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DJ Sicari Ware with Anina Hickman, Blessing Taylor and Piper Carter outside 5 E Gallery in Corktown. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
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Detroit's 5 E Gallery Needs Help to Reopen
Updated: Friday, 22 Jul 2011, 5:14 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 14 Jul 2011, 9:41 PM EDT
By IRIS PEREZ
WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com
DETROIT (WJBK) - Anina Hickman and Blessing Taylor are aspiring artists.
"I kind of want to be a deejay," said Taylor.
"Build my photography skills and my art skills and everything I want to do," said Hickman.
Both say they need 5 E Gallery in historic Corktown up and running again.
"Most kids really want to be hip hop artists, but they just think it's for the money and not really for the music and what you're really saying," Hickman said.
The gallery is where they used to take part in business and media literacy programs.
"So youth that participate in this program learn to become entrepreneurs and make money off of the creative things that they love," said gallery owner DJ Sicari Ware.
He moved the gallery in 2009 to what once was an abandoned building on Michigan Avenue so he could own his own space. After a year of challenges and a serious need for renovation, they were forced to shut down this May.
"We need $150,000," Ware said.
They're also looking for artistic talent and volunteers to help renovate the facility. However, this is about more than just fixing the gallery for children and local artists.
"Number one, we do graffiti, and that's a huge part of the culture of Southwest," said gallery co-owner Piper Carter. "We're able to provide a legal wall space for them."
"You have kids getting arrested for painting because there (are) no art classes in their school," she added.
To DJ Sicari, this is about redefining Detroit through what he calls "conscious hip hop."
"There are messages in hip hop now that I believe … are detrimental to the community," he said.
With artistic skill, creative drive and heart, these people can make it happen. They just need your help.
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Click here to connect with 5 E Gallery on Facebook.
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