Collaboration with Sean Desmond at 323 East Gallery

While in Detroit I also had a chance to work on a wall piece with SF based photographer Sean Desmond.  Sean first wheat pasted a large photo from his series The Tenderloin Project, then I proceeded to improvise some patterns and blends.

Woodward Windows Detroit: Process

I spent last week in Detroit working on a few new projects, mainly my addition to the Woodward Windows project put on by Street Culture Mash in conjunction with 323 East Gallery.  The finished panels will be installed into a storefront window along Woodward Avenue in Downtown Detroit.

Detroit Masonic Temple

Today I met with a Thirty Third degree Master Mason who took me on a detailed tour of the Detroit Masonic Temple, the largest in the world.

The main lobby entrance.

To enter the building you must pass through truth (veritas) and strength (virtus)

This giant seal is on the floor of the entrance designed by Corrado Parducci.

Theatre Bizarre in Detroit

My first day back in Detroit I decided to check out this strange and unique part of the city's recent art movement.
 "Since the turn of the century, Theatre Bizarre has layered darkness on top of darkness.  In the shadow of the now dormant Michigan State Fairgrounds it stands in a largely abandoned neighborhood – surrounded by dozens of homes left vacant and decaying on the northernmost edge of Detroit.  Built by an army of volunteers and emerging for only one incomparable masquerade each year, Theatre Bizarre has become the city’s most famous and infamous underground party
Shut down by the city of Detroit in 2010, Theatre Bizarre lives on."
From the Theatre Bizarre website.  More info and photos available here.

Abandoned Oil Refinery

While back in Southern California I took an afternoon trip to check out an old oil refining facility with a couple of friends.  What I thought would be just a few rusted out drums turned out to be an incredible labyrinth of pipes, dozens of forty-foot tall tanks, and smokestacks over several acres.

Photo courtesy of Ian Maddox

Photo courtesy of Ian Maddox

Photo courtesy of Ian Maddox