“Mack is ALIVE!” Artina Hardman shouted into the microphone.

The crowd cheered and clapped their hands as Hardman continued to talk about the importance of coming together as a community.

Soulful R&B music flowed through the speakers as children laughed and danced around. People greeted one another with a smile and warm hug. Food tables were set up for guests to purchase meals and snacks. Artists chatted with visitors about their art, which was on display in the designated “Artist Village” off of Fischer Street. The Pewabic Street Team from Pewabic in Detroit was also at Mack Alive.

Art was everywhere, in many different forms, from music and poetry to paintings and pottery.

Mack was truly alive and bursting with love as many Detroiters came together to celebrate the Mack Avenue community.

 

Mack Alive

 

Atrina Hardman, director of Mack Alive, speaks to the crowd at the neighborhood party.

 

Food tables were set up for guests.

 

Design is Everywhere in Detroit

The Design Detroit Festival sponsored Mack Alive’s neighborhood party. The theme of the party was “Design is Everywhere in Detroit” and various forms of “art villages” were set up near the Mack Alive house on Fishcer Street.

Butterfly Garden – Participants personalized rocks to create “Stones of Hope” to design mosaics for the garden.

Artist Village – Artists featured their art pieces for visitors to view and purchase. I even purchased a painting from Errin “Lightheart”.

Entertainment Village – Musical artists performed and writers read their poems for a poetry reading. Shareef Hassan was also the DJ and emcee for the evening.

Face Paintings – A face painting artist painted fun designs on children’s faces.

Pumpkin Patch – A mini-pumpkin patch was available for children to select a pumpkin and then design and paint it.

 

Poetry reading at Mack Alive’s neighborhood happening.

 

Poetry reading at Mack Alive’s neighborhood happening.

 

Poetry reading at Mack Alive’s neighborhood happening.

 

Educating and Empowering Detroit

The purpose of the neighborhood party was to bring the community together to educate and empower the Detroit design economy. The event was held on Friday, September 29th, at the end of the Detroit Design Festival.

A tour of Mack Alive’s Ambassador Fine Arts Collection (valued at $250,000, which was donated by local artists to experience the unique Butterfly Garden and Circle of Love sculpture, was also offered to guests.

 

Mack Alive Detroit
Shareef Hassan sings at the Mack Alive event. He was also the DJ and emcee for the party.

 

A photo booth was set up for guests to take fun photos together.

 

Two guests enjoy taking photos at the photo booth station.

 

“We are so excited because this is the first time that the Design Detroit Festival has chosen us over here on Mack and Fisher to be apart of this. Lots of art. This is our street happening and we are really excited about it. We’re just trying to bring this community and the city together and art does that.

Art passes all genres, you know, and it’s just awesome! We got the music. We got the art. We got the butterfly garden. We got a lot of good food. We got vendors. And this is a place for people to have a good time.” — Atrina Hardman, Mack Alive Director

 

Two young girls show off their face paintings.

 

Children paint pumpkins at the Mack Alive event.

 

Impulse Entertainment
Ypsilanti-based music group IM(PULSE) performed at the event. Click on the image to visit IM(PULSE)’s Instagram page!

 

IM(PULSE)

 

“Mack Alive is a community resource center that’s been around for 26 years. Everything we do is free. We have after-school tutoring. We have male and female mentoring. We have Buddies in Business program. We have a computer lab where people can come in and use the computer to do job searching, resume writing. They can put [job] applications in. We do free faxes, free copying.

We’re just here for the community. Whatever they need. We have free food giveaways Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We’re here. Mack is alive!” — Atrina Hardman, Mack Alive Director

 

IM(PULSE)

 

IM(PULSE)

 

IM(PULSE)

 

The art featured at the “Artist’s Village” was very nice. I wish I could have bought all of the art!

 

Brian Nickson
Artist Brian Nickson (@artbynick on Instagram) sketches and paints amazing portrait art pieces. Click on the image to view his Instagram page!

 

Errin "Lightheart"
Errin “Lightheart” featured his paintings at the Mack Alive event. This is the painting I purchased from Lightheart. Click on the image to view his Instagram!

 

Errin “Lightheart” signs the painting I purchased.

 

I am really excited to have an original painting with Lightheart’s signature!

For more information about Mack Alive, visit the official website HERE.

 

 

Check out the slideshow of the Pewabic Street Team!

Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].