In Detroit, Michigan, where economic demise has forced the city to shrink and turn its back on empty homes and properties, a community of artists thrives by continuing its rich tradition of building. Under the auspice of Power House Productions, a local nonprofit which supports neighborhood revitalization, Oakland artist Monica Canilao transforms a dilapidated Victorian into an aesthetic object straddling the worlds of street art and architecture. On the land surrounding his African Bead Museum, DABLS incorporates discarded construction material into his network of sculptures and installations. And in his backyard, a former General Motors employee named Dmytro Szylak continues to build and tinker with a massive visionary environment which evokes both the auto plant and his own Ukrainian heritage. The factories are closed, but the desire to work remains.

 

Shot & Directed By Colin M. Day.

Edited by Albert Lopez & Nicolette Hagan.

Sound Mix by Jack Fusting.

Produced by Ethel Seno & Richard Enriquez.

Music Director Nic Notion.

 

Artists 

 

Powerhouse Project: Monica Canilao, Richard Coleman, Swoon, Saelee Oh, Retna, Ben Wolf. 

African Bead Museum: DABLS

Hamtramck Disneyland: Dmytro Szylak

N'Kisi Concorde Filmmakers: Nikki Sass & Brittin Richter

 

Music by:

 

Nick Speed: "Streets of Detroit," "Rise to Greatness," "Trust Me"

The Reelers: "A Terrible Place," "Motherfuckers Dying in the Fire..."

Ron Zakrin: "Labor Intensive"

 

Special Thanks:

 

Jesse Cory, Roula David, Revok, Pose, Monica Canilao, George N'Namdi, Powerhouse Productions, DABLS, Nikki Sass, Brittin Richter, Matt Eaton, Nic Notion, Nick Speed, Craig Hejka, Oscar from the Block

 

Archival Footage: 

 

"The Detroit You've Never Met," Produced by Detroit Olympic Committee, courtesy of Prelinger Archives

"The Harvest of the Years," Produced by Ford Motor Company, courtesy of Library of Congress

"FDR WW2 News Reel," courtesy of Prelinger Archives