Detroit Art Environment- Dabl's African Bead Museum

DETROIT ART ENVIRONMENTS 

Peppered throughout Detroit are citizens who are adapting vacant buildings and land. Creating oasis of original art by decorating walls, whole buildings and large expanses of open land. No where else in North America is such actions taking place on such a grand scale.

Olayami Dabl has spent nearly a decade developing Dabl's African Bead Museum and retail bead gallery. The small store is packed with African artifacts-including sculptures, textiles, potter and bead works dating back hundreds of years, from countless cultures throughout Africa. and surrounding environments at 6559 Grand River Ave. near East Grand Blvd. The existing retail building and surrounding buildings continue to be creatively developed. Hand glued mirror pieces, discarded metal objects, and painted illustrations of African languages and bead designs create an amazing environment.

The bead gallery is simply amazing seen here with Mr. Dabl. The walls are packed with containers filled with beads.
The surrounding buildings have also been decorated. TheNkisa Iron House, once an apartment building is coated with a wide variety of materials, all carefully placed.

The Language Wall runs several hundred feet. The back side of an abandoned warehouse that nearly expands onto a freeway. The Wall forms the southern boundary of the large park.

Vacant land continues to be developed in "staged" environments. Walking through the environment, one sees very defined themes and colors. Open to the public, the environment is always accessible.

Take an adventure in Detroit.  Visit the Dabl's African Bead Museum and art environment. Nothing else like it in the world.