Earning a little extra money on the weekend

Pro Wrestling All Stars presented a show at Detroit’s Kidz Playland in the Detroit’s Hispanic community on Federal Street, December 10, 2011.  The All Stars are local wrestlers who have been performing for 6 to 10 years. Their dreams of moving into “big time wrestling” now a faded memory.

The ring was set up by a local vendor and practice began for wrestling students.

Extensive stretching exercises began the class session, followed by in-the-ring practice of various holds, falls, and action moves.  Training continued with techniques of how to take a hit, and making the most noise with your body when landing on the spring supported ring floor.

Present was PWA belt holder Lou Crank surrounded by tag team champs, the masked avenger, a stable of men and one 19 year old woman Cassie, whose mother sat patiently ring side as she trained and later performed in a six person tag event.  

The camaraderie is evident back stage. The room is filled with people who are working a second job once or twice a month for cash. And the cash is dependent on the paying audience. At this venue the audience was modest.  Promoter/wrestler Steve Rivera’s next venue will be in Allen Park, Mi. where a larger, more proactive wrestling audience may exist.

In the ring all hell breaks loose. Pain and anger is thrown at the audience in choreographed action. For the audience wrestling is a night of entertainment that is often cheaper than a bar and a lot more fun.

Don’t miss the next Pro Wrestling All Stars show coming to a town near you.

Syrian Americans Demonstrate for Homeland Democracy

A breezy Sunday afternoon on November 6, over 200 Syrian Americans gathered in Troy, Michigan to provide peaceful support for democracy in front of the building housing the Syrian Consulate. 

The community of men, women, and a lot of children demonstrated with out fear.  If any were in their home country, the threat of police attack would instantly happen noted one woman.

My general impression was of solidarity and strength of an extended family.

All the adults had grown up under the Assad Family management of Syria. Many remarked of the oppression of their childhoods and joy of coming to America.

The artist "Bird"

Lee "Bird" Walker has contributed to the urban landscape for over 20 years. Now in his 50's, his exterior painting of retail businesses, with illistration and portraits are often found in surprising places. Bird and son Christopher work out of the back end of a used furniture store, The Mattress Station, on Van Dyke Street in Detroit. The rear door is the only light source. No electricity in the building. Painting surfaces are often fabric, cheap thin wood and what ever else comes his way.

A frequent saleable piece of art is a cartoon charcter that catches the eye of a passing motorist.

Son Christopher also is beginning to produce art. I expect at some point he will have the same steady hand as his father.



A sample of "Birds" work can be found on Gratiot Ave. Hats Galore and More holds up very well.  Down the street on abandoned property is an image of President Obama radiating on a wall,  and next to it is a memorial to Michael Jackson.

"Bird" is a third generation house painter who continues to produce orginal art and commercial art for retail businesses. His work is a excellent example of urban folk arts splashed with a lot of solid color to get attention.

Writing on the Wall Photography Exhibition

Detroit Photographer Displays Positive Side of Detroit

Immediate Release

February 20, 2011

Contact: David Clements 248-543-2596

david@davidclementsproductions.com

WRITING ON THE WALL  - INTERNET DETROIT PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION    

DETROIT, Michigan USA -- Renowned Detroit photographer David Clements’ new photo exhibit “Writing on the Wall, “ a visual history of the streets of Detroit is being released by Places Journal at Design Observer.  Text by Douglas M. Haller.

 

http://places.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=24518

Local historian and archivist Douglas M. Haller, says Clements’ work “emphasizes the beautification efforts that current residents make by transforming depressing streets into colorful galleries. His street photography reveals that signs, murals or entire buildings send messages that seem to talk, if not shout, to the passerby, using splashes of vibrant color, religious-infused script and heroic or fashionable faces.”

Places Journal: Founded 26 years ago by architecture faculty at MIT and Berkeley, Places is an interdisciplinary journal of contemporary architecture, landscape, and urbanism, with particular emphasis on the public realm as physical place and social ideal. The journal is now a fully web-based, open-access publication. Places online publishes peer-reviewed scholarship as well as topical commentary, observations, reviews, and visual portfolios.

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