In Detroit we have a massive art scene. For those interested look up The Dirty Show Detroit and Theater Bizarre.
Before my dad’s passing he was an avid artist and often had pieces at the Dirty Show. Many of the Dirty Show artists and performers got together and formed a collective.
Through this collective of artists they bought a city block in detroit near the michigan state fairgrounds and created the most amazing art installation i have ever witnessed.
Many of the houses that werent condemed were connected together and they made an amazing multi-house Haunted House that you navigated through different tunnels and corridors that led you outside and back into the homes. Each room was decorated in a deteriorated goth creepy style. The backyards were all opened up and they made what i can only describe as a Deranged demented carnival. they had 5 stages that were built. Each stage had a theme.
One night a year they opened their exhibit to the world. Tickets were 100$ a piece. your ticket gave you unlimited beer from dusk till dawn sponsored by Atwater Brewery. To enter, you had to have a costume.
Throughout the grounds there were different attractions. A Home Made Rollercoaster built by the engineering department at CAS Tech, a Freak Show, The Detroit Zombie Brass Band (A brass band dressed in tattered Marching band clothes, playing nrmal marching tunes at half speed out of tune) and my favorite… Suspension Display Carts. Specialty carts were made with suspension to navigate the backyard terrain and aparatus’ that could have different mount points above. Naked performers would then have hooks inserted in them at different areas and their bodies would be these contorted unnatural balls. Some were on swivels and they would dance mid air. They were all pushed around the grounds while they performed.
I have so few photos of the event as i am a person that enjoys to live in the moment. but it was incredible.
This was my favorite underground detroit collective. unfortunately it got too big. the city condemned the land and shut it down in 2010.
They since reloocated to an actual venue, The Masonic Temple Detroit. its smaller, but the art collective is still very active and the vibe is just as cool… But the original Bizarre grounds was an experience i cant even describe properly.
There was a documentary released but i havent seen it yet.