Free Shoes for Life!

Enter for a chance to win free shoes for life from Famous Footwear:  

Shoes For Life is awarded in the form of one $400 gift card a year for 50 years**.

Enter NOW with the entry form (click on the link)! OR you can enter at any Famous Footwear, Famous Footwear Outlet or Factory Brand Shoes store.

DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES!

Sign up for our FREE REWARDS program and receive 2 entries!

small print:

One entry per person (REWARDS members entries will be automatically doubled). NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to Legal residents of the 50 United States (including D.C.) 18 years or older. Sweepstakes ends10/29/11.

**Click here for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions, or visit any participating Famous Footwear, Famous Footwear Outlet, or Factory Brand Shoes store. Void where prohibited.

http://www.famousfootwear.com/shoesforlife/?partnerid=Email_110927_FF_Booties

Staples Free Ream of Paper

Buy a ream for $5.99 & get a full rebate (online or mail in). Expires 10/1/11

Calling artists! Papergirl Detroit needs you!

Hello friends and artists!
A couple weeks ago I found out about Papergirl -Detroit on Facebook via DAM (Detroit Artist Market).  This project needs your help!  

Papergirl Detroit needs art, cyclists, a show venue, printing services, publicity, photographers (oh, I can do that!), and videographers.  Spread the word and make it happen!  


What is Papergirl - Detroit?  Well, read on my friend (same info as that on their facebook page).


(Big huge giant thanks from the Papergirl San Francisco group, for the info that I borrowed this information from!)

Papergirl was founded in Berlin by Aisha Ronniger and has been carried out once a year in the summer since 2006. It began as a response to a tightening of German graffiti laws that equated putting up posters in public spaces with graffiti spraying. This is the San Francisco division of that same project.

Papergirl is distributed like a newspaper, but not edited or printed like it; it consists of art pieces which are rolled up together. All the artwork is shown in a gallery setting before distribution. Contributions are sent in by mail or handed in personally and are later included in the art rolls.

There are no guidelines as to quantity or format: zines, prints, drawings, paintings, photos, textiles, stickers, writings, etc. are all welcome. Each roll contains anywhere from 5-10 different works, meaning that each one holds a unique combination of art!

Everyone can participate by submitting art and/or by helping with the distribution. We don´t select pieces for Papergirl, everything that gets submitted is shown and distributed, so it´s the artist who decides what he/she wants to show and give away as a gift. 

Papergirl is an annual mail-art and delivery systems art project that collects artwork from all over the world and, in the style of American paperboys, distributes the art freely by bicycle to people in the streets of Detroit.
Mission
Papergirl seeks to bring art to the public like never before, directly and freely by bicycle.

The basic idea with the project is to bring art to our community in a new and exciting/fun way. We're into the idea of facilitating people being generous with each other, sharing ideas and energy with strangers. We like nice surprises.

We want to promote creativity, culture, and participatory activities among the people that live here, and/or beyond. You don’t have to be from Detroit to submit work!

This isn’t like walking into a gallery and buying art off the wall, this is making a connection, even if for a moment, with strangers and giving them something without asking for anything in return!

The world needs more art and kindness!
Won't you join us?

These pieces can be any size, any shape, any material as long as they are
ROLLABLE
QUALITY
ORIGINAL
(as many or as few as you'd like)
-There is no selection process
-The art that is collected is photographed and put on our website with the details of the artist. (still working on this part!! No website yet!)
-The art is shown in an exhibition for the public to see (still working on this part too!!)
-The art is rolled up, and a band is put on the roll to explain the project to the "catchers."
-PaperGirls (and men and women who would like to participate can) take a bike ride together around the city with the rolls of art
-The rolls are given out at random to people on the street.
-We celebrate a wonderful project with the PaperGirls and anyone else who wants to join.
-We start to work on next year's PaperGirl.


Again, they need you, they need me.  Check it out and spread the word!  LINK to Papergirl Detroit.

Free DIA Sunday 9/25 & Gallery Week in Detroit

I love Facebook!  So often I find out from other artists or from venues themselves about upcoming free stuff!  


Sunday, September 25, 2011 Free admission to the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) thanks to Metro Parent Magazine!  Link to details here.
The DIA is open from 10am-5pm on Sunday.   


Also, there will be an art crawl on Friday, September 30th, 2011 to help celebrate Gallery Week.

SOMETHING YOU WON'T  WANT TO MISS!! ART DETROIT NOW MIDTOWN GALLERY CRAWL Friday, September 30th, 2011  5pm - 10pm

On Friday, Sept. 30th, 2011, 14 venues in Midtown will hold an ART CRAWL to start Detroit Gallery Week.  The crawl kicks off at 5 p.m. with an Art Parade led by Satori Circus and art students from CCS and Wayne State University that will wind its way through the participating venues. There will be a free shuttle service between the locations from 5 to 10 p.m. 71 POP Cass Cafe CCS Center Galleries City Bird Dell Pryor Gallery Detroit Artists Market Detroit Institute of Arts Ellen Kayrod Gallery Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) G. R. N'Namdi Gallery Re:View Contemporary The Scarab Club Wayne State University Galleries work·detroit Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History   THE SATIN DOLLS will perform at DAM starting at 7pm!

Detroit Design Festival

ARTY stuff abounds in metro Detroit!  This week, the Detroit Design Festival will be going on throughout the area.  

Link to all 85 Design Happenings


Thursday 9/22 List of things to see and experience


Friday 9/23 List


Saturday 9/24


Sunday 9/25


Monday 9/26


Tuesday 9/27


Wednesday 9/28 = last day


Enjoy our wonderful city of Detroit!

Free Museum Admission - Detroit Adventure Pass

And for those who are not teachers, remember you can still get into dozens of local museums for free with the Museum Adventure Pass found at your local library.
http://www.detroitadventurepass.org/


Even though MOCAD is free to the public, stop by and pick up a pass anyhow, it will get you a discount at the museum shop.  Say hi to Ivan who works there!

http://www.detroitadventurepass.org/

Teachers - Free Entry to Greenfield Village & The Henry Ford OCT 1

Teacher Open House October 1, 2011 9am-5pm (doors open at 8:30).  Free admission to Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village.  PLUS receive FREE admission to Ford Rouge Factory Tour and IMAX Theatre when you attend one of the 20 minute educator sessions


Click here to the link to register for this event.

Sad News - Angel Food Ministries has Ceased

Thanks to a diligent friend (thanks Bridget) who just checked out the site, I was informed that Angel Food Ministries has ceased their program.  The discounted monthly food deliveries to host sites can no longer function and all September orders have been refunded.  Below is the statement on the Angel Food Network site:  


Angel Food Ministries has considered many options regarding our future. At this time we regret to inform you that we have not found a solution that will allow Angel Food Ministries to continue to distribute food on a monthly basis and have decided to cease operations. We realize the pressure that this places on our host sites, community food banks and customers.

However, there is a group of former employees and food vendors that are working to find a better way of serving those who have come to depend on Angel Food.

Unfortunately many if not all other food ministries have gone out of business in recent years. Angel Food has not been immune from the same economic and market conditions that led to the loss of other food ministries. It’s important to note that in the past we never relied on donations; less than 1% of annual revenues have come from donations. We are grateful that we have been able to help tens of millions of customers save hundreds of millions of dollars in food costs. We also are grateful to have been able to return about $24 million to our church host sites and other partner organizations.

With the help of our volunteer staff 98 percent of the thousands of customers who placed an order for September have already received a full refund. We continue to work with the USDA to credit the remaining 59 customers who used their SNAP benefits to place a September order. Federal regulations prohibit us from simply sending them a check for a full refund.

The USDA/SNAP officials have been very helpful in seeing to it that these refunds are taking place in an orderly fashion. Those who placed orders through their local host sites will need to contact that site directly for a full refund.

We are comforted by the thousands of comments we have received expressing support for Angel Food Ministries and the great need to continue helping those in need. We at Angel Food Ministries are truly heartbroken to have to cease operations but it has not compromised our faith in God or our commitment to helping those in need.
Please check this website often for the latest information. Thank you for your prayers, faithfulness and your commitment to Angel Food Ministries over these past 17 years.

Feel free to contact us at angelfood@angelfoodministries.com.

Detroit's Sugar Hill Neighborhood in Midtown gets $1.3 Million!

I just saw a link to this site on Facebook and wanted to share with all y'all! 


http://www.detnews.com/article/20110916/ENT01/109160353/Detroit-gets-$1.3M-in-grants-to-test-development-through-arts


The gist of the story is, several art locations in midtown Detroit received grant money to create or improve their spaces from ArtPlace.  MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Arts Detroit) will receive $350,000 for building imporvements.  I think they are planning some windows on Woodward and revamping their cafe.  

Free Weekend & Art Stuff

Here we go!  
I thought there was a lot of stuff going on last weekend (Labor Day Weekend), but there's a bunch of stuff this upcoming weekend and in the next couple of weeks.  So, here are some fun things to do with your SIGOTH or family!

Friday, 9/9/11 6-9pm DAM  Detroit Artist Market Opening night tonight "Personal Visions - The DAM Exhibition Committee Selects" This show showcases eight talented artists.  Check it out!

Friday, 9/9/11 from 6-8pm CCS College for Creative Studies Opening Night  "Scenes from Something Overlooked" featuring three artists.  Located at the Center Galleries, CCS, Manoogian Visual Resource Center, 301 Frederick Douglas, Detroit, MI.

Saturday, 9/10/11 Noon-Midnight Dally In the Alley 
The 34th year of the Detroit artistic community to join together and celebrate the end of summer with local music, art, food, and more.  Strictly volunteer-based, it is a fun time near the Wayne State Campus and Cass corridor.  
Dally in the Alley Facebook link
Freep (Detroit Free Press) Article link
Map of Dally in the Alley link

Sunday, 9/11/11 Ford is sponsoring free admission to the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) on the second Sunday of the month.  Hours are 10 am-5:00 pm on Sundays  Check out this link for details about Second Sundays. Sundays are family days at the DIA.  This Sunday's programs include drop-in art-making activities (Bookmarks), drawing in the gallery (supplies provided), tours, storytelling, puppet shows (Everybody Loves Pirates @ 2pm),  and other family performances   The programs are free, but the special exhibitions that require a ticket are not included.




COMING SOON...

MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Arts Detroit) 


Friday, 9/16/11 beginning at 8pm 
$8.00 Opening Reception for the works of Stephnaine Nava and the special exhibition "Barely There (part II)" curated by Lusi Croquer.  Music at 9 pm by Crash Course in Science with special guests Moon Pool & Dead Band. 


Saturday, 9/17/11 @ 2pm
FREE MOCAD Artist Talk with Stephanie Nava
From MOCAD's site:  "This multimedia lecture by artist Stephanie Nava will present contetualizing information about her exhibition currently on display at MOCAD:  Considering a Plot (Dig for Victory).  Nava's work examines and investigates WWII Vicotry Gardens and the environments that led to their creation.  The talk will also seek to illuminate her work process, providing a broad introduction to her practice and examining some key questions that shape her ongoing projects and works that deal with drawing, politics, community issues, built and constructed environments, organized spaces and gardens."


Sunday, 9/18/11 from 12-5pm
FREE - MOCAD Family Day  
(I'll be there helping out as an intern that day!)
From MOCAD's site: "This fun workshop will show children and their parents how to create contemporary art out of reclaimed and recycled materials.  Stations will be set up that will encourage and challenge families to work together to make extraordinary sculptural reliefs and sculpures out of organic materials.  This Family Day will be run by MOCAD's Puplic Programs and Education Staff as a fun and easy way to create a connection between visitors fromt eh local community and MOCAD's current exhibition, Stephanie Nava: Considering a Plot (Dig for Victory)."

Friday-Sunday, 9/16-18/11
Last year I headed to the Ferndale DIY Street Fair and saw some wonderful artists & Goober and the Peas!  They aren't on the bill for this year at DIY, but there 50+ artists who will be performing.  100+ artistic vendors and exhibitors, 35+ beer selection and a kid zone!  BUY LOCAL!

September 21-28 
The Detroit Design Festival will be held throughout the Detroit area. From their site: "The DDF is a crowd-sourced design festival developed to showcase the talents & abilities of Detroit's creative community...a variety of Design Happenings will take pace at venues across the city of Detroit...includ(ing) studio tours, panels and roundtable discussions, fashion shows, and art wars to name a few."  HAPPENINGS link

September 21-October 9, 2011
And for three weeks, Grand Rapids is hosting ArtPrize throughout their city.  Hundreds of pieces of artwork in dozens of venues and YOU get to vote for your favorite.  The grand prize is $250,000!  YES, that is 250 thousand dollars!  So, artists, be ready to apply in the spring for the 2012 ArtPrize.  


Now, go out there and have some fun!!!!
Dawner