Andrea Cardinal

In 2006 I was offered the position of Graphic Designer at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and per their residency requirement, I moved to the city. By 2007, I was a Detroit homeowner and thoroughly vested in the movement for positive change within the city. My small contribution began with picking up discarded materials from my neighborhood; scraps and detritus that was no longer useful to their previous owners. But in the materials I found a wealth of potential, akin to the potential that so many of us see in Detroit itself. From these odds and ends I began making artwork in my studio at Cranbrook, with thoughts of repurposing as an underlying principal, but allowing each piece to take its own particular focus.

One of the major challenges I face in my practice is how to appropriate the materials in new and interesting ways. As many know (especially Detroit’s youth, through the work of Tyree Guyton at the Heidelberg Project), Detroit has a long-standing history of found object art-making. But the endeavor isn’t stale — the achievements are two fold: 1.) empty lots are cleaned up and pride is gained through the service 2.) the practice of repurposing the found materials is a powerful tool for encouraging creativity.

Seeing a once empty, littered lot transformed through design is a powerful image for those within the community as well as those outsiders happening by. My proposal would be to promote this type of activity: found object sculptural installations and/or mural and signage design within any of the communities listed on the Request for Qualifications, but my preference would be for the North End/Central district because of its visibility for those entering the city from the northern neighboring communities. Also, my home is just a jog away. My hardware store is there. My post office is, too. Its where I do my recycling and banking. And how I make my way to the studio everyday, either by the Lodge or Woodward. Seeing the “North End” lamp post banners, featuring the Fisher Building, always cheers me and they speak to the strides already being made within the area. My work would compliment their efforts.

I would take advantage of the community supports already in place like Youthville Detroit and the local schools and churches to determine what types of projects exactly the community would like to see and how best the youth of the area would be served. My experience with client relations, business management and teaching would aide me in this endeavor.