There is some new artwork in Downtown Flint. Two statues have been placed on the lawn at Flint City Hall to memorialize the auto workers of the 1900s. The statues were commissioned by a private donor and were sculpted by Suzanne Johnson of Suzanne Johnson Sculpture & Jewelry Design L.L.C. in Grand Blanc. According to Johnson, the sculpture commissions focus on the historical timeframe of 1930—when the Automotive industry was new, exciting, and full of promise. The granite bases are positioned beneath the bronze sculptures as if they were part of the factory floor. “It gives you a sense that you are viewing a working factory environment from the past,” Johnson explains.
Some exciting new plans are in the works for the Culinary Arts Institute at Mott Community College. According to a statement released by the college, MCC Culinary Arts Institute is being re-located to Downtown Flint enabling the college to expand the number of students it can serve in the program. The plans are to renovate the building at 100 W. Second Street, which will house two culinary arts teaching kitchens, two bakery and pastry arts teaching kitchens, a meat fabrication teaching laboratory, a garde mangér classroom, a fine dining space connected to a baked goods café and a large, dividable meeting space to teach all aspects of the food service industry to MCC students.
Ladyfest, an arts and cultural women’s empowerment, LGBTQ Festival, is back for its second year! It will take place September 15-17 in multiple locations in and around Downtown Flint with an extended schedule and more programs. “We decided to focus on offering more variety to showcase the microcosm of Flint strength, skills and talent across disciplines including the arts, music and more,” says Project Director Nadia Alamah in a press statement. “The team this year has worked tirelessly out of their belief in the amazing wonders our community can create.”
What these gals have in common is that they all love cars and participating in Back to the Bricks. “I come from a family of GM workers,” says Rau, who was born and raised in Flint. “That was our bread and butter, and we learned to love cars.” Back in the day, she used to drag race. “I loved the drag strip. I loved the cars,” she shares, even though she never won a race. “But, it was cool to come home with a number written on the car in white shoe polish.” Rau liked cars so much, she even chose her boyfriends by how “cool” their cars were.
It’s that time of year again! Training groups are working hard to prepare for Flint’s premier event, the HAP Crim Festival of Races, which is in its 41st year and will take place August 25-26. And, according to Race Director Andy Younger, it is, once again, on track to nearly reach the historic number of participants from last year – an anniversary year – with about 15,000 runners expected to hit the bricks of Saginaw Street. “We’re pretty excited about it,” he says.
Chrysa Curran-Cronley has been making dresses since she was nine years old. At first, they were hand-stitched ensembles for her Barbie doll, then her own clothing. For the past four years, she has made one-of-a-kind creations out of her Downtown Flint studio. Now, she is a My City Magazine City’s Choice Award-winner for Favorite Dressmaker – an honor she was both surprised and grateful to receive.
Larry O. Dean and Jan Worth-Nelson lead this literary evening at Totem Books Thursday, June 8 from 5pm-7pm. The parking lot was packed as dozens listened to Dean and Worth-Nelson’s poetry, enjoyed refreshments and partook in stimulating conversation. Both have a background in writing and teaching, and are stellar examples of the great writing emanating from Flint.
In May, the community was invited to the new Factory Two for a special Preview Night. The event showcased the progress of the project to revitalize the 100-year-old factory building and create a makerspace and innovation hub in Downtown Flint. The Preview Night piqued the interest of many community members who filled the space to enjoy an enthusiastic deejay and refreshments provided by local businesses. Attendees toured the numerous workspaces and chatted with local makers who were there demonstrating how to use some of the equipment offered at the facility.
On May 1, Durant-Dort Factory One in historic Carriage Town reopened after what General Motors Executive VP, Mark Reuss, described as “a long journey” from purchasing the building in 2013. The Factory One building was a dilapidated piece of history the community could have lost. Instead, after strenuous renovation, and through collaboration between GM and Kettering University, Factory One was transformed into an interactive and innovative hub in Downtown Flint.
Innovation Incubator is a program of University of Michigan-Flint’s University Outreach. Focused on social entrepreneurship, innovation and economic-based ventures, it’s a place for people in the community to co-work, create and collaborate. It is located on the second floor of the University of Michigan Northbank Building.
A new celebration is coming to Downtown Flint! The Flint Public Art Project is hosting Cinco Nuevo, a free, all-ages event that will not only celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but also the growth of Downtown Flint.
Good things are happening at Red Ink Flint, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing programming and opportunities for people of all ages. Factory Two, Red Ink’s latest venue, is one of the programs that falls under the organization’s umbrella and will have a soft opening this month.
