A photo of me and Kenny Scharf !!! I’ve been crushing on his work for a decade !!
The man,the myth, the Legend of creating bright vibrant artistic style is Kenny Scharf. October 2018 Kenny came to Detroit for an exhibit at the David Klein Gallery in downtown Detroit on Washington Boulevard. I ventured down to the gallery after working nonstop, and dragged a coworker along who was interested in learning more about the art world.
Featured here is a Space Dog – a hot dog in space lol
Allison Eden is an artist assistant who got the pleasure of wearing a Kenny Scharf creation ! He also painted about 4 cars during his time in Detroit, I almost went but ultimately had to be at work. One of my few regrets in life.
Post originally saved as a draft from November 2018. Side Note – it came to my attention that I have written and drafted tons of content. So do not be surprised if content being published is a bit back dated ❤ I am not totally sure why I have been hesitant to publish the content, considering this blog is use for my own personal lifestyle and timeline of memories. Originally created as a spin off from my blog during study abroad, and to share all the exciting things happening in Detroit!
Detroit Dirty – the big and titty gritty event of the season.
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
If you have continued to scroll you clearly are a tad curious and also subjecting yourself to what I had to see in person and physically walk away from, not just X out the web browser.
2019 marks the 20th annual Detroit Dirty Show at the Russell Industrial Center. I feel compelled to share there is on site parking at a small fee of 10 bucks. Below is a photo stream of pics taken from my android.
Ding Dong – the ultimate bedside bellLocal Artist – Gingerly Made from Ferndale, MI “Thick as an eggplant”
Can’t help but to crack up about the emoji art above. Today in modern culture the eggplant emoji has been sexualized and officially unofficial code for penis.
“Out to Eat”WOW, you don’t see Needlepoint work like this everyday the infamous “Octopussy” “Sit on my Space” cleaver
I did not know that “copperotica” was a thing, apparently people focus on making copper infused art erotic.
Anyone who attending the show was taken back by an erotic take on the Golden Girls. Most people are not thinking forward to sexy grandmas. However the most iconic of iconic “old ladies” were transformed and kink-i-fied here. One of my long term goals is to be a “G-I-L-F” !
The warehouse converted into a night of eroticism around art, community and the typically shadowed culture of sex were on full display. People dress up with not too much clothing on, perhaps a leash around the neck, or just nipple tassels. Of course, my crew and I did not dress like that. Maybe next year would wear a silly wig. Loads of neon large scale art this year and action experiences such as walking through a vulva – a moving tunnel bridge thing. There was live action on how-to partake in Shibari aka Japanese Bondage ( obvs did not take pictures of this).
This event is always super strange but very intriguing. There was a drop claw game machine called Mr. Grab Ass – where you could enter in a dollar bill and have a chance at retrieving a prize. All of prizes were like out of a white elephant game hosted at Lover’s Lane. The control stick was a penis, duh, and the claw had little penis toppers on them. I coincidentally had $4 single dollar bills, one of each of us to participate. Of course, J won !! LOL we couldn’t stop laughing. After we watched a girl on the silk’s hanging from the ceiling doing acrobatics. It’s hard work !! I’ve tried to do the silk’s in the Ann Arbor diag before, you need serious upper body strength.
We giggled our way out of the venue and ventured up to Hamtramck to Whiskey in a Jar, a dive bar where J’s friends were bar tending. It was the perfect – only- in-Detroit kind of night.
Mid-October 2019 – the Hygienic Dress League husband & wife duo took over the closed Conners Creek Power Plant in Detroit. It’s adjacent to the Edison Boat Club at 100 Lycaste Street sitting on 75 acres. It was the former DTE power plant.
The exhibit was called “Value Proposition”, which references the diamond-water paradox of value, which asserts the contradiction that although water is more useful regarding survival than diamonds, diamonds are considered more valuable on the market. Hygienic Dress League put up three installations – the first and largest was the suspended from a crane Diamond called “Diamond II”. Of course this one was my favorite as I’m all about the DiamondLyfe !
We visited pre – dinner at Lumen in Beacon Park. Obviously it was an outdoor exhibit on a freezing fall weather night.
Have you been wondering where I’ve been for the last 6 months ? Wow where do I even begin ? I’ve been traveling a ton : Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Costa Rica, New York, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and more! And of course spending loads of time in my local city Detroit.
I’ve been attending Art Gallery openings and new exhibits, engaging and hanging with Artists, seeing live cooking events, restaurant friends and family openings (lots of new good eats to post about), the fisher theater, film festivals, sporting events, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor and a cyro spa to name a few. Even learned how to drive a stick shift !!
I’ve been trying out new recipes which I’ll share soon on the blog and via YouTube. I’ve decorated my new home wonderfully & learned more about flower arrangements. I’m currently working with a local Detroit company to have custom frames made out of recycled wood from the D.
After being in Ann Arbor for nearly 8 years I made the move to 48009 .. Birmingham, Michigan !
I live next door to my best friend Erika in a cute townhome where I have a front and backyard ! I’m going to start planting more of my own flowers / plants and extend my knowledge beyond succulents. Did I mention I attended a Zen Center and mediated with Monks?!
Life has continued to spark and shine … just not translated on my blog. Now that it has been 6 months I feel more settled in my new home and new life I’ll make more time to get logged on the blog!!
Peace and Love,
Lshawtay
Note the planters in the front of the house … my mom and I put that together ourselves!
What else to do on a Wednesday around 7PM but attend an event hosted by The Holocaust Memorial Center and NEXTGen Detroit – Adam Braun says alternatively We could have been eating snacks and sitting on the couch … But those who are people of integrity have chosen to delay the couch potato time a bit to attend the First Annual Stories That Inspire event.
Maybe you’ve heard of Scooter Braun – Adams brother who manages and discovered Justin Beiber – but let me tell you … Adam holds his own. Inspired by a backpacking trip around third world countries, Adam founded Pencils of Promise. He took a break from his job at Bain Management & Consulting to feel a sense of purpose in life and travel the globe. Upon interacting with a cute little beggar boy – Adam asked him if you could have anything in the world what would it be? The boy responded a pencil. This struck Adam hard as he realized this boy has never had any formal education, doesn’t have a school to attend and will probably never be exposed to education in the same way he was. Adam wanted to feel a sense of purpose in this world and found it in the answer of this one kid.
Pencils of Promise, also known as PoP for short, is a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world. Pencils of Promise was founded by Adam Braun in October 2008. PoP is guided by our revolutionary “for-purpose” approach. Blending the head of a for-profit business with the heart of a humanitarian nonprofit, we rigorously measure the return on investment of every donor dollar we spend. Joy and passion are great, but results are what we’re all about.
With over 300+ School in 4 countries – their model has proven to be a success. If you’d like to learn more info check out the website https://pencilsofpromise.org/about/
Adam’s mentioned a quote that resonated with me – this is a bit paraphrased but along the lines of ” its better to listen intently rather than talk immensely ” – I am someone who typically has a lot to say and tend to blabber with details on details in my storytelling. Some people like to hear all the details, others really prefer not to & cut me off or ask for a shortened version.
I do have a newer friend in my life who is always listening intently and its taught me that you don’t really need to share every detail or story every time you interact with someone. Sometimes living a little mystery can make the conversation more engaging. But I do have to say when this one friend and I chat its rather fun !!
To demonstrate this Adam shared this video
Even I gotta say – this French Bulldog is pretty cute !
The photo on the right is with the Fabulous Host of the Evening Jacob Smith – my homie from the West Maple Elementary School Days – and Hilary “Hildawg” Gorosh ! It is the BEST to catch up with friends & be inspired all at the same time !
New on the Reading is Fundamental List : Adam Brauns’ ” The Promise of A Pencil ”
Get UP and Get Movin – leave your blinds open and let that sunny sunshine graze over your covers and into your eyes in the morning. Prop open the window for a fresh breeze and embrace the day.
Jump outta bed and walk over to the local market to grab fresh eggs to make omelets. Fresh air and fresh food what could be better ?!
Today I’m rocking Nike Pants and a Detroit Tigers tank. Opening day for the Detroit Tigers here in Detroit Michigan will be Monday April 6 @ comerica park.
#BBOTD #1307daily Now Playing : Exodus on the big screen
Don’t fret! I haven’t been providing play by plays of my Do It For Detroit 2014 push. I will give you a full fledged back logged low down in the near future – so Stay Tuned !
Purple Bentley & Me
In the mean time Here is a bit of what went down in January 2015 – I’m definitely going to be going to Detroit more than once a month this year – but of course the goal is at least 1 time & anything more is just fabulocity !
The biggest event of the season is the North American International Auto Show aka the NAIAS which takes place at Cobo Hall in Detroit.
My girl Dori & I traveled down to the D for a Sunday Funday to remember. It was the last day of the week long auto show & boy was it packed ! For the future – definitely better to go in the beginning of the week. This was also the first time I’ve been to the auto show with just one girlfriend.
After the event while hanging out side waiting for valet to bring my car around I got to state up at the MAGNIFICENT HENSE 6 – Story Mural !! Boy o Boy !! It sure is a site to see !!
The Library Street Collective + Bedrock Real Estate have teamed up to paint the town ! It seems like every week there happens to be a new public art work project that begins. The public art works create a sense of community and beautify the city of Detroit !
After staring at the mural for a while and securing my car in the gated area outside of the M@dison Building – me and some friends walked over to the hot new restaurant Wright & CO !
We honestly walked past the sneaky side entrance of the building off Woodward Ave – once we turned back and went up the 2 story stair case we made it to Wright & Co ! It’s located on the second level of 1500 Woodward Ave … SO COOL. When we entered a group of people in all black with mustaches on and balloons sang to us – turns out this is not a part of the restaurants greeting but a silly group of friends who had just dined in.
The vibe inside Wright & Co takes you to a fantasy land – are you really in DOWNTOWN DETROIT? YEAH WE WERE !
Literally so excited to dine at Wright & Co – their drinks are also crafted by the same guy from Sugar House – the best speakeasy and drinks in downtown Detroit. Wright & Co is the purveyors of fine food & drink – the menu is not that large but it gets the job done of filling your belly! We ordered a few different items : Fresh Potato Chips , Sriacha Chicken Sewers , Roasted Cashews, Crisp Gulf Shrimp, & Tuna Tartar. I can’t wait to go back and try more menu items.
Keep Doin’ it for Detroit !!
Lshawtay
Ahh September 2014 – a Detroit night well spent at the very end of the month. I traveled to downtown Detroit for an event at the M@dison Building off Woodward Ave. ROCO Real Estate – a company that was created by a friend of mine David Coleman and his Brother Michael & a third guy Tyler Ross. The event teamed up with State Bags & the Detroit Achievement Academy for a fundraiser.
State Backpacks – Any bag purchased and another bag is donated & for this event all of the bags purchased donated a bag to the Detroit Achievement Academy. The event ticket bought a backpack but you could also purchase an additional backpack at the event – which in turn donated another bag to a student at the Detroit Achievement Academy.
Detroit Achievement Academy exists to holistically support the education and development of students who have the determination, drive, and skills to shape their own path of high achievement with the ultimate goal of creating civically engaged, joyful citizens who are ready to change the world.
The event was even covered by DBusiness Magazine and Photos of Me can be seen here.
The event was also covered by Hour Detroit Magazine and Photos of me can be seen here.
LiViN LiKE LiNdSEY 