Legendary Detroit photographer Bill Rauhauser got some well-deserved attention in this week’s Metro Times courtesy of an article from Travis Wright. Rauhauser has been taking pictures in the city for 60 years, and as the byline says in the article, he’s not done yet. His signature move of taking only one shot in the moment, not five or six let alone two, is iconic in a day and age where the digital SLR and Adobe Photoshop have shifted the way photographers capture a moment.

“You have exciting new technology, what with digital cameras and Photoshop and all of that, which is fine, and when you’re older there will be even more advancements in technology, which is OK if you want to do that sort of thing. I’m not telling you how to make art, but the basic rules of photography will always apply, … and what the camera shoots will always be true. The true negative never lies about what was shot; only the photographer can lie.”

Within the article and an embedded image gallery are many of Rauhauser’s photos that show a wide-range of imagery characteristic of the city in years past. From his days spent sitting in Kresge Court observing women smoking cigarettes to capturing the antics of young Wayne State students, there is such an extensive sampling of imagery that gives us such a vivid look at Detroit’s past.

With sixty years of documentation in Detroit, we have such a historically significant collection of visuals in his work to provide insight as we look at a new future. What cues can Rauhauser’s work give us on the future of our city?

See the full MT article here.
See Rauhauser’s personal site and bio here.
Learn about his new book release and signing this Sunday at Book Beat in Oak Park here.

A recent article written by Ron Williams, former editor and publisher of Metro Times, wrote an article on Detroit focusing mostly on sustainability and Detroit’s potential to be a model city in this department. Some real jewels from the piece:

“… new leadership is coming from the place it always does in the end– from the bottom up. This new life cycle is a grassroots affair with an astonishing number of people fashioning solutions and affirming. There are now eight hundred community gardens on abandoned lots, peace zones for public safety, green retrofitting of empty houses, new open source media projects and an exploding hip hop and poetry scene.”

And concludes:

“Detroit is not about architectural ruins. The future of Detroit is happening in plain sight. The people of the D are re-imagining their lives and their city in fresh and courageous ways. They are on the front lines and there is a lot to learn from them.”

Umm. Cool.

Travis Wright and the fine folks at Metro Times posted an interview I did in this week’s issue. I swear I didn’t realize how many f-bombs I was dropping. Geeez. What a nice article though, see it here, and a sincere thanks to Travis for taking my gobble-de-gook (ehh, sp?) and wrapping it up in to a nice little show-pony. Travis made mention of a few things in the article worth expounding on; for one, the Guidebook Project that is going on right now. FILL OUT THE FORM AND TELL YOUR STORY to possibly be included in the published final product. It’s good for you, you’re giving back to your community, and jsut think about all the forlorn tourists that will stumble on your words of wisdom as they look for things to do in Detroit. Next, Travis talked a little bit about some of the new products coming soon, of which will be debuted at Bureau of Urban Living on April 22 at 5 pm until all the beer is gone. Nope, no wine at this party. Sticking with PBR and pretzel rods. Anyway. Thanks again to Travis for the nice article and go ahead and finish your taxes now!

“DETROIT LIVES! // the exhibition” gets Critics Pick from Metro Times! Come on out tonight to catch a piece of the action. Everything is getting going at 6pm with an open reception to meet the artists and see all the stuff on display– photography by Vanessa Miller, an interesting look at the project LOVELAND and some other cool surprises. Alan Scheurman plays a live set at 7pm and the film screens at 8pm. Get there early to print your own piece at our little screen printing time machine contraption. Yeah. Seriously. Once again, it all takes place at Ladybug Gallery — 1250 Hubbard (Map). Do it.

Metro Time’s Arts and Culture Editor Travis Wright put together a compelling cover story in the Metro Times this past week. The topic: the Moth StorySlam– an improv storytelling event at Cliff Bell’s, where folks that put their name in a hat get up on stage and tell a story based on the story theme that night. This isn’t a new concept. Moth StorySlams have been happening for a while, having originated in New York. They are podcasted even, and they happen to be one of the most popular downloads on iTunes each week. And now, the concept has landed in Detroit. In a weird way, it’s another story of positivity amongst the stuff that is traditionally reported in Detroit, and in another way it’s just a great way to spend a weeknight. The next Moth StorySlam is November 5, at Cliff Bell’s. The theme: “Blunders.”

DL! will be releasing a new project piece in the next few weeks– a mixtpae of hard-to-find cuts taken from vinyl from old Detroit soul stars. A little Fred Briggs maybe? Oh, sure. There are plenty of other surprises, stuff that you probably have not heard. The release will come complete with a full media kit telling the story of the tunes and a little back information to help deliver the whole package. Stay tuned to the projects section for the release.

In music-related happenings in the Detroit universe, check out this free download of the album “Old Patterns” by Alan Scheurman. If you like Grizzly Bear or Department of Eagles, this is a safe bet. A song off the album “What You Think You Know” was featured on the Metro Times Ears to the Ground free music sampler about a month ago.

As a pre-party of sorts for the second annual People’s Arts Festival at the Russell 8/29-8/30, the 323 East Gallery in Royal Oak is holding an event on Friday, curated by Robert Del Valle, called Post-Apocolayptic Motor City. Vanessa Miller, a participating artist in the show, is also featured in Metro Times in an interview with Arts Editor Travis Wright talking about avoiding cliches in Detroit as a photographer. OK. That was a lot. Go on now, read ahead.

Metro Times and the LimeWire store have teamed up to offer a FREE 16-song sampler of some of Detroit’s best bands. The disc covers the spectrum– from alt-country with Doop and the Inside Outlaws to our latest shining indie bright, Deastro. Download the sampler here. And as it turns out, at DL! we are doing a similar project compiling Detroit tunes– our version just involves more vinyl and soul. Stay tuned!

Ferndale resident Michael Zadoorian– author of “The Leisure Seeker” and “Second Hand”– is interviewed for a feature story in the current issue of Metro Times. “I think Detroit is bursting with creative energy,” he says in the interview. Aha! He must be on to something.