something I can just sit back and enjoy. Kind of like meeting your hero…don’t do it!” says Jonathan. Inspired by traditional Chinese cuisine, Jonathan holds tight to his heritage as his meals offer an opportunity to reconnect with Hong Kong. Jonathan is indeed talented, profoundly insightful, and gregarious. Be it making sautéed curry soup at a pop-up kitchen or sharing dining experiences with respected colleagues, you’re welcome at his table. Gather your kitchen essentials, fine knives are a must, and let’s get cooking.

JONATHAN KUNG, chef, Kung Food.

“I QUENCH MY THIRST WITH A GLASS OF WATER OR A GLASS OF CHILLED WINE; WHICHEVER IS AVAILABLE.”

ORGANIZED CABINETS with mason jars

full of spices with handmade labels.

CHINESE STEAMED FISH WITH SOY AND SPICES YOU WILL NEED:

Steamer/wok/large pot Heat resistance plate Oven mitts Chefs knife INGREDIENTS:

1 whole white-fleshed fish (sea bass, snapper, or trout – cleaned) 1 bunch scallions/green onions – chopped then split into two equal quantities 1 large piece of ginger - split in half 1 cup soy sauce – split in 1/2 cup amounts 1/2 cup Shoaling wine (an inexpensive Sherry is fine) divided in 1/4 cup amounts 2 tbsp sugar – divided into 1 tbsp amounts 2 garlic cloves – chopped 1 bunch cilantro 1 red chili – sliced thin for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1 Build your steamer: Take a large pot or wok and place a smaller heat proof bowl (like a metal mixing bowl) open side own and put a bit of water into the pot until there’s just a bit of water around the bottom, about 2 inches. Rest a plate on the small bowl and cover the pot with a lid – Bam! You’ve just MacGyvered a steamer. It’s kind of confusing to read it out loud so I had to draw it out for you:

steam to develop. You’ve noticed that I’ve asked you to split a lot of the ingredients, that’s because we’re making two of the same sauce; one to use for cooking and one to use to finish. Now mix the soy, sugar, and wine together to create two of the same sauces in equal amounts. 3 Cut ginger into flat slices then slice again into thin little sticks and chop garlic into small bits. For the fancy folk among you, julienne the ginger and finely chop the garlic while listening to NPR, that’s National Public Radio. 4 Once the water is boiling and you have a healthy steam going, place your fish on the plate and cover with half of the garlic and ginger you’ve prepared. Put the plate into the steam and then pour the first of the two sauces onto the fish. Cover and set the timer for 5 minutes.

2 Now that your steamer is ready, remove the plate. Set the heat to mediumhigh and recover with lid. Allow a good

5 At this time, chop the scallions nice and thin, yielding about 2 cups chopped scallions and save the rest for later.

6 Once five minutes have passed, put on your mitts and take the plate out of the pot. Pour out the sauce and gently scrape off the ginger and garlic. We do this because the sauce has absorbed much of the oils and fishy aroma and this rids that pungency. Put the plate back into the steamer then cover the fish with a fresh batch of garlic, ginger, and this time, add the scallions, pour the second part of the other sauce onto the fish and just a pinch of sugar to balance everything out. Steam for another five minutes. 7 Wash your cilantro and take out a small handful of a few of the more handsome stalks. 8 Once five more minutes have passed open the lid, put the cilantro over the fish and wait a few seconds for the steam to make the leaves a brighter green. Then take the dish out, put a few slices of chili on there for some color and serve with rice. As you eat, be careful of the bones!

STIR FRIED SPINACH WITH GARLIC AND SHRIMP PASTE YOU WILL NEED:

Sauté Pan, spatula INGREDIENTS:

3 bunches spinach 3 cloves garlic – chopped 1 tsp to 1 tbsp shrimp paste* salt and pepper – to taste 1 tbsp oil DIRECTIONS:

Wash spinach. Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in sauté pan. When the oil is hot add the chopped garlic and cook until golden. Add shrimp paste to the oil and stir until well mixed with oil. Toss in about half of the spinach and allow it to wilt, you’ll notice that a lot becomes a little rather quickly. Take out the spinach once it has wilted, add the rest of the spinach and once that has wilted down, toss in the previous half to mix in and distribute all the goodness. Serve warm. *You can get shrimp paste at most Asian grocery stores, it’s predominantly used in southeast asian cuisine like thai food. It’s not really fishy after it’s been cooked. More like a salty, brine flavor that goes well with pepper and garlic

Jonathan Kungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DINING ROOM TABLE set with Chinese steamed fish, stir fried spinach, white rice, bowls, and chop sticks.

BETHANY SHORB, owner of Cyberoptix

Tie Lab, and Rozwell the cat.

INTERVIEW

TIES, ART & FREAKY PHYSICS BETHANY SHORB,

founder and owner of Cyberoptix Tie Lab illustrates life beyond the business of neckties and scarves with her passion for art, education, and Detroit. PHOTOGRAPHY: T I M L E O N INTERVIEW: A S H L E Y K TRANSCRIPT: N A T A L I E J O R D A N

Bethany Shorbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s STUDIO LIVING SPACE overlooking Gratiot Ave. with walls filled with her sound wave artwork.

Bethany tours her studio and CHAIR COLLECTION.

s Bethany Shorb, founder and owner of Cyberoptix Tie Lab approaches her ten year anniversary in the business of custom neck accessories, including ties and scarves, she reflects on her journey from costume design for science-fiction movies to learning how to screen-print on the kitchen table. What started from a simple love for fashion, “champagne taste with a beer budget,” and a lot of hard work, Bethany is proud to have had the opportunity to share her “weird graphic neckties” around the country and abroad including the Museum of National History in New York and The Library of Congress. With no business plan and very little money, she has developed a business that has disrupted men’s wear. We were able to sit and chat with Bethany, and the other boss of the office, Rozwell, their studio cat, and learn more about the artist behind the art of the Cyberoptix necktie. PARKVIEW: Tell me about your journey to Detroit. BETHANY SHORB: I was born in Boston, and grew

up in Connecticut. I went to Boston University for undergrad and Cranbrook Academy of Art for grad school. That’s what drew me here to Detroit; it was a total practical decision. I really cut my teeth with art and fashion when I was in high school sometimes taking the metro north into the city instead of to Algebra class, because the train station was right in our backyard (sorry mom). I had many self-guided field trips of the city very early. I think that really helped cultivate my love for art and design. I wasn’t the kid that smoked pot behind the bleachers. I’d rather go soak up the Museum of Modern Art all day, go to galleries… getting the mid-nineties, late-nineties experience. I was fortunate to see and experience New York then, which I think has some parallels to Detroit.

It’s a great place to be a creative person. It just feels like something’s always happening. There have always been amazing things here in Detroit. I’ve been here for 17 years, and even though I am a ‘transplant’, I like to think my transplant has been a good one. It’s been a successful one; it didn’t reject me (laughs). What has kept you here in Detroit? I learned to be self-sufficient. You have to. It’s not about ‘every artist should move to Detroit.’ You need transportation; there are so many hidden costs, like high car insurance. For example, you may think, ‘oh I’ll ride my bike.’ That’s cute until November…January, February, and March. It’s a great place to have those utopian visions, where it’s easy to live here in May, June and July but you need something to sustain you the rest of the 38

Collection of VINTAGE OSCILLOSCOPES, a boars head, and antlers.

“I LOVE ALL THE STORIES BEHIND THE THINGS I FIND.”

year. You have to be tough to make something of yourself here. I think that really drew me to staying here. It was the “stick-to-it-ness” of the people that had been here before me. It was a life energy that was going on here that kept me. So you’re happy with your choice here in Detroit? Oh for sure. I think it’s getting more difficult now because it’s a trite, narrative to say ‘Detroit has cheap space.’ Detroit is so much more than cheap real estate. Detroit’s always been cool; there are so many ludicrous people here and a very rich history. Your art has offered you much international exposure. Where would you see yourself retiring? I’m not good at picking one thing (laughs). I’d like to…settle here in Detroit and travel a lot. I really feel like this is a great adopted home. If I were to totally check out, I would have no problem working from a beach in Thailand, travel a bit in Southeast Asia. I can see myself taking a year off. I love traveling…I have an affinity to New York, having grown up so close. It feels ‘home-ish’ when I go back there. However, this is my home now. Even when I do travel, I just kind of want to get back to my space and skateboard around my studio. I’m attracted to the global nomad lifestyle of things, to be remote, but I miss banging on real metal at times. I need my home base for that. When I do travel, I like being a good ambassador from Detroit. What’s different about life for you now as a businesswoman? I’ve honestly had to cut the music part out of my life a little bit. I used to be a DJ, but I cannot run a company, and an art studio, and DJ until 6 in the morning. I would love to, but I had to make a choice. I still really enjoy doing it for my own pleasure, but I had to focus if I wanted to grow the business. I cannot do everything. I think my biggest Achilles’ heel is that I enjoy doing everything. I like science, I like art, I like music, 41

I like being a business owner, I like, I like, I like…I just can’t do everything and do everything well. After I did my residency at Red Bull and really spent a huge amount of time on art making, I had to take a couple years and really focus on Cyberoptix. So in the last few years, I’ve adjusted my schedule to be amongst the living and not amongst the raving (laughs). I’ve learned to appreciate the daylight a little more so I can do things I enjoy, like sit here and chat for this interview. This is fun to me. I like to talk to people. I also have an extraordinary partner who doesn’t give me a hard time about work. He refers the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas as “Silly Season,” where I don’t come out of my studio, ever! I’ve traded being a DJ until six in the morning for working out and drinking green juice (laughs). What’s the best part of your next project?

e like to do charitable work whenever we can. We’ve been able to partner with someone online that works with area homeless and transitional work programs, where we were able to donate a thousand ties to help people dress up for work. It feels good

Home/work space with old school hospital gurney for a desk on wheels and VINTAGE MANNEQUIN in the background.

to have the opportunity to reuse what we don’t sell and offer it to help out someone else. It’s been rewarding to make connections in the community. What does your living space say about who you are? I feel like it’s the mess that’s in my head. I really want it to be a minimalist paradise. I like collecting things and I’m really bad – I’m not going to say I’m a hoarder, but kind of (laughs) – I find all these

props for photo shoots and keep them. I troll all of the internet and frequent the Detroit antique mall, the Eastern Market antiques, and I love going to estate sales and finding mid century bits and bobs. I have a bit of a chair problem. I have chairs all over my home and even more back in my storage space. If I were to take a day off and relax, which I haven’t done in years, it would be combing through junk shops and collecting more things that I don’t need. Just because it’s really cool. Have ‘new’ gems rotating through the art collection and my vintage mannequin collection. A lot of my trinkets are from my exploration and places I probably 42

shouldn’t have been crawling through a long time ago. I love all the stories behind the things I find. When have you been most satisfied with your life? I think now. I guess that’s a pretty good thing to say. I feel like I’m making some better life decisions now. I’ve been surrounding myself with really good people, staff, and a really good partner. I feel like I’m doing some more helpful things. Bethany Shorb mixes SILKSCREEN PAINT in her design studio.

I just feel like I’m on a good trajectory. I was a little rock type of kid, full of angst, for a minute but I’ve grown into my skin more. I’m not as feisty. I wish I had gone to Cranbrook a little later in life. When I was older. I was the youngest kid there. I wish I had a little more life wisdom, at the time, to appreciate what an incredible place it was, instead of being such a little brat. I did get a lot out of it, but I think with a little more age and a little more life experience, I would have gotten more. I had always wondered if I was going to stay here or move back to the coast, but I’m here

for good. I feel like I’m at home here in Detroit. Feeling at home really lends to feeling satisfied in life. I feel like Cyberoptix the business is on a really good trajectory as well. I enjoy making art again. I hadn’t had the time to do that for a while. Do you feel like the bulk of your learning was through school or personal experience?

ore abstractly, I think I learned from my schooling. I learned how to see art in a different kind of way and appreciate the formal discipline of art. I learned how to put what was in my head onto a page or onto fabric. I learned how to design well and edit well. As far as technique goes, that was selftaught. I didn’t do any printmaking in school. I have two sculpture degrees, which doesn’t lend itself toward clothing design. It does, however, lend itself toward building worktables and renovating my studio. I was screen-printing on top of a bunch of cardboard boxes; very low tech. Then Cyberoptix began to grow organically. I think in formal schooling, people get too caught up in expectations. I didn’t take any computer classes in school. That was self-taught as well. Many practical skills can

be really self-taught through whichever path you want to follow. What will your legacy be? Oh boy. This is some heavy stuff (laughs). As a woman, I want to do strong scientific, wellformed work. I want to help girls. I like weird math. I have been working on permutations of sound paintings through sound waves. It’s crazy but, math teachers, all throughout school, discouraged me. People would say ‘Oh you’re going to be an artist, you’ll never get this math.’ I had a 4.2 GPA, but I was still horrible at math. I think it’s just because I was dismissed from doing it. I knew I was going to be an artist since I was three years old. I would love to be a woman to inspire even one young girl to not be discouraged from sciences and math and how it applies to art making; it’s all applicable. I think there can be really beautiful things that happen when math, science, technology and art mesh together. I wish I had better mentorship when I was younger. I had a horrible math teacher, who would tell me ‘you’ll never need this’ or ‘you’ll never learn that.’ I’d have a special bird for her and the others (laughs). But my public faced self would say just don’t listen to that. Had I just gotten past the boring math and gotten into the weird math where the freaky calculus and the freaky physics happened, I would have been more interested. I’ve had to teach myself acoustics, psychoacoustics, and physics. I was reading physics books at 39, because I never learned it. I just never thought it would be relevant to my art making. I just wish that could be better presented in school. You can apply what seems boring and pointless to cool stuff later in life. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave for someone. That you can do cool stuff with math and science. You can make freaky patterns out of sound waves and you need to know math to do that. cyberoptixtielab.myshopify.com bethanyshorb.viewbook.com 44

HEALTH

EVERY OPPORTUNITY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR

FITNESS

Two professional fitness trainers address “his and hers” health challenges and walk through ways of cutting excuses and building healthy habits. BY: C O U R T N I E P I E R C E & D O N I E L C A L V I N PHOTOGRAPHY: T I M L E O N

DONIEL CALVIN, owner, ID3 Fitness, and COURTNIE PIERCE, owner,

Likewater Fitness.

HER PROBLEM: HER SOLUTION: The alarm clock goes off at 6:00 AM. Hit the snooze button about 4 times. Okay, I’m up. 6:45 AM. I can sleep fifteen more minutes and still make it on time. Okay, seriously, I’m up. 7:05 AM. Shower, iron clothes; at least put on some mascara and some lip balm. It’s 7:50 AM! I can grab something to eat on the way to work. Ahhh, I forgot to pack my lunch. I’ll just grab some Chipotle, that’s pretty healthy. Traffic is thick. I should have made myself some toast. I should start juicing. Maybe I should try that detox tea. OMG! It’s 8:20 AM! I’m just going to grab a bagel from the break room....no a muffin. 8:45 AM. I’m so tired. Maybe someone is going to Starbucks. I need a caramel latte. Who brought donuts? Oooh, sour cream glazed. Just one... two…I’m starting my diet tomorrow, for real. Now if we really want to emphasize the struggle, throw in a husband and children. Does this sound familiar? If a woman has anything to tend to other than herself, it is certain that her time shrinks. The more that day planner starts to fill up with activities, the louder those excuses echo in our mind. Every time goals are set and never given a solid effort, the friendlier we become with our unhappiness. 47

Be honest with yourself and the work that needs to be done. Understand that goals are attainable with a plan. Set small goals to accomplish the larger ones. If the long-term goal is to lose 20 lbs, set a weekly goal to lose 3 lbs and work the plan for that week, and each week thereafter. Set boundaries by making your priorities known. The people in your circle will be used to the woman you have been, not the woman you are striving to become. You need them to respect your goals enough that they won’t encourage behaviors that caused your current condition. Demonstrate good habits so that others know how to support you. Be patient and faithful to the process. There will be times when your scale is the biggest liar. It won’t reflect the sweat from your workouts, or your new found love for clean eating. There will be times that you cheat and sneak a taste, or an entire plate for that matter, but stay the course. Success is your reward! The journey to our best self is a fight, and we must fight it everyday to be successful. When we can clearly put into perspective the many times we have beautifully persevered through this life, the opportunity to engage in the pursuit of health and happiness will be a welcome one.

HIS PROBLEM: HIS SOLUTION: You know the old saying, “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it”? Well it definitely holds true in the area of fitness. It’s on everyone’s list of things to do but oftentimes just isn’t getting done. Men commonly have two goals in mind: lose the GUT and add on MUSCLE. In general, men aren’t too concerned with weight loss in comparison to our female counterparts, as long as we feel like we look good, (or a woman tells us we do). There are a few factors that stand in our way of achieving those goals. These include: available time, consistency, expectation of immediate results, and our own egos of course. Let’s take a look at the facts. Muscle loss is a natural process for men. We lose about .5% every year between the ages of 25-60. Poor nutrition and inactivity can speed up this process as well. Seventy percent of our body’s musculature is located in our legs and back. With that being said we should avoid only working on those trophy muscles of the chest and arms. Total body workouts with some focused training should do the trick.

The only way to combat this problem is to get up and get started. The only thing better than a great plan is executing it. There are many programs available to get you moving, like personal trainers, boot camps, cross-fit camps, running clubs, calisthenics, and the list goes on so your excuses should be few. Mapping your day is a vital tool for success. So much so, that even down to the details of your daily food intake should be planned. Planning eliminates impulse decisions, which are usually bad ones, and aids in preventing your goals from falling to the wayside. Our fitness objectives have to be a part of our lives and a part of our day just as our jobs are but on a smaller scale. Nevertheless, we must hold them at a high value. Calisthenics, the use and lifting of your own body weight, is key. It’s important to learn how to control your own body weight before adding to it. We have to make the time, be consistent and patient with the process, and turn to someone we trust to hold us accountable to achieving our goals.

SQUAT:

Until you become comfortable and have demonstrated proper form, break the squat down into small parts.

• Once your butt is in a seated position, stand up straight and give your cheeks a squeeze.

• Feet should be about shoulder width apart

• Repeat.

• With your legs still straight, bend over slightly to about a 45 degree angle, keeping your abs engaged.

It is important that your knees are in proper position and that you are not on your toes. Your weight should be behind you and through your heels. A good way to practice is to stand in front of a wall with your toes a couple inches from the wall. When properly done, your knees will not bump the wall. Do not incorporate weights until you have perfected your technique.

• Bend your knees, and pretend you are sitting in an invisible chair.

3 COUNT BURPEE:

• Starting position is standing with your arms at your side and feet together • Drop down to the floor in a tucked position with your arms straight, hands on the floor, and knees at your chest • Kick out both feet straight back so that you are at the high point of push-up position

• Perform one push-up • Return both feet to your tucked position. Knees at your chest, arms straight, and hands on the floor • Jump out of that position raising your hands above your head. Land back in your starting position.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBER WITH PLANK:

• Starting position is arms straight, hands on the floor, and flattened out with your feet together, just as the beginning of push-up position • While keeping your hands on the floor and arms straight, alternate bringing one knee to towards your chest at a time.

• While one leg is returning to the straight position, the other knee is being brought towards your chest. • After you’ve completed 10 knee raises, hold the high push up position for 10 seconds before starting another set of alternating knee raises.

GET PREPARED! PRACTICES TO LIVE BY FOR HER AND HIM: Get your diets in check and cook your own meals. Our culture is obsessed with calorie counting rather than promoting a well-balanced, nutrient rich diet. Eat more of what grows from the dirt. •

Ladies, in order to get rid of the parts we hate, and maintain the parts we love, we must strength train. You will not bulk! It will however, keep time and Mother Nature on your side by lifting what wants to head south and tightening what aims to jiggle. Your body’s best defense against fat is muscle. You won’t get it by simply walking on the treadmill. •

Work your core! There is not a moment in your day (unless you are sleeping) that your abs should not be engaged. Not “waist trainer” bound, but consciously contracted and tightened. You must train up abdominal muscles to support your body, your posture, and your vanity. Visualize your best body, and start to posture yourself that way. •

Learn that sweat and soreness are good things! Pain is temporary, but let it be a reminder of your hard work. Let it also encourage you, because there was a time that exercise was foreign to you. Your strength, your stamina, and your body will continue to improve. Stay the course! Be accountable to your goals! Your best you is your reward! •

INTERVIEW

TOUCHED BY

KRISSY “THE BUTCHER”

is taking charge and staking her claim as a female tattoo artist in a male dominated profession, maintaining her feminine appeal. PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY: J U S T I N M I L H O U S E INTERVIEW: A S H L E Y K TRANSCRIPT: N A T A L I E J O R D A N

Krissy “The Butcher”, TATTOO ARTIST.

Krissy “The Butcher” WORKING ON A SPECIALIZED TATTOO, showing off her own right arm sleeve. bottom and next page: Krissy’s artwork.

here’s this constant hum in the air when one walks into a tattoo shop and that was certainly the case as we interviewed the amazingly talented Kristen Woodhouse, affectionately known as Krissy “The Butcher.” What started with a “7 Mile” tattoo on a brother’s arm to now part business owner, Krissy is taking charge and staking her claim as a female tattoo artist in a predominately male profession. “Artists want to be free birds,” Krissy proclaims. But she is serious about her business. Fierce. Provocative. Kindred. Meet Krissy “The Butcher.” 55

PARKVIEW: What inspired to be a tattoo artist? KRISTEN WOODHOUSE: I was always really into art

for as long as I can remember. I remember the first picture I drew was back in elementary school. I drew one of my brother’s video game characters and that’s how it started. I wasn’t good at tattooing until my second or third year of college. I’ve been tattooing since about 2009, every day. I’ve moved from a couple of different spots to finally land at my current shop where I am now and I like it here best. The focus here is on the art, no so much the money or competition. When you’re an artist in

that element, it kind of breaks you down. I like this relaxed vibe. Do you find it challenging being a woman in male dominated profession? What are some of the challenges you face? I’ve spent almost all my twenties in the tattoo profession. It molds me to be a different kind of person, because when you work around all men you have to hold your own. Point blank. As far as tattooing in the ‘hood’, that just taught me about not backing down and being able to enforce what you need and what you want to get from your art. If you don’t do that, then people are going to run all over you and you’re never going to make it in this business. That’s what I tell any female artist that wants to get into this. They have to take it serious and they have to be a shark. If not, clients will run over you. The other artists will run over you too, everyone will. You have to mold yourself. When I come in here, I turn into “The Butcher.” It’s a completely different person from who I am outside of the shop. When I’m not here, no one knows who I am. I just look like a little schoolgirl or something (laughs). Where did the name “The Butcher” come from? The first shop I worked, I was the first female tattoo artist. I was really young and I didn’t have any real tattoos myself yet. All these rough looking guys used to joke around with these stories, saying “Oh there must be something about you, like you probably go in the back and butcher bodies or something”. So people just kept that joke going and it just stuck. It kind of just rolled into an image that works for me.

What made you choose tattoos versus some other form of art? When I first started, getting into art real serious, I was into everything: painting, sculpture, everything I could get my hands on. I was real heavy into art in high school. When I was trying to decide which college to go to, my art teacher was really cool and encouraged me to go to the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. My mom was concerned with my taking an ‘artsy’ route. She didn’t think it was a stable career choice, understandably. So I just chose going into biology instead. You know, most people of the older generation don’t consider art as being worthwhile, so I stopped art for a little while but while I was in school, I went through a mini depression because I wasn’t doing art, what I loved. I was pretty good at school but it wasn’t in my heart to do the whole pre-med thing and I didn’t know where I was going in life. One night, I remember, I was up and caught a rerun of an episode of L.A. Ink, and I thought, I could do that! Then I just fell into it and luckily, I have a natural knack for it. I ended up getting my first tattoo at age nineteen. What kind of clients do you have? They range from old, young, black, white, Asian, everyone, from all walks of life. I tattoo nurses, chiropractors, business owners, gang bangers, whoever, everybody. It ranges. First timers are always nervous, but the vibe in the shop is very comforting, and people get over it after a couple minutes or so. I feel like the tattoo industry is changing a lot because of tattoo television shows. It’s becoming more acceptable. I started right when tattoo shows were getting popular, so I caught a good wave.

Who do you look to for inspiration? My circle of influence has always been my family and very close friends. I would say definitely my mom and dad, easily. My mom is a doctor and my dad is a project manager in construction. I’ve seen them – especially my dad – build a business from the ground up. He was like a good role model for me. Being my own entrepreneur, going after something that I really wanted. They’re definitely great role models and they work hard. That’s all I know and the expectations are high. Other than that, other artists. Oftentimes, I just can’t really relate to other people and young women my age. I’m just in a totally different element. There aren’t a lot of female artists; particularly black female artists…tattoo artists. People can’t really relate to me and that’s ok. What are you most proud of? That’s a good question. I’ve got so many pieces out there that are just so fun to me. I guess right now my style of art. I was really into black and grey tattooing at first, that realism because that’s what I did as far as my pencil drawings in my art class. Now, I’m into full color pieces. The color stands out to me and is pleasing to my eye. I like seeing a fully colored body part from across the room. It’s funny because I used to be so scared of it when I first started out. I had a large black clientele and back then, people would say you shouldn’t put so much color on brown skin, so we weren’t doing it often. Except, as soon as I moved to my second shop, we started getting different kinds of clientele, and I saw that it was possible. I took that and ran with it. When you’re not working, what are you watching? Don’t laugh at me; it’s so ‘chick flick-ish’: The 57

Notebook. I’m sorry! (laughs) I can’t stop watching it, every single day it comes on; I’m going to watch it. I’m a hopeless romantic. That’s a part of me that I cannot let go of. It’s like I’m “The Butcher” but I love watching The Notebook. I will literally cry at that movie every single time. In a few words, how would you describe yourself? I would say, I’m a really driven person. I’m very lovable, like I hold my family and friends very close. I don’t know, I’m just that type of person. I think I’m weird too. Goofy, silly…I’m a real introvert. People here, at the tattoo shop, know my personality the most. Outside of work, I think I’m more of an introvert. I still attract people; I don’t know why people are attracted to my vibe, but I’m just pretty laid back. Three words? Driven. Loving. Quirky. (smiles). What makes you powerful? I’m a powerful woman because I feel like I’ve blazed my own trail despite what any man, woman, child has to say. I just do what I want to do. But I do it with a nurturing vibe that a woman has, I’m not a bulldog. I can still be feminine. I can still be a woman but still assert myself in that same way. I think at first I thought that when I got into the tattoo industry being a woman would work against me because people wouldnt trust that I knew what I was doing, because there wasn’t a whole lot of us, but then after a while, they were feeling that nurturing kind of woman thing and it started working for me a lot. I cannot wait until there are more women tattooing. I definitely come across as a person people reach out to, and I just talk to them and tell them my journey. I believe in uplifting people. That’s what

I feel like women should do anyway, we don’t do enough of that. There is a lot of jealousy and I just don’t like that. I just like to be about good vibes. I think if more women did that, we could take over everything. Jealousy comes when we try to keep our nest and protect our relationships and it gets really catty. From that one point it just bleeds into every aspect of life. In what ways does tattooing effect your body as a professional? Tattooing definitely affects my wrists and hands, because my hands are pretty small so the machines get pretty heavy. Obviously, holding a machine for hours at a time can start to wear down my wrists and my back. Now, I’m starting to focus on yoga and things like that to stay stretched out. It helps me both physically and mentally too. I think over the physical part, the mental part is something people don’t understand. Tattoo artists need meditation for the amount of time we spend tattooing everyday. It can be very stressful. I’m still trying to figure out how to rest and reenergize myself quite honestly. I’m trying to give myself free time and learn to enjoy life. How have you evolved? I’ve learned leaps and bounds. I feel like I’ve picked it up quicker too because I’m around so many veterans in the game. I’ve tattooed around so many people, and I was close to so many people that I picked up all their skills. I kind of accelerated a lot quicker than usual because I really wasn’t afraid to ask questions or be up under people. These people have become some of my best friends. I spend more time with them than I do with my family.

I’M DRIVEN. LOVING. OUIRKY. What are you looking forward to next? Hmmm. Let’s start with personally. Personally, I just bought a new house. December 31st. I’ve just been working on building my nest. Relationships, not too big on that right now. I’ve been a long-term relationship kind of girl for a long time, so this is the first time I’ve focused on me and what I want to do. That’s pretty much it. I just wanna chill. Professionally, just rebranding the shop. I’m also focusing on a new thing by offering guest spots for other tattoo artists. I am happy to have the platform to bring in some amazing artists from, wherever! People want to come to Detroit, but they don’t know where to go. So I want to bring them in, have different vibes in the shop, and offer people from Detroit different experiences from artists from different places. What is the mark that you want to leave in this world? I would say specifically I want to leave a place that artists can feel comfortable and be themselves because that starving artist is still kinda prevalent in the tattoo world. I think if people learn the business and learn the art, then they can coexist successfully like anyone else. So I just want some kind of place or some kind of knowledge out there to help people bring themselves up as artists. That’s what I want; I don’t know if I’m going to get there, but (laughs) let’s see what happens. instagram.com/thexbutcher 58

COMMUNITY

POINT OF

VIEW

AMY NICOLE SWIFT of BUILDING HUGGER, Detroit,

provides enlightenment to the love and appreciation for historic window preservation.Â PHOTOGRAPHY: T I M L E O N TEXT: A S H L E Y K

AMY NICOLE SWIFT, principal, at Building Hugger.

hen was the last time you actually paid attention to the window, from which you were enjoying that amazing view? Moreover, when was the last time you’ve driven around town looking at the beautiful architecture and window structures of the many historical buildings and districts that exist right in your back yard? From Art Deco designs to contemporary blends of old and new, Detroit’s architecture is recognized as some of the most prized in the country. The city’s buildings are full of blankets of history and one thing that have many in common are windows. Amy Nicole Swift, trained architect, turned “lady builder”, and owner of Building Hugger, has found a love in window restoration, and preserving Detroit’s rich architectural history, one window at a time. Although she has been afforded the opportunity of study in many major U.S. cities including Chicago, New York, and San Francisco, Amy Nicole states there’s no comparison to the gems that exist here in Detroit. “It takes specific skill to preserve what’s here,” says Amy. She recalls her first project where the window budget consumed the bulk of the budget at large, introducing her to the plague of lost authentic development opportunities with high costs. This ignited her flame for the business of window restora-

left: JENNIFER SALIS, crew member, restoring pantry window. above: Sunlit day room with restored HISTORIC WINDOW backdrop.

“THE VALUE HERE IN DETROIT IS PLACED ON DOING AND BUILDING THINGS THAT ARE RELEVANT.” tion. It can be a long process but the reward is greater. “Windows took me from behind the desk to a place where I can do what I want to do,” Amy says. “Now-a-days we want quick fixes. Our minds have adjusted to a different kind of consumer market where there is less craft in making things and meaning in its creation,” Amy explains. Years ago, craftsmen labored over windows and it was the appreciation for the artistry that made historic windows so special. Because we live in a world of instant gratification, and planned obsolescence in the marketplace, the consumer feels the need to have a truck pull up to their home with a load of modern windows because the patience it takes to restore the old ones is obsolete. It’s difficult to change the mindset of instant gratification to realize the value to preserving the quality and sustainability of what lasts. It takes a pull of emotion. Building Hugger, a Detroit based preservation and reuse, building saving, community preserving company, was initially a way for Amy to explore how she could be a better steward of the built environment, work and be effective in Detroit, and restore an appreciation for the quality and value in things history has left us. “I found that I am the best steward when helping others succeed,” she says. There is great reward in helping homeowners improve their property and just as much satisfaction in watching neighborhoods develop into communities filled with structures that hold history in their windowpanes. 63

left: Beautiful NINETEENTH CENTURY Indian Village home. right: Inside view of HISTORIC WINDOWS found throughout home.

“As I learn I am able to disseminate knowledge to other people. I love the idea of teaching people what is complex and intimidating and breaking it down to something understandable,” Amy explains while we toured one of her most current projects.

s Amy prepared for this nineteenth century home’s first Indian Village Home and Garden tour since the 1980’s, she unraveled some of the home’s really eccentric history. It was moved and mirrored from about three blocks from its original Jefferson location; having been built in 1898 then reversed in 1920 and suffered a third floor fire in 1979. “Its really one of my favorite,” says Amy. “I’m tickled that I get to work on this beautiful home.” For Amy, it’s been a partnership with the homeowners as she tries to make window restoration work accessible to lay people. It can be intimidating, however, you learn more when you actually get out and get to it. Window restoration certainly takes skill, but it’s not frightening. “One thing I can appreciate about Detroit is that it’s a different kind of market; the value here is placed on doing and building things that are relevant,” says Amy. Her trusted “three-man-crew” does everything from stripping the historic windows down to their many interchangeable parts, wood and hardware repair, refinishing, reworking the seal, and ensuring the window is clean and operable while maintaining what’s there and replacing pieces that are damaged with 64

left: DINING ROOM tablescape welcomes natural light. Originally built home from 1898 pictured along side MIRRORED home in 1920. right: Inspirational CHALKBOARD wall in pantry.

the uttermost care. “You open up a wall sometimes and it could be a nightmare, complete madness,” says Amy, noting her appreciation when owners take appropriate care of their property.

uilding Hugger is in a unique space of growth and efficiency. Business is growing by the month and their shared shop on Detroit’s east side is full of small to large-scale projects in production. With plans to offer training courses for this niche work, Amy has tapped into a market where consumers are rearing to tackle. There are very few training courses for this type of work or even people who understand historic windows and can do the work properly are few, but with proper training, restorations can last for generations. Window restoration, in particular, is by no means a quick fix for preserving some of the structure and architecture in Detroit as it takes time, patience, and very specific detailing but Amy Nicole Swift is good at it and committed to the process. From neighborhoods and single-family estates, to skyscrapers decorating the city’s skyline, the windows on these structures offer a sneak peek into a world of yesterdays while embracing our tomorrows. Sometimes you don’t pay attention to the windows until you have a really nice one. Next time you take a look through a window and enjoy that beautiful view from one of those historic buildings, consider the hands that labored and love it took to create that view just for you to enjoy. buildinghugger.org 66

COMMUNITY

THE CITY WITH A GREEN HEART THE GREENING OF DETROIT rejuvenates

communities by training Detroiters in landscaping for employment. PHOTOGRAPHY: T I M L E O N TEXT: M A L I S S A M A R T I N

t’s evident Detroit is making its way back to being the cool and hip town it once was. Thanks to businesses moving back into the city and entrepreneurs taking downtown and its neighboring cities by storm, Detroit is quickly becoming the new weekend getaway spot. As the city continues to grow, one Detroiter wants to make sure it’s a green haven not only for visitors, but for its residents as well. Devon Buskin, Director of Workforce Development for The Greening of Detroit, is dedicated to making the city green by training residents for careers in landscaping. The Greening targets Detroiters from all different backgrounds that have barriers to employment and need help getting their life on track. Parkview Magazine had the opportunity to attend The Greening’s Cohort 18 graduation cer67

emony for seventeen trainees who completed the Landscape Technician Ornamental Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeship Instruction program. It was an emotional scene as some of the graduates expressed their appreciation to Devon and his team for restoring hope in their lives. For one graduate this was his very first graduation. Bobbie Hendrix Jr. joined the program shortly after being released from prison; and although class had already started, Bobbie was able to join the program. “This was his first time crossing the stage and finally finishing something in life with stackable credentials,” Devon says. Bobbie was able to speak at the graduation and share these profound words, “It doesn’t matter where you’ve been. It matters what you want.” The eight-week apprenticeship program is designed to use a combination of instruction and hands-on learning. The City of Detroit granted The Greening operational space at the Walter I. Meyers Nursery at Rouge Park for outdoor classes, which the organization has maintained for years. “It allows us to have an outdoor classroom. So the trainees are actually learning the bookwork on the job. We have learned that this has been an extremely great, successful model because they’re able to put their hands on it as soon as they learn it in the book,” Devon says. A piece of greening that has been missing is streetscapes, the actual design and

top to bottom: Florist Kelley Anne Jones teaches trainees essentials for greening. Cohort 18 graduation celebration. Trainees in the field greening.

beautification of greening. Detroiters haven’t been exposed to this much but The Greening felt this a unique skill set to include in their programming. They have partnered with Goodness Gracious, a family owned and operated floral company, to help trainees hone in on this artistry. In addition to adult programs, The Greening offers a summer youth program for high school students to prepare them for careers after graduation. There are a number of education enrichment days during the summer to get students workforce ready like resume writing, leadership training, team building, etiquette class, interviewing skills, and financial literacy. “This year we’ll be hiring close to 200 youth that we track from ninth to twelfth grade. The program has been structured to introduce them to what we call ‘green-collar’ jobs. So your urban planning, environmental scientist, environmental engineering, civil engineering, and anything that has anything to do with green,” Devon explains.

he Greening of Detroit was inspired by the Pathways Out Of Poverty grant, formed in 2009 under the Obama Administration. When the grant’s funds were depleted, The Greening was able to continue providing programs thanks to donations from community banks and other companies. Fundraisers and partnerships with the City and local businesses provide career opportunities for graduates of The Greening. Last year The Greening partnered with Wayne County in Southwest Housing Solutions to hire eight employees for a clean-up project. The employees still work for this program today. For the past three years The Greening has partnered with Marathon Oil to hire employees to redevelop close to 400 lots in Southwest Detroit. “They regrouped all of that green space with a goal to build carbon buffers and pocket parts. This will clean up around the Marathon Oil refine. The project employed eight Detroiters full-time,” Devon says. These types of partnerships provide job opportunities for graduates. Devon believes there’s no better way to help rebuild Detroit than with Detroiters. 69

“IF YOU LIVE IN DETROIT, TAKE IT PERSONAL.” Graduate Cardan Young Davy agrees saying, “If you live in Detroit, take it personal.” Trainees receive six certifications once they complete the apprenticeship program. Some include: The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, CPR and first aid, conflict resolution, and landscape technician certification. Trainees are also required to take geometry, which can be a struggle for adults that dropped out of school or haven’t been in school for quite a while. Regardless of the challenge, the class helped and supported one another. Graduate James Park says, “I met some incredible Detroiters through this program. They are top notch, really a family. This has been an incredible opportunity.” All seventeen trainees from Cohort 18 had a job waiting for them after graduation. Since its inception, 335 trainees have graduated from The Greening’s adult workforce development training programs. The Greening has close to 100 percent graduation rate and averages three graduations per year, and increasing. “My staff is extremely awesome and they get it. To be able to have a team that understands the mission and goals of the program, that are creative, don’t want to stay in a box, and are willing to go above and beyond to help save a life, is huge. That’s the type of staff that I have,” Devon says. At the end of graduation Devon and the graduates repeated a mantra they’ve been using throughout the program to remind them never to give up. Devon yells, “Hard work.” The graduates reply, “Dedication.” Hard work and dedication is what it’s going to take to beautify the city and The Greening is giving Detroiters the green thumb to get it done. greeningofdetroit.com

Excited graduates prepare to accept their certificates, applauded by staff member Naomi McKean (lower left) and Devon Buskin, director (lower right).

PHOTOGRAPHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PORTFOLIO

ERIK HR IN JAPAN:

A TRANQUIL STATE OF MIND 71

Through the brush at the 3rd tier of MOUNT TAKAO, Hachioji, Japan.

Overlooking the strip in Harajuku, TOKYO Japan.

TAKAOSANGUCHI at Sunset.

Mt Fuji from the peak of MOUNT TAKAO. Hachioji, Japan. right: Minato-Mirai, YOKOHAMA Japan

“NEVER STOP EXPLORING” Harujuku, Tokyo Japan

SHIBUYA from the Hikarie Building, Tokyo Japan.

LINES, PATTERNS, HUES, SHADES, CULTURES, EMOTIONS... A young man of many facets by day and night, Erik HR has been capturing the pulchritude of life through the lens of his camera since receiving his first one at age fifteen. One who likes to “get into things,” fraternize with graffiti writers, and indulge in bananas foster coffee then and again, Erik enlightens us on his journey to Japan and its influence on his appreciation for a culture different than his own. While many of us will never have the opportunity to see the world or even travel to foreign places outside our own communities, Erik embraces his gratefulness in the experiences and camaraderie of his kinship abroad. “My Japanese name is Takeshi (pronounced tah-ke-shee) and to them, I am their brother,” Erik says. We sat with this young intellect over that bananas foster coffee, omelets, and cool vibes as he took us on a small jaunt through his little black book of travels both physically and metaphorically. INFLUENCE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY:

“Photography has influenced me in a number of ways but mostly, it’s helped me look at things differently; to be patient and observant, and to understand that it’s important to take the time to step back and explore different perspectives. Everyone has an eye for an image. The only thing that separates a photographer from anyone else is that they’ve taken the opportunity to express it through the medium of film”. INFLUENCE THROUGH PASSION:

“At this moment I’m really passionate about travel. I feel that it is very important to see the world in your youth. So many people make plans for retirement and neglect the idea of enjoying the world while they are young and vibrant. To me, traveling helps you think fast and respond quickly. It also teaches you to communicate more eloquently while increasing your emotional intelligence. The world is yours to enjoy. I’m just trying to make the most of it”. INFLUENCE THROUGH JAPANESE CULTURE:

“My initial reason for my most recent trip to Japan, besides visiting old friends, was to gain inspiration. What was meant to be somewhat of a vacation suddenly became a spiritual experience as I dug deep within myself for answers. I felt that it was time to make a serious decision about the future. Through conversations, observations, and a few occasional treks to the countryside I found myself in this very balanced, tranquil state of mind. Of course the food is amazing. The Tsikiji Market, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, has the freshest and authentic sushi in the world. You won’t find anything like it anywhere else. One of the things I remember most is getting to the top of Mount Takao. Although the terrain isn’t as brutal as maybe Mount Fuji or the Himalayas, making my way to its peak, overlooking Japan, was a great feeling”. INFLUENCE THROUGH LIFE:

“The world is filled with lines, patterns, hues, shades, cultures, emotions, storms, sunshine and all different things that can be consolidated into one moment. Cameras help us capture these moments that may never exist again. Take advantage of that idea when you pick up a camera for yourself”.

heavenlydogs.org

ERIK HR at Mount Takao

TRIBUTE STATUETTE in the forest, Mount Takao.

stay tuned!

On Social Justice and Economic Development BY D A V I D E . B E A U M O N T P H . D .

There are three ways in which a person becomes a slave. They may be born into slavery, or forced into it, or they can deliberately accept their servitude. All three forms flourish in the modern world. (Sheen, 1943)

he desire to embrace economic development is one of the most powerful and pervasive ideas of our time. Communities embrace and promote economic development strategies as the corner stone to improve a communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well being and to reduce poverty. Economic development supporters present strategies as a win-win situation, that in many cases reach the status of an absolute truths. Often the dissenting voice never questions situations as presented for fear that they will be seen as an obstructionist. But in reality it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take much thought to realize that we have engaged economic development and growth strategies that have had profoundly disparaging results. During the height of unrest in Baltimore, Spring 2015, several media outlets pointed out that millions of dollars had been spent in an effort to vitalize the area. In a sense, one could argue that embracing current economic development and growth strategies have supported inequality. Let us pretend that economic development refers to the sustained, concerted actions of communities and policymakers that improve the standard of living and economic health of a specific locality (Todarao, 2014), sounds great. The definition of economic development by Todaro is an increase in living conditions, improvement of the citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; self-esteem, needs, and a free and just society. Not sure how one applies this definition to the post Baltimore era. Economic development is defined by others based on what it is trying to accomplish. Many times these objectives include building or improving infrastructure (such as roads, bridges, etc.), improving the education system through new schools, enhancing our public safety (fire and police service), or incentivizing new businesses to open a location in a community. In reality 1.2 million households, whose incomes put them in the top one percent of the U.S., saw their earnings increase 5.5 percent last year, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau while earnings fell 1.7 percent for the 96 million

households in the bottom 80 percent. The recovery that officially began in mid2009 hasn’t arrived in most Americans’ paychecks. In 2010, the top 1 percent of U.S. families captured as much as 93 percent of the nation’s income growth (Saez, 2011). For those who argue that money cannot buy everything, it truly would be nice to have the option to find out what it will not buy.

et us change the channel and pretend again that the focus of community and economic development was driven by social justice defined as “... promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity.” It exists when “all people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment, support for their human rights, and a fair allocation of community resources.” (Rawls 2003) Rawls’ conception of social justice is developed around the idea of a social contract, whereby people freely enter into an agreement to follow rules for the betterment of everyone, without considering the implications of these rules for their own selfish gain. Rawls posits that rational, free people will agree to play by the rules under fair conditions and that this agreement is necessary to assure social justice because public support is critical to the acceptance of the rules of the game (Rawls, 2003). In fact, Rawls’ second principle asserts that inequalities in society are acceptable as long as they meet two conditions. First, as per the “equal opportunity principle,” inequalities are acceptable if every person in society has a reasonable chance of obtaining the positions that lead to the inequalities. An example would be equal opportunity to achieve any job. Rawls (2003) specifies that “fair equality of opportunity” requires “not merely that public offices and social positions are open in the formal sense, but that all should have a fair chance to attain them.” One can buy this, however, it is not clear how it helps explain the rate of incarceration of African American men, the higher poverty rate of persons of color, and on and on in a just society. This raises an interesting question. Who is convinced that poverty is being eradicated? Why invest so much effort in what can be critiqued as a campaign of disinformation? Is it because part of it has to do with the fact that the decision makers and pundits have no other claims to fall back on to justify the status quo – that the current economic order is producing poor people? “To say that inequalities in income and wealth are to be arranged for the greatest benefit of the least advantaged simply means that we are to compare schemes of cooperation by seeing how well off the least advantaged are under each scheme, and then to select the scheme under which the least advantaged are better off than they are under any other scheme.”(Rawls 2003) With two competing arrangements of income in a society, the fairer of the two – and therefore the more just of the two – is the one that is to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged. Simply put, society needs poor people. The issue should be how one may have access to real quality options to determine their own destiny and not have it chosen for them. This column will be devoted to being a sounding board for self-determination. Stay tuned.

DAVID E. BEAUMONT, PH. D., has over

twenty five years of work and volunteer experience in education, training, and human services. With a doctorate degree in higher education and a specialty in urban planning and economic development, he takes great interest in social justice and its impact on the economic development of regional economies. He is a native Detroiter, husband, father, grandfather, and lover of his two cats Bonnie and Clyde.

DESERT

Moments de

Chocolat France native CHLOÃ&#x2030; SABATIER brings a taste of French culture to Detroit by way of the traditional French lava cake. PHOTOGRAPHY: J O Y K I N G TEXT: N A T A L I E J O R D A N A N D A S H L E Y K

SALTED CARAMEL traditional

French Lava Cake by Chez-ChloĂŠ.

RASPBERRY PISTACHIO lava

cake.

BOXED TREATS of lava cake.

right: CHLOÉ SABATIER, owner and pastry chef at Chez-Chloé.

Imagine,

for a moment, we are standing on top of a volcano – but don’t worry, the volcano is made out of rich, Belgium-imported dark chocolate, and the lava is a liquefied version that oozes into the receiver. Imagine this creating a heavenly marriage of liquid gold in a chocolate container. Let us ride that liquid wave, and as we do, we pass little sprinkles of powdered sugar, maybe small bits of fruit here and there, and finally, a mound of ice cream. It’s only natural that such a marvelous feeling would come out of a French pastry, the lava cake. From the mind and emotion of French chef, Michel Bras, the traditional French lava cake was birthed. Like drinking hot chocolate, but its a cake. “After returning home from skiing with the family, everyone was quiet and freezing. Once they started drinking hot chocolate at the table, tongues were loosened, the atmosphere was warm, and everyone was happy. At this time, I was fascinated. I tried to recreate this feeling in the kitchen.” Michel Bras In that same spirit, Parisian Chloé Sabatier (sah-bah-teeyay) has maintained the pureness of this delightful treat as she has transformed her love and fascination for the lava cake into a way of life. The lava cake isn’t something you can rush through to enjoy. It’s something that takes time to savor and should be experienced in full presence. “You can’t walk down the street and eat a lava cake ‘to go’. It’s meant to 92

Salted Caramel traditional FRENCH LAVA CAKE by Chez-ChloĂŠ.

ChloĂŠ measures ingredients and mixes DARK CHOCOLATE to prepare lava cakes.

“A lava cake is meant to be shared with someone special.” be shared with someone special. It’s about moments,” Chloé explains. “I just want people to be happy; they’re always so stressed out around here. The cakes allow people to disconnect for a moment and celebrate a little bit of happiness,” she says with her soft accented dialect. Life in France is different; the culture, the history, the lifestyle is different. Life is unhurried. People enjoy the days. People know each other and the community is family. Snacking is foreign. Walking is common. Market shopping for fresh bread, cheese, and vegetables is a normal daily chore. Breakfasts are large, lunches are too, and the mid day hour and a half rest prepares civilians for dinner in the evening. Let’s not forget a glass of wine in a cafe during the day. And when looking for a restaurant, the French are accustom to looking at the dessert menu first. “If a restaurant has good desserts, its a good restaurant,” Chloé proclaims. Having traveled from France to the U.S., first through New York, and then to the Detroit area, Chloé is making her mark by way of Chez Chloé, translated “With Chloé.” She has brought with her the love for French pastry to our historically-French-colony-turned-major-metropolitan-city. “I love the movement in Detroit. People are strong and willing to create. It can be pretty intense too,” says Chloé. “I love my country but I love my job and I love it here.” Furthermore, the French inspired street names found throughout the city offer Chloé a little taste of home. In just a year and a half, Chez Chloé started small but has grown slowly and organically. From baking for friends and family to farmer’s markets and grocery stores, Chez Chloé can be found all around Metro-Detroit. “I just went knocking on doors (so to speak) to find business and it worked.” Flying to Paris from Detroit any time soon? If you’re in business class, make sure to order one of her lava cakes, courtesy of a partnership with Air France. “When you have a company you love, it doesn’t feel like work. I really do what I love, it feels more like a hobby.” The future is bright for Chez Chloé, with plans to expand nationwide into grocers and restaurants all around. It may seem strange that she’d want to subject her pastry to the aisle of a grocer, but she has good reason. “I want it to be accessible to everyone, quick and easy.” Inspired by flavors of the season and the likes of her customers, Chloé’s traditional French lava cake makes every moment have the sweetest ending. chez-chloe.com

shop ing

Where the Locals Go

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Some of the greatest things come in the smallest packages; or so they say. I would probably have to agree with that, especially when it comes to the smoothest body products I have put on my skin in a very long time. Cream Blends literally feels like butter on your skin and is made naturally. Speaking of natural, with over eighteen years of baking organically, Avalon International Breads has some of the freshest eats and treats in the area. Here are a few places for you to check out this summer.

AVALON INTERNATIONAL BREADS Eat well. Do good. An artisan bakery using 100% organic flour and commitment to the community. 4731 Bellevue, Detroit, MI 48207; avalonbreads.net

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SAVVY CHIC A destination lifestyle boutique with a flare of fashion, food, and home goods. 2712 Riopelle Street, Detroit, MI 48207; savvychictrends.com

REVOLVER A host’s table restaurant with multi-course dinners in a communal setting welcoming meals and chef’s from around the country. Totally worth every dollar! 9737 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, MI; revolverhamtramck.com

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THE KEEP Underground speak easy styled bar serving classic and contemporary cocktails with a rotating beer and wine selection. 140 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI

DITTO DITTO

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An independently owned bookshop and publishing house that focuses on literary and visual arts and hosting book and art events. 1548 Trumbull St. Detroit, MI 48216; dittoditto.org

JO’S ART GALLERY A studio gallery and café with true southern hospitality. 19376 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48221 CREAM BLENDS Handmade body products from

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natural ingredients for healthy skin. Southfield, MI; creamblends.com

METROPOLIS BIKE SHOP A full service repair and retail

shop of both vintage and new bicycles. 2117 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216; metropoliscycles.bike

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