Community activist's project lets kids paint graffiti without fear

Detroit - Even if the garage door Erik Howard is covered with graffiti, he has no problem with him. In fact, it encourages it.

Howard, 32, Alley led the project, a community art project that supports youth in southwest Detroit and, with the permission of the owners, creating graffiti art. Howard refers to it as art spray on fences and garages.

Within a few years, what began as a handful of kids painting a garage of a person become more than 30 children involved in painting murals for more than two dozen garages and fences.

"I think in an urban, street art is a tool for people who do not have a voice," said John Howard. "They might not understand everything that attracts them to it, but they are very attracted to it because it is visible. It gets the visual space, and young people see that more powerful."

Last year, the project received $ 38 000 from the Community Public Art + Detroit to create a gallery space for teaching and art exhibition for children in the neighborhood. This space at 9233 Saint-Avis, had its official launch on Monday. Currently, the murals can be seen in the area southwest of Detroit, centered on the location of Avis Street.

When Howard, a Detroiter, the children began to coach in the community, he said he wanted to offer a safe space for them to explore the art aerosol.

"What we wanted to do was to share a space that actually reduces the risk of legal and physical that young people face trying to learn about art," he said. "You do not have to be arrested and go to court to learn more about art."

Ruben Roldan, 14, of Detroit said he was faced with much uncertainty trying to practice the art of spray on his own.

"It was a big risk because you might get caught by the cops and jumped out the gangbangers or shot by the owners (the house)," Ruben said.

But the project Alley, Reuben is able to openly practice painting.

"I feel that someone really cares about what we do and what we like to do," he said.

Some neighbors near the project also adopted the graffiti as art.

"I'm not a big fan of graffiti art, but I like to see they are doing something positive with their time and energy," said Fran Walk, 68, of Detroit.

Calvin.

“Garage Door Will Be Painted When Weather Permits”

Ross Kaplan is a Realtor with Edina Realty City Lakes (Minneapolis) office. It is also a former attorney (corporate law) and CPA, and holds a degree in economics from Stanford. Ross is a three-time "Super Realtor", appointed by Mpls.-St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine and is a member repetition of Edina Realty "Leadership Circle" award at the top of the company by 5% in sales volume.

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