Al Hebert

Having been born in Detroit two days after Pearl Harbor, my roots go deep in the city. I was involved in life at 8995 Concord and environs for 17 years, 1967 through 1984. It was my studio-house, work space, and residence. Since this period represents the beginning of both independent adulthood and professional activity, my siting of that time has made a durable imprint on me. Therefore, since that spiritual center is located about midway between the Osborn and Central neighborhoods, those might be the more logical, or intuited areas to prefer. However, art being universal, and all areas of Detroit wanting more of it, I would be open to working in any of the six targeted areas. Perhaps I’d be near the site of Chadsey High School, where my mother graduated.

I’ve revisited the Concord zone thrice in recent months. Several city blocks are devoid of all structures, and reversion to the prairie proceeds. I am impressed with the power of this natural process, and its inevitability if man does not intervene. But we should, and sow some seeds of visual art amidst the nature and the remainders of the Detroit that was (and is in transition), and that which is vibrant. My preference, then, would be to work a large sculptural installation into the margin between urban development and open space.

I expect my work that might be done for CPAD to be co-operative in both planning and execution. Presumably there will be a representative or committee from the neighborhood to consult with, once my work was selected. Although I would consider the general concept of the art to be mine, much give and take occurs, as I learned on the Paint Creek Trail. Details of siting, construction methods, safety, etc., are open to discussion.

During the realization of the project, student help would be most welcome. During preparations for the 1980 outdoor sculpture exhibit which I curated, several local youths helped artists erecting or installing works. One worked particularly long hours with A.G. Smith to build “One-Man Castle”. During its four-year life-span it was often the “ManyChildren Castle”. It figured very significantly in the artful re-building of the Beaudoin house at 8988 Concord. This was done as a charitable act (at no cost to) for the elderly inhabitants. The students attended Macomb Community College, where the high-school graduates and early-admits are often 18 years or younger. I suppose, though, that my most intensive experiences in working with teen-agers were in raising my own son and daughter.