Over the eight days and nights of DDF—September 21 through September 28—a variety of Design Happenings will take place across at venues across the city of Detroit. The types of happenings will include studio tours, panels and roundtable discussions, fashion shows, and art battles to name a few.

Detroit Creative Corridor Center established the Detroit Design Festival to connect creative practitioners with one another, expose them to new markets and consumers, and of course put on display the creative talent that will help Detroit become a global center of creative innovation.

Art battles??!! Maybe someone can tell us what those are!

The site lists 85 Happenings, all "unfolded" in their blog. Competitions, presentations, panels, roundtables & lectures (Leon Krier next Tuesday sounds great), performances, benefits (25 chefs!), fashion shows, film screenings, cocktail receptions/dinners/parties, tours of all kinds, of art exhibits like Bordertown (cities and borders), Mind the Gap (public design ideas competition for Detroit's in-between spaces), Woodward Windows (empty storefront windows as galleries) - so many events of so many types at so many venues that it feels like Detroit may be generating some of the same energy that Grand Rapids will be for ArtPrize. Anyone think that the rest of Michigan should jump on board next year and celebrate the positive in all our communities?

Anyway, here's the video from detroitdesignfestival.com and we hope you get a chance to check out (and report on) some of the fun of DDF:

DDF - Fathead from Charlie Kelly on Vimeo.

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The Eyes Have It by pairadocs

Our favorite Michigan art event, ArtPrize, kicks off its third year in Grand Rapids this Wednesday. ArtPrize runs September 21 - October 9, 2011. It's billed as a radically open art competition that is open to any artist in the world who can find space and it is one of the most dynamic expressions of art in the world.

In their excellent ArtPrize 2011 Guide, mLive reports:

The first ArtPrize drew an estimated 200,000 people to downtown Grand Rapids, more than 37,000 of whom cast more than 334,000 votes in the exhibition with work by 1,262 artists. ArtPrize 2010 drew as many as 400,000 people who voted 465,000 times for 1,713 works of art.

...Some 1,582 works of art go on display in 163 venues downtown plus Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park a few miles away.

ArtPrize 2011 poster by Square One Design

Click through for some cool stories on 2011 such as news that Facebook creative director Ji Lee is entering for 2011 and a feature on 2011 ArtPrize venues.

The heart of ArtPrize is the public vote, and you can pre-register right now at ArtPrize.org. FYI, if voting is the heart, than the lungs of ArtPrize are participation and presence, and to activate your account, you have to go to Grand Rapids (which explains the phenomenal support that GR businesses and organizations provide the event).

Some great places to go for ArtPrize media include the ArtPrize Tumblr, the ArtPrize Facebook, ArtPrize Twitter and #ArtPrize on Twitter,  and the  ArtPrize YouTube.

Speaking of YouTube, a few cool videos we found include a check-in at yesterday's ArtPrize artist reception at the B.O.B., an analysis of the public's vote (and taste in art), a tour of ArtPrize neighborhoods, a look at the new ArtPrize HUB, and the cost of ArtPrize to artists. Below is the featured video from ArtPrize's channel, a look at 2010 from Brian Kelly. Hopefully Brian will be kicking out more great videos this year! we hope all you photographers will post your ArtPrize photos in the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr!

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Superman by sullivan06

OK, so jumping out of your chair at work and dancing? That's not gonna help.

1. The office does offer a strategy though. With highs today in most of Michigan into the upper 90s and a chance of topping 100 on Thursday, air conditioners are one of your best friends. FOX-17 offers some tips for maximizing their effectiveness including drawing the blinds so they don't have to work as hard. If your workplace has A/C, today is probably a good day to work late.

2. Fortunately, Michigan has its own A/C in the form of 300+ named rivers, over 11,000 lakes (take THAT Minnesota) and the big ones: Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and the best lake for a day like today, mighty (cold) Lake Superior. The water temperature in Superior by Marquette today is in the 60s - maybe it's time for a trip to the U.P.! Even if you can't make it, Michigan boasts tons of parks with water access, so cut out to the beach or float down a river today. Sunscreen is of course, a must.

Smile + Flow by Ralph Krawczyk Jr

3. Speaking of water, the Freep reminds us to drink lots of water in a cool feature that includes photos of how some Metro Detroiters are beating the heat. Water can get a little old after the 10th glass, so try one of my favorites - make a batch of lemonade and add some Michigan tart cherry concentrate for a tart & refreshing drink!

4. Have you felt guilty for not taking advantage of Michigan's incredible variety of museums & libraries? This week is a perfect time to take some time to explore with family & friends. Pure Michigan has a nice list of Michigan museums and you can get lots more art museums and historical museums & libraries from Absolute Michigan!

5. At the end of the day, it's almost impossible to avoid the heat on a day like today. A good piece of advice is remember February and revel in it!

Let us know other ideas to beat the heat in Michigan in the comments, and if anyone out there has a heat-beating product, tell us about it below.  If you want, email me and we'll give it away to our email list!

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010 by OnInnovation

Absolute Michigan had the chance to talk with a few of the makers who will be at the event and Marc Gruether, Chief Curator of The Henry Ford about Maker Faire. Marc told us that a few years ago, Dale Dougherty of MAKE Magazine was looking to grow the movement and Maker Faire. He turned his eyes to the Midwest and was struck by Detroit's unique assets. Through a Twitter post, they heard Dale was visiting and invited him to tour of the Henry Ford. Dale said. "Wouldn't it be kind of cool if Maker Faire could happen here?" and the rest is history.

While many folks might think that a partnership between an entity like the Henry Ford that is all about the past and Maker Faire, a celebration of maker culture that is very much rooted in the here & now is incongruous, Marc explained:

"Make Magazine and Maker Faire are optimistic and venturesome and very much about the present. If you're a museum professional, you understand that while your resources are from the past, these artifacts have power and relevancy in the here and now. At the Henry Ford we have phenomenal materials that can inform the present, and I think that the combination of Maker Faire Detroit and the museum create an environment where ideas can collide and churn and everything leverages everything else. It's a solid whole.

Last year I was watching some of the younger makers and the conversations that were taking place between them and around the works of some of the great makers from the past like Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers.

Dale's notion was not to import an event from somewhere else. Maker Faire Detroit is a user generated event. The participants are the content are important to our region due to the particular sense of adventure that's in our museum and in the factories, tool and die shops and garages of the area. This event pulls innovators out of their garages to share their work with the public in a highly interactive fashion."

Maker Faire by Maia C

Matt Gryczan is a maker from Grand Rapids who will be introducing Space Age Building Blocks - wooden blocks that when stacked create an arch like the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Matt told us, "I was an early subscriber to MAKE magazine, and I read with a lot of envy a few years ago about what makers were going at the Bay Area Maker Faire near San Mateo, Calif. It was 'art festival meets science fair' only the demonstrators just did the cool part of the project and chucked the boring cardboard displays. I couldn't believe the opportunity that we had when MAKE launched a Maker Faire in Detroit. We really know how to invent in Michigan and the Midwest, and I'd say this fair does more to spark interest in science and technology in youngsters and adults than a truck full of textbooks."

Fellow maker Nicholas Britsky of i3 Detroit agreed, adding "This event is a great opportunity for Detroit for a number of reasons. The first is recognizing Detroit as a center of innovation and creativity both currently and in the past. The second is it gives a typically underground or very under reported group of individuals a chance to show off their projects to the public. Finally, it inspires kids to start building and hacking at home and showing them that it is possible to remix normally household supplies and hardware store buys to make cool new things."

Ouch, watch who's hand you burn with that by jadonk

Nicholas is taking three projects to Maker Faire. One of the coolest are and invention called Monster Shoes that allow kids to strap a contraption on their feed and leave tracks around Maker Faire in the shape of monster foot prints.

Marc concluded, "It's like any event, and in some sense the same as being an entrepreneur. You do all your planning but these things have a life of their own. What emerges is a powerful thing."

Make Magazine has a neat post from last year titled Making Detroit: Changing the Story that is well worth a read. Many more in their "Making Detroit" section! You can see tons of cool videos on the Maker Faire Detroit web site. We'll leave you with a great video from Leo LaPorte of TWit Live.

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5x5 Night is a monthly event in Grand Rapids that allows 5 people to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges who decide how to award $5,000 on the last Tuesday night of every month. The third 5x5 happens tomorrow night at the Grand Rapids Ballet with an afterglow at Founders Brewery. Tomorrow night's presenters and topics sound pretty interesting:

• Bruce Burgess – Mull-it-Over
• Mick Hanna – Easy Crutch
• Phil Lund - The Mars Plan
• William Stewart – Compression Beehive Frame
• Charlie Wollborg - Face-to-Face > Pixel-to-Pixel

Michigan Radio has a cool interview with Rick DeVos and Bill Holsinger Robinson of Pomegranate Studios about 5x5 Night. Learn more at 5x5night.com and Pomegranate Studios.

Last month AJ Paschka got all five votes and $5000 for his very cool Weather Collage idea, but we'll feature Landon Bartley's more locally focused call for a Grand Rapids Sister City Window Webcam Project. You can check out all the pitches on the 5x5 channel.

Photo: Prepping for the first 5x5 Night at the GRAM by pomstudios.com.

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ArtPrize - Vision by David Spriggs
by Canon Screwdriver (gary syrba)

ArtPrize (Sep 21 - Oct 9, 2011) is a radically different art competition that gives away huge cash prizes, $250,000 to the winner and nearly a half a million dollars total and it's all decided by a public vote! Venue registration has closed and now from April 18 - June 16th, artists can register to participate.

mLive reports that ArtPrize 2010 featured 1,713 artists from 44 U.S. states and 21 countries. Follow that link for a look at what some folks who are returning are thinking about including news that:

Members of the ArtPrize 2010 team that created "SteamPig" are looking at creating an ArtPrize 2011 entry involving a sculpture of a troll near the Blue Bridge downtown over the Grand River.

“We have some concepts for a large, mythical troll to be placed under the Blue Bridge, reaching up to the side with headlights for eyes and grass, trees and moss covering the piece,” said team member Thomas Birks.

They add that it looks like there might be a couple more venues in 2011 and that 55 of them are new venues.

It you're looking for help funding a project, check out the ArtPrize Assistance page.

Here's a great video from Brian Kelly Photography.

ArtPrize 2010 Retrospective from Paul Moore on Vimeo.

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Come see Plowshares into Swords – a special exhibit recognizing the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. Plowshares into Swords opens April 12, 2011 at the Michigan Historical Center. A special Plowshares into Swords: Grand Opening event will occur on Saturday, April 16.

A photo of Charles Foster

Charles T. Foster

In 1861, Charles T. Foster was a young clerk in Turner's Dry Goods Store in North Lansing. His younger brother, Seymour, later described him as being about five feet ten inches in height, with a light complexion, big blue eyes and a high forehead. Charles also wore a very becoming young mustache. A member of the church choir, he was deemed “a fine singer.” He had a genial disposition and an agreeable manner and was a great comfort to his mother.

Lansing's First Volunteer

Charles had attended a mass rally at the old capitol in Lansing, on April 13, 1861. It was the day after the attack on Fort Sumter. Cheer after cheer filled the air in the packed hall, greeting fiery speeches by Lansing's leading civic leaders—Daniel Case, Judge Tenney, Judge Longyear and others. Excitement rose to a fever pitch when Judge Tenney announced that a roll had been prepared. Volunteers could thus come forward and sign up to fight for the Union. A sudden hush fell. Not a soul moved. Seymour, who had not been able to get into the packed hall and had climbed up and perched in one of the windows, saw that someone was working his way to the head of the crowd. He couldn't see who it was. Then Judge Tenney's voice rang out: “Charles T. Foster tenders his services and his life—if need be—to his country and his flag.” Charles had just become the Lansing area's first volunteer. A great cheer went up and others shouldered forward. Allen Shattuck became the second Lansing man to volunteer, and he was soon followed by twenty-nine others. Although Lansing was Michigan's capital city, it was not then large enough to field its own regiment. Charles and his Lansing comrades made their way to Grand Rapids, where they joined the Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. They became that regiment's “Company G.”

Flag Bearer

Charles Foster fought with the Third for the first year of the war. He was engaged in the first Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861) and the siege of Yorktown (April 4-May 4, 1862). Then, at the battle of Williamsburg in May of 1862, Charles volunteered to carry the flag (The regular color sergeant was unable to do so.). The next day, he wrote to his mother:

“When the Major called for volunteers and none of the sergeants seeming to want to take the responsible and dangerous position, I felt it to be my duty to do so, for someone must do it, and if none would volunteer a detail would have to be made, and the lot might fall on one who had a wife and children at home and could not be spared, whereas I was single and free, and would not be missed if I was killed.”

Charles's brother Seymour recalled that Charles never knew the grief that his letter – and particularly his statement that he would not be missed – caused their mother.

“Don't let the colors go down!”

A few weeks later – at the Battle of Fair Oaks on May 29, 1862 – Charles was again called upon to carry the flag. He did so through charge after charge. Then, suddenly, a minie ball pierced his neck. As he fell, he drove the flag staff into the ground and called out, “Don't let the colors go down!”

In his memoirs, Ezra Ransome – a member of the Third and a friend of Charles – remembered that moment:

“I rescued the colors from capture. The bearer had when shot fell on his back and threw both arms in a death grip around the flag just as our line had fallen back a little, which left the colors between the rebs and us. I rushed for the flag, pulled it from the arms of the Sergeant, fell flat and so dragged myself back to our men.”

This memorial marker lies at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan (As noted on the marker inscription, Foster himself is buried at Seven Pines National Cemetery in Virginia)

Charles was buried near the scene of the battle but for many years his grave was lost. His family finally located and marked it, He is buried at Seven Pines National Cemetery in Virginia. The marker for grave number 152 reads:

In Memory of Charles T. Foster
January 16, 1839–May 31, 1862
Buried at Seven Pines National Cemetery, VA
Flagbearer Third Mich. Vol. Inf.

After the war, at the suggestion of Allan Shattuck, Lansing's Grand Army of the Republic post was named after Charles T. Foster, the first Lansing man to enlist and the first to fall.

Sources:
Michigan History, September 1951. “The Letters of Theodore Foster.”

Michigan In The War by John Robertson, Michigan Adjutant General

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Cavalry by pairadocs

ArtPrize, the radically open, radically cool art competition that awards the world's largest art prize has issued their call for ArtPrize 2011 artists. The wildly successful event will return to Grand Rapids September 21 through October 9, 2011. ArtPrize has no formal jury, curator or judge, allowing the public to choose the winners.

ArtPrize 2010 presented the work of over 1,700 artists, tallied 465,000 votes and awarded almost $500,000. It's one of the most amazing events in Michigan and the nation, and Absolute Michigan will once again report on ArtPrize and also provide in-depth features and interviews leading up to the event. You can see coverage from past years including ArtPrize 2010 winner Chris LaPorte of Grand Rapids at absolutemichigan.com/ArtPrize.

Artist will want to note that Venue Registration opens Monday, March 14 and closes Thursday April 14 while Artist Registration is Monday, April 18 through Thursday, June 16. From May 31 to June 30, artists and venues will connect. ArtPrize Executive Director Bill Holsinger-Robinson says:

"A lot of the most memorable work in the event is created for a specific space. Artists will know all the venues available as they register. The vast majority of artists who did not secure a venue in 2010 were the ones who signed up at the last minute. Register early!"

Here's a great video overview of ArtPrize that lets you know more about the incredible impact and reach of this event. Many more from ArtPrizeGR on YouTube!

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Huron River by Ann279

Our friends over at the Great Lakes Echo tipped us off to an interesting thing that the University of Michigan is doing. It's called The Water Semester. The semester celebrates water in all forms through courses, public lectures, exhibitions, performances, and explores water from diverse perspectives, including water in art (and music!), water in literature, the role of water in shaping human history, the origins and physics of water on Earth and beyond, and exploration of the global water crisis and water sustainability on local, regional, and global scales.

There will be a keynote "The World is Blue" on January 26th by TED Prize winner, National Geographic Explorer & Oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Earle is the founder of Mission Blue and you can see her amazing and sobering TED presentation below.

Other highlights include a Water Careers Fair on February 16, showings of movies including michigan produced FLOW: For Love of Water (Jan 27), a lecture on Art and the Environment with philosopher David Abram and dance educator Jennifer Monson (Mar 19), workshops on a variety of topics including Photographing Water, a Science Café regarding Water, Oil, and Energy at Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub (Feb 9) and family events including a Water Discovery Day (Mar 25).

Amazing kudos to the U of M for developing the The Water Semester. Click over for much, much more including how you can take steps to make a difference in one of the most important issues of our time.

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In a matter of hours, we find out which artist from ArtPrize's Top 10 walks away $250,000 richer, and winner of ArtPrize 2010, a 19-day event that has transformed Grand Rapids into an art-lover's paradise. Did you see the splash of coverage on the "Today" show today? How cool.

Join us tonight as we cover every moment of tonight's big announcement, live.

It all starts at 5:20PM 10/7/2010... Tune in, it should be really cool!!!

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"Detroit Industry" - Detroit Institute of Arts
( Diego Rivera ) by DetroitDerek

All week Absolute Michigan is talking about Detroit. With a wealth of museums including the Detroit Institute of Art, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, lots of public art and sculpture, artist venues like Detroit Artists Market and art schools such as the Detroit School of Art through Detroit Public Schools, the College for Creative Studies, Detroit definitely has a strong tradition in the arts. Detroit just wrapped up their annual Gallery Week, but you can get a sense of where the galleries are and what they're doing at Art Detroit Now.

One factor that is overlooked but is contributing to a resurgence of art in Detroit is how affordable real estate is in the city. A prime example of what this allows is the 2.2 million square foot Russell Industrial Center was built in 1925 and designed by famed architect Albert Kahn. It served the auto and other industries for over half a century. In 2003 it was purchased by Dennis Kefallinos and has been transformed into one of the largest art/small business facilities in the Midwest, housing over 150 commercial tenants: architects, painters, clothing designers, glass blowers, wood craftsman, metal sculptors, graphic designers with space for hundreds more.

The quotation above comes from a Michigan Radio feature exploring how artists are finding affordable space in Detroit. Hear the full interview above or watch most of it with a slideshow below!

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ArtPrize - Vision - drawn towards the eye
by pentax hammer (gary syrba)

The Top Ten entries for ArtPrize have been announced. We present them below the video in random order.

For Week 2 of ArtPrize you get ONE vote (but you can change it through the week). Voting ends at midnight on October 6th and the winner of the $250,000 ArtPrize will be announced on Thursday, October 7 at 6:30 PM at the Steelcase Ballroom in DeVos Place.

Before we look at the artists, let's tour the Top Ten with WOOD-TV. You can also check out video of the Top 10 the announcement.

salt & earth ...Young Kim

Svelata by Mia Tavonatti

Helping mom by Wander Martich

SteamPig by Steam Pig Experiment ...

Vision by David Spriggs

A Matter Of Time by Paul Baliker

Lure/Wave by Beili Liu

Dancing With Lions by Bill Secunda

Elephant Walk by Fredrick Prescott

Cavalry by Chris LaPorte

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With Absolute Michigan's ArtPrize coverage in full swing, it seemed fitting to feature an ArtPrize photo today. I was happy to find that one of the most prolific Grand Rapids photographers in the Absolute Michigan pool hadn't yet been featured so...

RichardDemingPhotography (Richard Deming Jr.) writes:

My life is made up of the simple, sensitive, emotions towards the people, the world, and the lives around me. My love is my family, arts, design, seeing the world with new eyes each day. Photography is my passion along with food, and making people laugh and hoping I have touched them with my work.

Check out his many sets including Fall in Michigan 2010, Tall Ships Festival 2010, Grand Rapids Art Festival, Farmers Markets and his rapidly growing ArtPrize 2010 set (slideshow).

Dive into his Flickriver.

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Walkers by RichardDemingPhotography

ArtPrize 2010 officially starts today and runs through October 10th. With over 1700 registered artists and nearly 200 venues you may find that seeing what you want to see is a daunting prospect. We spent some time learning about a few ways to make this easier...

You'll definitely want to hit the exhibition centers for the high level of art concentration, but last year we found that there were so many more cool scenes to check out. To aid you in your quest to uncover these hidden gems, there's the ArtPrize map on Google with information about all the venue locations. WOOD-TV has a look at the venues off the beaten path and some ideas for getting around.

This year they're running an ArtPrize shuttle. To ride, all you need is a $5 wristband that also gives you free rides on any RAPID bus!

You can navigate on the ground, vote and get ArtPrize updates with the ArtPrize iPhone app.

mLive has a great report on "The Hub" - the HQ for ArtPrize at the old Federal Building. One of the very cool features they will have is a Heat Map that will track what's hot on social media. Here's the video tour of the Hub:

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Face Paint by TerryJohnston

Last year ArtPrize in Grand Rapids launched and was the most successful art event in Michigan's history, attracting 200,000 visitors to see the work of over 1000 artists in every media from fine art to paper airplanes. In 2009, Absolute Michigan was on location for ArtPrize and I have to say that it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life to see this city transformed into a giant gallery teeming with active, engaged crowds of people looking this way and that, trying to take in a mind-boggling amount of art.

In 2010 the format will be the same, with artists submitting a single entry at venues all over the city, all vying for the votes of those who attend and the $250,000 1st place prize. Absolute Michigan will be back to cover the event, and I sincerely hope you can make the time to go to Grand Rapids and experience ArtPrize.

Be sure to stay tuned to ArtPrize in the Absolute Michigan pool and add photos if you take them. Here's the ArtPrize 2009 video we did last year from some of the pics we received!

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A Love of Airplanes

Marion “Babe” Weyant of Lansing, Michigan loved airplanes. She kept scrapbooks about aviation, wrote a school report in 1932 recommending it as a career, and from her home west of the airport, she kept detailed logs of plane arrival and departure times. She talked to pilots whenever she had a chance, and plotted ways to get into the air. Her first successful attempt came in 1931, when Babe was thirteen.

That summer, Babe convinced her eighty-seven-year old great grandfather, Eugene Olin, to attend an air circus in Lansing. The Lansing State Journal offered $5.00 and a free airplane ride to oldest attendee at the fair. Babe felt that her great-grandfather had a good chance to win. He did, and together, they took that ride in a WACO Taperwing with Roger Don Rae, a stunt flyer from Lansing.

Photo Courtesy of Craig A. Whitford: Marion Weyant and Roger Rae, 1931

Following a Dream

After that first ride, Babe was hooked completely. A 1933 letter from Amelia Earhart encouraged her. “I believe that if you are not afraid to work very hard and really wish to enter aviation, you will be able to do so some day,” Earhart wrote. Lloyd Weyant, Babe's father, did not encourage her. He did not want his daughter to be around pilots. Marie Weyant, her mother, was more sympathetic. In 1934, she helped sixteen-year old Babe with an entrepreneurial venture that would pave the way to the sky. Cashing in an insurance policy, mother and daughter used the $65.00 to buy lumber to build a soda-pop stand located at the airport. The idea: sell soda pop to the pilots; make some contacts; get money for lessons. This outdoor canteen flourished and became an established restaurant, first located on the second floor of the airport terminal and then, attached to the left side of the new State Hanger (c. 1936). The Weyant women owned and operated the restaurant until 1941.

Photo Coutesy of Craig A. Whitford: Marie and Marion Weyants' Soda Pop Stand, circa 1934-1936

“Babe”

Propelled by canteen dollars, Babe flourished as a pilot. Her first teacher/mentor, Johnny Matthews, took her up in his Driggs Skylark for her first flying lesson on August 3,1934. Other mentors and more lessons, including winter flights, followed. On October 27, 1936, she soloed in an Aeronca two-cylinder plane owned by Harvey Hughes. At the time, Babe estimated that the flying lessons over two years cost $400. The reporter noted that the pilots called Marion Weyant, “Babe,” certainly a name that evoked her youth and petite stature, but failed to capture her determination. She told the press, “I want to be a transport pilot . . . I don't ever want to marry.”

Success!

By 1941, this Michigan aviatrix met her goals: she received her private pilot's license in 1937 and commercial pilot's license in 1941. In 1938, Babe prevailed against her competitors, primarily men, by winning third place in the Bernard McFadden Trophy Air Race. She won the Joyce Hartung Trophy in the 1940 Michigan Girl's Air show. During World War II, Babe, the civilian, taught instrument flying to military pilots using the Link Trainer, the precursor of modern flight simulators. In 1947, Babe did marry. Her husband's name was Dale C. Ruth, and she became Marion “Babe” Ruth, who continued to fly, compete and teach aviation. In 1986, she celebrated fifty years of flying and logged over 10,000 hours in the air. Marion “Babe” Weyant Ruth was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988, Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2003. She died in 2004.

Photo Courtesy of Craig A. Whitford: Marian Babe Weyant Ruth, 2002

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This photo is part of the 5 senses garden sculpture at the Children's Gardenat the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

If you've never been to the gardens be sure to put it on your places to visit in 2010. Currently you can check out "Butterflies Are Blooming" which is their most popular annual exhibition and the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit in the nation. They also feature a fantastic "Summer Concert Series" and allow patrons to bring their own picnic food and non-alcoholic beverages—in non-glass containers—to enjoy during concerts.

From angela7dreams's Flickr profile:

I am an educator, facilitator, artist and community activist. As a co-founder and associate director of LEAP (Land Empowerment Animals People), I encourage people from all walks of life to come together and share their hopes and desires as well as sorrow and despair about the condition of life here on our planet home.

Be sure to check her amazing photo sets from around the world!

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Conversely, opposition to slavery did grow. Michigan was an active participant of the Underground Railroad even before it became a state. In 1836, thirteen former slaves organized the Second Baptist Church in Detroit. Besides allowing African Americans to worship without discrimination, the church also opened Michigan's first school for black children and it was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Michigan's black population grew slowly but steadily during the years before the Civil War. Famed black abolitionist Sojourner Truth made Battle Creek her home in 1857. At a time when women, especially black women, did not give speeches, Truth used her remarkable speaking skills to promote equality and the need to end slavery. Truth stood six feet tall and had a deep voice. Her listeners were "melted into tears by her touching stories."

As automobiles became Michigan's central focus, tens of thousands of African American moved north, seeking employment in the auto factories. During the twentieth century, the list of African Americans who had an impact on Michigan - and the world - includes world champion boxer Joe Louis, political scientist Ralph Bunche (the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize), Motown Records' founder James Earl Jones, Congressman John Conyers Jr. and activist Rosa Parks.

For a massive listing of happenings check out: "Black History Month events: February is full of music, exhibits and cultural events celebrating African-American achievement" - via Freep.com

Photo Credit: Visual Materials from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Records (Library of Congress)

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For more information on the author and to get information on purchasing the book as well as a schedule of appearances visit his website.

The Michigan Notable Books program annually selects 20 of the most notable books published in the year. The selections are reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience. You can click to view more Notable Books featured on Absolute Michigan and learn more about the program at www.michigan.gov/notablebooks.

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Michigan Library I by farlane

In 1837 Michigan became the 26th state in the Union. The Michigan Historical Museum in downtown Lansing will host its annual Statehood Day celebration on Saturday, January 23, 2010 and the public is invited to the family-friendly party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first 100 visitors get free birthday cake!

The Statehood Day celebration brings together crafters, costumed interpreters and musicians. Costumed volunteers in various galleries will help visitors experience life during different periods of Michigan's history. Various community experts will demonstrate how to make baskets, cross-stitch, create quilted jackets and wheat weave. Read on for...

Highlights

Michigan Historical Markers: 1,500 Reasons to Pull Over
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Michigan Historical Commissioner Tom Truscott shares his passion for the historical markers that dot Michigan's landscape with stories about its fascinating past.

Measuring Michigan
Re-enactors from the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors demonstrate early surveying methods and explain how to survey a wilderness without GPS.

Music
Craig Ryal performs music from various decades in Michigan's history.

The Spice of Life
1 and 2 p.m.
Dr. Laurie Perkins explains the importance of spices in statehood-era cooking and prepares mustard as it was made in the 1830s.

The British Soldiers
Members of the 47th Regiment of Foot, British Regular Re-enactors recall the time when the British governed Michigan.

Developing a Quilt Pattern
The Creative Cut-Ups Quilters, Capitol City Quilt Guild show how people use and re-use fabrics to produce beautiful bedding, wall hangings and gifts as visitors create their own quilt patterns.

The Michigan Historical Museum is located at 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in downtown Lansing, just two blocks west of the State Capitol. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., and closed on official state holidays. Admission and weekend parking are free. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/museum or call (517) 373-3559.

The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its museum and archival programs help people discover, enjoy and find inspiration in their heritage. It includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, and the Archives of Michigan. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/museum.

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Book news and reviews from The Plain Dealer has a glowing review titled 'Bonnie Jo Campbell's 'American Salvage' will rattle your bones in 14 collected stories that form one of the best books of the year'.

For more information on the author visit her website. For a full schedule of readings and workshops, visit http://americansalvagestories.blogspot.com/.

finalistread f campbell from National Book Foundation on Vimeo.

The Michigan Notable Books program annually selects 20 of the most notable books published in the year. The selections are reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience. You can click to view more Notable Books featured on Absolute Michigan and learn more about the program at www.michigan.gov/notablebooks.

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Guardian by Ralph Krawczyk Jr

Our years of neglect of the ongoing structural problems in our budget has left Michigan in a position where we're cutting all kinds of services drastically. When you're taking millions from classrooms, public safety and basic human services for our most needy, it's hard to advocate against cuts for the arts.

However, after watching this video from ArtServe Michigan, that looks at the jobs & economic impact of the arts and the bigger picture of how art & civilization work together, I have to say that Michigan needs to think long and hard about how we will foster art & culture in these challenging times.

What do you think? Watch the video and comment below or over on the ArtServe blog.

Also check out the 4400 plus "art" slideshow in the Absolute Michigan pool.

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"There's so many different ideas about how to turn around Michigan," Let's Save Michigan organizer Sean Mann said Wednesday. "We believe creating viable, attractive cities is key to turning around Michigan's economy."

A contest began this week that accompanies an exhibit at the museum called "Government Support for the Arts: WPA Prints from the 1930s." Entries are being accepted until Feb. 15 on the Let's Save Michigan Web site.

Organizers want the posters to serve as a "call to action" for the state, which has seen its economic struggles intensify amid the collapse of the U.S. auto industry. Michigan's jobless rate was 15.1 percent in October, a national high.

Judges will select 25 finalists and the public will pick winners, which will be announced in March. There's a $1,000 top prize and the runner-up gets $250. Some posters also could be produced for sale.

The DIA is hosting an exhibition titled Government Support for the Arts: WPA Prints from the 1930s through March of 2010 (click through for a gallery) and you can get all the details on the contest and enter through the Let's Save Michigan web site.

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ArtPrize 09-Open Water no.24 by deviant_anomaly

ART PRIZE 2009-0032 by RichardD72

AND THE WINNER IS... by rkramer62

DETAIL FROM WINNERS CANVAS by bitsorf

The first-ever ArtPrize in Grand Rapids has ended with Open Water no. 24, a 6' x 19' oil painting by Ran Ortner being chosen as the winner by public vote from 1,262 artists who exhibited at 157 venues across the city. A former pro motorcycle racer, Ortner will receive a quarter of a million dollars for his finish. The Freep reports:

Ortner said he was stunned by his win. “Wow. Exhilarating, captivating, ridiculous. Can't get my head around it.”

It means a lot to him that those choosing his work were not professional art critics but people who were moved by his work. “There's been a heart connection here,” he said.

And it has been good for those who voted, Ortner said. “All of a sudden, those who know nothing about art have an opinion that matters,” he said. “It really has a life larger than anything anybody anticipated.”

ArtPrize 2009 Winners

1. Ran Ortner – Open Water no. 24
2. Tracy Van Duinen – Imagine That!
3. Eric Daigh – Portraits
4. David Lubbers – The Grand Dance
5. Bill Secunda – Moose
6. Nessie Project – Nessie on the Grand
7. John Douglas Powers – Field of Reeds
8. Sarah Grant – The Furniture City Sets the Table for the World of Art
9. Jason Hackenwerth – Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress
10. Michael Westra – winddancer 2

You can get some more links to coverage at Who won ArtPrize? on the ArtPrize blog and stay tuned to absolutemichigan.com/ArtPrize for news about ArtPrize 2010!

Check out this video below for some scenes from the Winners Celebration - the close of this dance number is really impressive!

More videos can be found at ArtPrize 2009 Absolute Michigan.

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ART PRIZE 2009 by RichardD72

Michigan has taken the national stage with one eye on the ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids and the other on it's burgeoning and award winning wine industry which gaining credibility amongst wine experts and wine lovers. This is truly a positive and a definite 180 degree flip from most of the national news our state receives as of late.

ArtPrize garners national attention in the New York Times

The New York Times reports on the competition and the overwhelming positive response and impact on Grand Rapids in their article Eyes on the ArtPrize by Micheline Maynard. The article also takes note of several of the exhibits including some of the final top 10 entries. The winner of ArtPrize drew over 1,200 artists and has had about 32,000 people register to vote on the works. The winner will be awarded 250,00 with a minimum of $7,000 for the nine runners-up.

No matter who wins, the 17-day competition has spurred a lively debate in Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000 with a tradition of interest in art. It is home to several museums and a college of art and design.

“Every conversation I've had here for the past two weeks has been about art,” said Dustin Dwyer, a correspondent for Michigan Radio, a public radio network, who is based in Grand Rapids and has reported on the competition since its inception earlier this year. “From that perspective, it's a success. But are we rewarding good art? That's up for question.”

Be sure to check out Absolute Michigan on Location - ArtPrize and the Absolute Michigan's ArtPrize 2009 Page.

Michigan wine continues to gain ground as a world class product

The 45th parallel yielding good wine from Michigan, ABC reports.

Other national news regarding Michigan wines and wine trails

Off the beaten wine trail: Explore four emerging regions - USA Today

Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan: The state's 56 wineries are spread across Michigan along four wine trails, but most of the best grapes are grown near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and its bays.

Exotic vacations may be closer than you think: Napa Valley-esque wine tastings - CNN

If it's wine you want, find an alternative to Napa Valley in Michigan's Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. Here you'll discover more than 850 acres of land and more than 20 wineries for your choosing.

The area offers tastings and gourmet meals, and Kantrowitz says, "The region is particularly known for its great pinot blancs."

The new Napa Valley: Taste one of Obama's favorite wines at this Michigan winery - Examiner.com

The rumor is that Michigan is soon to become the new Napa Valley. With climate changes potentially affecting the California coastline, Napa vineyard owners are looking to Northern Michigan to grow their grapes.

Part of the appeal of Northern Michigan is the colder climate on the 45th Parallel where grapes for rare ice wines flourish. For more information on why wines do so well along the 45th parallel, read the Chicago Tribune's story on this region.

Best North American Wine Destinations - Digital City

8. Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City lends itself to making Baco Noir and Cabernet Franc, thanks to grapes that grow near the shores of Lake Michigan, offering a unique climate. The rest of the state's wines come from Michigan wine country, where you can also find rare fruit and ice wines.

According to Michigan Wines - The Official Website of Michigan's Wine Industry:

Michigan's wine, grapes and grape juice products and related industries ...

... produced nearly $790 million of total economic value to the State of Michigan in 2005

... paid more than $42 million in state and local taxes in Michigan, and an additional $42 million in federal taxes

... account for more than 5,000 jobs across the state, for a payroll of more than $190 million

Check out their collection of photos of Michigan's vineyards and wineries.

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Herbert Jeffries has acted, sung, even ridden--his way to the top of the entertaining world.

In the 1930s, when white singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers carved out names for themselves, Jeffries decided there should be black cowboy films* especially since there had been many African American cowboys in the American west.

Born in Detroit in 1911, Jeffries raised money for his first feature film. Playing the part of Bob Blake, a fearless singing cowboy, Jeffries became this country's first African American film hero when Harlem on the Prairie opened in 1936. Nicknamed the "Bronze Buckaroo," Jeffries did all his own riding and performed all his own stunts. After starring in three more cowboy movies, Jeffries left movies to start singing with Duke Ellington's orchestra. With that band as his backup, he recorded "Flamingo," which sold fourteen million copies and propelled him to the top of the jazz world.

After running a club in France for a decade following World War II, Jeffries returned to the United States where he continues to perform. In 1995, at the age of eighty-three, Jeffries recorded a Nashville album of songs entitled, The Bronze Buckaroo (Rides Again).

Among his many awards and recognitions, Jeffries earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to one observer in 2004, "The man is a marvel. In appearance and in voice, he seems a person half his age. . . . His voice sounds stronger now than it has ever been."

Here's Herb Jeffries singing Happy Cowboy in the 1938 movie "Two Gun Man From Harlem":

For more about Jeffries, check out herbjeffries.com. To learn more about other important African Americans in Michigan, order the book African Americans You Need to Know or subscribe to Michigan History or Michigan History for Kids by calling (800) 366-3703 or visiting www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.

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"We've extended our efforts to stay connected with travelers. Social media allows us to get the Pure Michigan message out to potential visitors on other platforms," commented George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, a business unit of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "It opens another line of communication with travelers."

In addition to the most popular state tourism Web site, michigan.org, visitors now have other means to stay up-to-date on Michigan tourism deals, discounts and events.

Connect and get the inside scoop on where the fish are biting, what greens are running fast and how you can make your visit Pure Michigan at the newly launched blog, Pure Michigan Connect. Read about bloggers' experiences along the nation's longest fresh water coastline or experience at a small town celebration. Take a minute to comment on the blog posts, or submit one of your own.

Follow @PureMichigan on Twitter for the latest events and breaking news, along with some fun behind-the-scenes information on all the things going on with Michigan tourism. Search hashtags #puremichigan, #MIevents, #MIdine, #MIgolf, #MIfish, and #MIwine, for all the latest.

Join the Pure Michigan Fan Page on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the latest events in Michigan and talk to others with the same love for Michigan. The fan page is another great resource for planning a trip.

In addition, visitors can now enjoy all the photos from the Pure Michigan Photo Contest on Flickr, or watch all of the Pure Michigan commercials on YouTube.

Michigan.org continues to be a source for Michigan travel information, featuring more than 12,000 attractions, events, hotels, resorts, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses.

Travel Michigan, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the State of Michigan's official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state's tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services.

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Each summer, Mother Nature brings us hot, humid days and nights that barely cool off. Thankfully, Michigan-born businesses offer some relief in the form of sweet, refreshing treats.

Photo credit: Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm at the Faygo Plant, October 2006 (Photo Courtesy of the Granholm Leadership Fund)

FAYGO

There's Faygo, which has been making its colorful pop in Detroit since 1907. Started by Russian brothers Ben and Perry Feigenson, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works first offered drinks in fruit punch, strawberry and grape flavors. These flavors were inspired by frosting recipes that the men created when they worked as bakers. In 1921, the Feigenson brothers shortened the company name to Faygo. Faygo's Web site has a more detailed history and recipes for adding Faygo to everything from ribs to cauliflower soup. Looking for some entertainment while you enjoy your pop? Check out the Faygo Boat Song (You Tube link) and the Faygo Kid (You Tube link). These old commercials may bring back some memories!

VERNOR'S

Are you in the mood for something a little less sweet? Perhaps you'd like a glass of ginger ale. Detroit pharmacist James Vernor invented Vernor's ginger ale in the 1860s. With a close eye on quality, Vernor's went from being sold only at a fountain in Vernor's pharmacy to gaining fans in new markets in Ohio and New York. Now owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., Vernor's tells its story on the Vernor's Web site. For a more indepth look, take a look at Lawrence L. Rouch's The Vernor's Story: From Gnomes to Now, a 2004 Michigan Notable Book. The Images of America series has published Vernor's Ginger Ale by Keith Wunderlich, complete with factory photos, promotional images and shots of the company's one-time mascot, the gnome. Both books are available at the Library of Michigan.

Cover to The Vernor's Story by Lawrence L. Rouch

POP VS. SODA

Not sure if you should call these drinks pop or soda? Check out The Pop vs. Soda Web Page, which shows that Michigan is clearly a green state. (On the site's interactive map, green represents people who use the term “pop,” as opposed to “coke” or “soda.”)

Faygo Root Beer Takes Top Honors

Absolute Michigan would like to add to the article and point out that Bon Apetit has named Faygo Old Fashioned Root Beer as their favorite Root Beer.

Old-fashioned root beer is the newest restaurant drink trend—suddenly, it's on menus everywhere. What sets these sodas apart is that they're caffeine-free and usually sweetened with cane sugar, not corn syrup: Think root beer returning to its roots. Style varies from sweet to dry and from mild to zingy. The satisfying and complex flavors can come from cinnamon, vanilla, sassafras, ginger, licorice, cherry—and even wintergreen to balance out the sweetness.

They describe Faygo Old Fashioned Root Beer as being "Dry and crisp, with a frothy head, a good bite, and a long finish."

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