UrbanArtistry

UrbanArtistry is a nonprofit program, (supported by the Claude Harvard Foundation), dedicated to bringing art to young and old in the most interesting ways. This journal will have comments from those participating in the first UrbanArtistry workshop in Detroit, Michigan as well as the other events to follow. UrbanArtistry:Detroit creative focus is POETRY. Come journey with us as we explore the arts and contribute to the greatest good!

Thursday, March 31, 2005

K-Juan

UrbanArtistry

This experience has been very helpful in seeing the full potential of self expression through poetry.

I think this program has helped me so far in knowing a meaning and purpose of poetry.

The literature the we received is essential to a young poet. Something that would help this program is more reading of our poetic works and commentary and critique.

The topic of the city is good and I think the chance to present our work is perfect.

Liberty

UrbanArtistry:

isn't it just like a N to go into an ethnic restaurant for lunch & order native food. I should have ordered Eastern & at one point I did but felt it was not going to be enough to fill me or sustain me during the afternoon on the quest to "still we rise".

My only disappointment among my travels to the Historical Museum, the library,Hart Plaza, & MAAH was the photographic exhibit of various African countries with photos that seemed as if they were taken with a throw away camera, blown up out of proportion, to an eerie blurriness, with poor lighting & shadows in places shadows should not rest.

The vast history of Blackness in Detroit is something to behold & cherish. It makes me wish that I had written down all those stories of southern living & relocation that dead aunts & uncles used to recite as if on stage in from of an audience of unknowing.

Makes me want to revisit my past with pen in hand & paper and take it all down for the future generation.

Makes me long 2B apart of Detroit but even more, makes me want 2 study the history of my own hometown which is just as prosperous & just as rich with the manufacturing industry, a huge middle class Black population & home ownership galore.

One trip to any establishment of higher learning is the catalyst one needs to begin or continue that journey of knowing & preserving something we must teach those after us to do on a continuum.

UrbanArtistry is for everyone.

Ashley O.

In the UrbanArtistry program I've met different people and learned about their different techniques of writing. This experience has been a great expedition. It enhanced my writing vocabulary. My writing has come along great and I would like to thank UrbanArtistry for taking my Spring break to attend the program.

Throughout this whole week UrbanArtistry has taken us on different trips. The first was Downtown Detroit. We went to hart Plaza and inside the Renaissance Center to get a different perspective of Detroit in our own eyes. The next day we went to the Detroit Hisotorical Museum to look at the automobiles and other manufacturing industries. A day after that we went to the Detroit main Library. WE got on the computers and did some research about what we took notes on the 1st day.

Today we're here at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Learning more and more each day the way we understand out past. The more we understand our past, the more we can learn from it and create a better future for our people to live in.

This is my perspective, my view, and my life. What I have learned this past week has been an adventure.

Ashley P. "THe One and Only"

Today is Thursday, April 31, 2005. This is my fourth day out with UrbanArtistry. Today we went to Chalres H. Write Museum of African American History. I really enjoyed myself. It was the first time I ever visited the museum. When you first walk in there is a circle where you can make an echo.

I had an experience I will never forget. The way everything was set up was as if you actually were back in the days of slavery.

Anthony...

Visiting the Charles H.Wright Museum of African American History:

What I have learned from this is how everything came to be for us. Living through struggles and striving for freedom. I have seen the way things used to be, how it had changed and how we had contributed to the making of the future.

Devante

What I like about the museum is...
learning about the past when there was slavery. I learned about FRederich Hart Williams, he was a famous poet.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

The One and Only

What do I call original?Urban Artistry.This is my second day out with the group and what we have done so far has been relaxing yet exciting.The excitement will always be within all of us especially when we start something new.Personally I think that as this program continues to grow it will be a success in the distant yet near future.The leadership is a key thing. So far form what I see, we have a good leader.Also, please excuse me for not properly introducting myself my name is Ashley.

The Man

Hey! my name's Devante I'm 12 yrs. old and here what I like about Urban Artistry? Writing poetry about different things, learning about my city like the staues called the Gateway to Freedom, the Step of the Dance and Joe Louis' Fist. I learned about Old Detroit at the Historical Museum. At first I didn't like poetry but now I enjoy writing it becuase I put my thoughts down on paper instead of holding them in. So, that's it for now until I think of something else.