Community Engagement

OneLove Culture Shop brings hula-hoops, handmade goods to Depot Town

Circle Ypsi's Depot Town on Cruise Night Thursdays, and you'll see hula hoops are new on the scene. Trick hula hooper Brooke Wilbanks plans to offer hooping lessons near the DJ tent during the weekly Cruise Nights. Wilbanks also makes decorative hula hoops for adults and kids, which will be for sale at OneLove Culture Shop, her new store in Depot Town. "Hula hooping actually is a big sport around the nation. It just needs to be, I feel like, more recognized in smaller towns. I'm kind of trying to bring hula hooping to Ypsilanti a little bit," Wilbanks says. Besides hula hoops, OneLove Culture Shop has an array of fair trade and locally made items, including clothing, patches, stickers, hand made and hand-dyed wall hangings and tapestries, posters, lotions and body oils, and kitchen utensils, in a 900-square foot space at 27 E. Cross Street. Wilbanks co-owns the store with her fiancee, Jonathon Doyle. "We've been building [display] tables and trying to go about doing things as frugally and crafty as possible," she says. They have re-painted the walls and installed bamboo wall coverings. The bamboo originally hung in Ann Arbor's The Oasis hot tub garden and would otherwise have been discarded during a remodeling. The diverse community and activities in Depot Town were enticement enough for Wilbanks to open her business there. "We're having an antique festival at the same time as Heritage Fest is down there. We just had the Color Run, we just had the Brew Fest. There's just a lot of stuff in Depot Town that would draw people to come to the area," Wilbanks says. Source: Brooke Wilbanks, co-owner of OneLove Culture Shop Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

An economic case for public art

The argument is all-too familiar to Ann Arbor residents - public art is nice but we can't afford it. The Atlantic Cities rebutts this claim with specific examples of how public art has contributed to a community's bottom line. Excerpt: "The intangible benefits of public art—aesthetic beauty, cultural interpretation, education, inspiration, and general improvement of the urban environment—are well-known. But because these are considered "soft" benefits, they are sometimes dismissed as a low priority, especially during challenging economic times. However, experiences in Los Angeles show that public art can be a source of publicity and cash income, as well as beauty." Read the rest here.

Always Running: Ann Arbor Track Club

It's no surprise when Ann Arbor gets singled out for its academically inclined achievements. Writers, thinkers, researchers, and innovators are an obvious by-product of the University's presence. Add to that list runners. For nearly 45 years the Ann Arbor Track Club has produced not only topnotch runners, but world-class Olympic hopefuls.

Geodesic dome shapes artistic and entertainment possibilities

An Ann Arbor group that promotes creativity in the community has designed a traveling geodesic dome that can be used for any number of creative outlets. The dome, 16 feet in radius, is a project of Syncytium, a group dedicated to creating large-scale, interactive art in Ann Arbor, Detroit and surrounding communities. A2Awesome, the Washtenaw County arm of a Boston-based micro-philanthropic organization, The Awesome Foundation, awarded $1,000 to artist Amanda Sari Perez to help complete the dome, which is made out of 1.5 inch thick electrical conduit. Perez told A2Awesome that she wants the dome to be a "platform on which others in the community can express their creativity. The dome has already been a guest at Ann Arbor and Detroit Maker Faires, Figment and Lakes of Fire. Future plans for the dome include covering it with cargo net so that it could be used as a climbing gym. Add lights and it's a great DJ stand. “Other people,” says Perez, “may want to use it for parties, fundraisers, gatherings, or performances. They may want to hang hammocks or swings inside of it. They may want to cover it in some way, or leave it open.” Ultimately, according to Perez, she would like to see it find a semi-permanent home where it could exist as a giant instrument, filled with cords that would trigger sound, either electronically or mechanically, when tugged or clambered upon. Linh Song, board member of A2Awesome, where the mission is "Forwarding the interest in Awesome in Washtenaw County, $1,000 at a time, says the dome was chose as a grant recipient in June because “it’s the kind of thing that could continue to foster awesomeness for years to come. Not only will people be able to play on it at Maker Faire, which is awesome in its own right, but it’ll exist as an easily-transportable cultural asset that could be used in hundreds of different ways. We’re excited to see how it inspires people. The potential is endless.” Source: A2Awesome Writer: Kim North Shine

The Shadow Art Fair: Keeping Ypsi A Certain Size Of Weird

Since Ann Arbor will be jam-packed with Art Fair goers and coverage this week, it seems only right to check up on the Ypsilanti-based Shadow Art Fair, which opens Saturday. Created five years ago as both a reaction to and comment on A2's venerable happening, it has defiantly resisted the call of "bigger and better." Concentrate's Richard Retyi digs in with the organizers as to why.

Adventures in Pizza Making

Ever wanted to spin pizza dough on your fists like a New York pizzeria pro? At Zingerman's Bakehouse aspiring pizzaiolos and deep dish devotees come from as far away as the coasts to learn how to properly knead, shape, and cook their pies. Concentrate's Tanya Muzumdar offers a first hand account of the growing popularity of culinary tourism.

Dexter Wellness Center to open doors, create at least 100 jobs

At long last, the Dexter Wellness Center is getting in shape to open its doors. The Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation has signed on to operate the center, which will be constructed by A.R. Brouwer at 2810 Baker Road, a half-mile's walking distance from downtown Dexter. The 46,000-square-foot family center will be a full-service facility with a swimming pool, a therapy pool, mind-body space for pilates and yoga, massage therapy, a gym, and strength and aerobic conditioning equipment. Programming for children of all ages will be offered, as will assistance for medical patients. "We'll work with local providers to transition patients from the hospital ... We have programs for them when they're discharged so we can help with strengthening and make their quality of life better," says Amy Heydlauff, executive director of the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation (CWF). A physical therapy practice run by Medical Rehabilitation Specialists, but not affiliated with CWF, will occupy 2,000 square feet in the building. Construction will commence after the builder removes some existing structures on the property. "We're anticipating an opening date of either summer or early fall of '13," Heydlauff says. Usage fees have not been set yet, but will be commensurate with comparable facilities in Ann Arbor and Chelsea. She figures the center will employ, at minimum, 100 people. Source:  Amy Heydlauff, executive director, Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Civil War era facade gets Civil War art in Ypsilanti

Ypsi high school students take a burned out 150 year-old building in Depot Town and use it as an outdoor gallery for Civil War-inspired art. Excerpt: "A public art display created by Ypsilanti High School students was installed Friday morning on the west side of the nearly 150-year-old Thompson Block building in Depot Town. Mary Delcamp, president of the Historic Eastside Neighborhood Association, and her husband John Delcamp, member of the Civil War Reenacting Company E, 17TH Michigan Infantry, came up with the idea. The building served as Union Army barracks during the Civil War. During the war, the basement was used to prepare food, the ground floor was a wagon repair shop and soldiers lived on the second floor and part of the third floor." Read the rest of the story here.

Zingerman’s Bakehouse adds second teaching kitchen, more classes