With this brief but stirring rallying cry, organizers are set to mobilize the population of Michigan July 30 to aid the energetic, always-entertaining, but as yet ineffective efforts of federal law-enforcement officials to locate the remains of the late labor leader, Jimmy Hoffa.
The first annual observation of Jimmy Hoffa Day, set to correspond with the actual date of Hoffa's disappearance in 1975, is not only a celebration of the man himself, or of the heroic efforts of law enforcement officials, who have dug up acres of everything from pastureland to asphalt, and at one point dismantled an above-ground swimming pool in hopes of discovering Hoffa's remains. It is also a moving display of can-do spirit and community effort from the Michigan populace.
"We want to find Jimmy Hoffa," an event organizer explains.
"He's been gone for so long.
We're just not wild about spending tax dollars to do it.
We can do this on our own!"
The solution to finding Hoffa's remains, as organizers frame it, is a simple matter of getting enough Michiganders involved:
"We are asking every Michigan resident to take a shovel and dig a hole somewhere on your land. Anywhere will work."
This "every little bit counts" attitude has given rise to another of the movement's mottos: "No hole too big, no hole too small!" On their facebook page, organizers list the huge variety of activities that would fall under the broad scope of a Jimmy Hoffa Day observance: "Use mechanical equipment if you have it. Rent a bobcat! Host a Hoffa Day bring-your-own-beer-and-shovel party for your friends. Feel free to destroy your barn or your driveway. Just don't come asking us to replace it, (like the FBI would).. we don't have any money!"
Even if Michiganders aren't physically able to dig a hole, the organizers of Jimmy Hoffa Day still see ways for them to contribute – and benefits for contributing. "If you're not able to personally participate, we'd encourage you to call the FBI and tip them off that he's buried on your property. You might just get lucky and end up with a new driveway or barn, compliments of the US government! All these years later, Jimmy keeps helping the common man. What a legacy."
Organizers are also aware that, even with the widespread community involvement they expect the new holiday to generate, it may be a some time before Hoffa's remains are found. But they're in it for the long haul, and encouraging supporters to take that perspective as well: "Don't get discouraged if you don't find Jimmy on your first try. The FBI has spent millions of dollars over almost forty years, and your success record is just as good as theirs."
Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts announces wide variety of acts.
On August 3, 2013, Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts, an outdoor celebration of site-specific performance and installation art, will fill the courtyards, sidewalks, storefronts and gardens in and around Artist Village Detroit (17340 Lahser, Detroit, MI 48219) with engaging site-specific work from 3:00-9:00 p.m. Sidewalk celebrates the architecture, culture and artistry of Detroit places through site-specific performance and installation.
Sidewalk's mission is to promote visual and performing arts in Detroit by transforming public, unique and under-used property into non-traditional performance venues. Sidewalk stimulates pedestrian traffic and engagement in unique Metro-Detroit places by repurposing space for live visual and performing arts. Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts is an annual event that promotes place-making and creative use of space in Detroit.
Detroit is internationally renowned for its unique architecture and rich artist heritage. Sidewalk will present the work of a diverse collection of dance companies, theater troupes, musicians, and visual artists who are making non-traditional and avant-garde work specifically informed by the landscape and culture of the city.
Highlights include Kresge Award winners Hardcore Detroit and Passalaqua celebrating hip hop; Parangoles Playhouse, a tribute to Brazilian and urban wearable art installed in the "Art Alley's movement and poetry collaboration between poetess Jessica Care Moore and modern dance company Jungle Statement; pop-up Shakespeare performances from Magenta Giraffe Theater Company; and experimental jazz by Sean Blackmen's Sin Hielo.
The full schedule is as follows:
TEMPLE OF DREAMS
3:00 DETROIT THEATER COMPANY
3:30 DETROIT SLAM TEAM
4:00 SKY COVINGTON
5:00 DAWN XIANA MOON + LEE NA MO
5:30 TUNDE OLANIRAN
6:30 COLD MEN YOUNG
7:30 SIN Â HIELO
8:15 PASSALACQUA
BLUE DANCE COURTYARD
3:00 KRISTI FAULKNER DANCE
4:00 HERITAGE WORKS
4:30 JUNGLE STATEMENT w/ SKY COVINGTON
5:00 JAMES CORNISH FREE ARTS TRIO
5:30 MS. CHANTAL
6:00 BIG RED WALL
7:00 thingNY
8:00 LISA LAMARRE + JAMES CORNISH
8:45 ART LAB J
ART ALLEY
3:00 FLINT DANCE COLLABORATIVE
3:30 MAYA + QUAINT STOVALL
4:00 ALEXA DEXA + KEVIN MCCOY
5:00 I STAY
6:00 HOMELESS HERO
7:00 HARDCORE DETROIT
7:30 JESSICA CARE MOORE
8:00 HARDCORE DETROIT
EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN
3:00 A HOST OF PEOPLE
4:00 DETROIT THEATER COMPANY
4:30 A HOST OF PEOPLE
5:00 A HOST OF PEOPLE
6:30 RADICAL CHILD
PETITE COURTYARD
4:00 â€" 8:00 UPENDED TEACUPS
PARANGOLES PLAYHOUSE (through the petite courtyard)
3:00 PARANGOLES PLAYHOUSE WORKSHOP
6:00 CONTACT IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP
6:30 PARANGOLES PLAYHOUSE WORKSHOP
6:30 RADICAL CHILD
ARTIST VILLAGE THEATER
4:00 REMOTE CONTROL TOMATO
LAWRENCE STREET GALLERY PRESENTS
"PRINTMAKER X 6"
Show dates: July 31 - August 30, 2013Opening Reception: Friday, August 2, 6-9 PM, public invited
Mid-month reception: Friday, August 23, 6-9 PM
, public invitedGallery Hours are Wed & Sat, noon to 5, Thurs & Fri, noon to 9pm.
Location: Lawrence Street Gallery is at 22620 Woodward, Ferndale
(east side of Woodward, in the second block south of 9 Mile.)
Telephone: 248-544-0394, or visit us at
www.lawrencestreetgallery.com
In Lawrence Street Gallery's August show, Printmaker X 6, six artists will present works displaying examples of traditional etching, drypoint etching, monotypes and monoprints,
collagraph prints, solar plate etching, and silkscreens. Artists Carol Harvath (Farmington Hills), Laura Whitesides Host (Birmingham), Rosemary
Lee (Howell), Celeste Roe (Farmington), Judy St. John (Lincoln), and Lonora Swanson-Flores ( West Bloomfield ) have been printing together
for many years every Tuesday at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center print studio. Their lively printing sessions have led to
their influencing one another, and to their learning printmaking techniques together. They often make field trips to investigate
what is current in the art of printmaking These artists have been in numerous print exhibits in Michigan
and throughout the country. Occasionally they collaborate in joint print projects.
This spring they worked on a journal project for the Janice Charach Epstein gallery.
Host, Roe, and Swanson-Flores have regularly taught printmaking at the BBAC.
Shown here is Cellular Letter, a silk screen monotype, by Rosemary Lee.
