Steam & Steel, Still...

Gary Balduc AKA The Fish Pimp

Where were you born? 

I was born in Wakefield MI in the western UP

Where do you currently live?

I currently live in Livonia after a 9 year run in the city

Where do you work and how long have you been there?

I currently run a aquarium maintenance company called the Fish Pimp 
I have been maintaining aquariums for 10 years

What did you do before your current job?

Before my current job I worked for a few small specialty pet stores

What do you feel needs to happen for the Belle Isle Aquarium to be sustainable?

I believe the aquarium needs the doors open to allow the public to view the place and start generating revenue through fundraisers and gatherings at the aquarium as well as sponsors donating to help get the building fully stocked.

How do you feel the possible re-opening of the Belle Isle Aquarium will effect the Detroit community?

I believe the reopening of the aquarium is a wonderful thing for the community. This is something that the people truly need.
Giving them the chance to connect with a fish
One of my favorite things is seeing that connection. It never gets old.

How can people volunteer their time at the aquarium? Is there a system in place for donations to go directly to the Belle Isle Aquarium?

Volunteers are always welcome and we have many upcoming projects that will require donations. Donations to the aquarium can be dropped off on Saturdays from 10 -2 pm 

What do you think the future holds for the city of Detroit?

Not to sure what the future holds for the city but I hope that it is bright!

Lastly, a TON of people showed up to the BIA for Shiver on the River. I’ve been told that you are responsible for filling some of the tanks that day. Did you donate your personal pet fish?  And what’s with this “Fish Pimp”?

I donated several pet fish, some coral and my collection of orange Mozambique tilapia for the shiver and they are still there today. As the “Fish Pimp” I specialize in finding the hard to find fish and coral for macked out tanks.

Find the Fish Pimp on Facebook here.

Philip Lauri

Where were you born? 

Rochester, Michigan

Where do you currently live? 

Woodbridge

Where do you work and how long have you been there? 

I started a company and organization called DETROIT LIVES! (detroitlives.com) in 2009. Been working there ever since.

What did you do before you started Detroit Lives?

I worked in global sourcing based in Chicago, then for a creative agency based out of Portland. 

How would you describe your vision for Detroit Lives?

My vision is to grow as a company and organization putting out top-notch creative content and pairing that with equally as impressive work on the ground in Detroit. I love the idea of being this dynamic creative house— developing film content for clients, painting murals on buildings, releasing limited edition poster prints or taking on a design project in a neighborhood to improve citizen engagement. We’re like a small agency, a brand and a socially driven effort all wrapped up in to one. Nobody that I know of is really taking on that scope of work— but that’s the beauty of media development these days. They bleed in to each other so nicely to create innovative outcomes. And that’s what it’s all about— create these thoughtful collisions, push the boundaries a little bit and get people excited in the process. 

How do you feel Detroit Lives has affected the Detroit community?

I think for the last three years we’ve been a big part of shifting the narrative about the city. I think our biggest success has been using film production and various forms of marketing and branding to really advance the Detroit story forward. Enough of this meta-Detroit talk that’s based largely on emotion, we are injecting real, thoughtful narratives that give people succinct evidence that the growth and change we speak of is happening. Aside from that, we play a small role with some of the work we do on the ground level— giant murals that commuters drive by every day, or a poster that someone hangs on their wall and dinner guests talk about. All that being said, with our business revenues growing through the creative content we’ve been developing for clients, I am excited about taking on larger-scale projects at the neighborhood level. We are actually about to announce a really cool project in that realm that I think is going to really blow some people away. Stay tuned for that.


What are your feelings about owning a small business in Detroit?

I think my thoughts are kind of a riff off that Einstein quote that “Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work.” In Detroit, small business is 1% genius and 99% hard work. I love every day of it, but it’s challenging and it requires at times an inordinate amount of persistence and determination. But hey, that’s what makes all the little victories almost euphoric. And let me put it this way: there is absolutely no way in hell I would do anything else.


What do you think the future holds for the city of Detroit? 

Lots of hard work and heavy lifting amidst almost infinite potential. I see so many possibilities for this city, but ultimately we need solid political leadership, engaged citizens and a forward-thinking strategic plan. But in 10 years I think when we look back, the city will largely stand for progress, a place that picked itself up from what many see as ground zero. It won’t be drastically different, there will still be a lot of work to do, but we will be a beacon of hope for the rest of the country as other cities continue to fall victim to scenarios similar to what Detroit is facing.

Lastly, you SOLD OUT the DFT recently for your premiere of “After the Factory”! What were your expectations for the film premiere?

That night as people kept filing in it was almost magical. And when I got up on that stage to introduce the film and saw the sheer number of people in the audience, I was swept away in to this magical place where I was floating. I was in the zone. Couple that with my excitement to just get the film out in to the world and it was just simply magical. I’ll never forget that night for as long as I live.

Kevin Rushing (and his brother Kyle) 

Where were you born?  

I was born in Dearborn, MI.

Where do you currently live?

I currently live in Allen Park, MI 

Where do you work and how long have you been there?

I am an Artist and an Entrepreneur.  My passion is to construct large-scale games.  I also paint with oil and compose electronic music.  I moved back to Detroit last spring after finishing my Graduate Degree in Chicago.  

What did you do before you joined TechShop?

My studies focused mainly on developing a service infrastructure to help support the Veterans community in Chicago.  However, more recently, the main push of my effort was to acquire a work space with all the tools we need.  Now that Techshop has provided that for me, I can really focus on developing an artistic identity and contributing to my community.   

You’re pretty into adult games; tell me about this kickstarter campaign you’ve got going on…

The idea of the Kickstarter is to raise the funds necessary to construct a full-size Galdiator Assault course in Detroit complete with an air-powered tennis ball gun, geometric obstacles, foam rocket launchers, and a high-power sound system. 

How do you feel “Gladiator Assault Course Detroit” would fit into your community or into the Detroit scene?

The real goal here is to offer a unique cultural experience for our community to enjoy.  Our event is designed to provide a facilitated social environment where people can participate and collectively overcome challenges.  This is a great time to raise the level of positive exposure for Detroit and to highlight the resiliency of our citizens.  

What are your feelings on social scene in Metro Detroit? 

There are some really amazing artists and engineers here in Detroit and it’s been a pleasure to see the freedom and space that they have to be creative and build community.  Right now we have the skills, tools and passion to make anything happen and this is the perfect place to do it.  There are big things coming to the city of Detroit in the near future and I am excited to see the city blooming and transforming.    

What do you think the future holds for the city of Detroit? 

Renaissance.  

Lastly, you’re brothers and you both wear spandex while you’re in the same room…isn’t that a little weird for you guys?

 Yes, but after what our mother did to us as children, matching costumes is no new territory.

YOU CAN SEE MORE ABOUT GLADIATOR ASSAULT DETROIT HERE:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/406014833/gladiators-assault-course-detroit

Ted Sliwinski

Where were you born? 

Antonio “Shades” Agee

Where were you born? 

Detroit, Michigan 

Where do you currently live?  Detroit 

Where do you work and how long have you been there?

I am a self-employed graffiti artist and have been operating my own business for the past 12 years.

What did you do before you became a grafitti artist?

I was a garbage man for the city of Ann Arbor

How would you explain your painting style to the “layperson”?

I am a graffiti artist (working with spray paint) making a living by creating commission canvases, murals and art shows.

How do you feel your art has affected the Detroit community?

I am one of the first graffiti artists in this city. I have been promoting Detroit by painting all over the world with the help of my art being the catalyst of my effort. The community that I know now (Detroit graffiti art) has grown into another form of art that has made a great impact in galleries and businesses in the city. 

What are your feelings on the art community in Metro Detroit?   
The art community is what kept this city alive with it’s richness in art. The artist themselves have a way in making the best out of nothing in their surroundings. I love Detroit and being a Detroit Artist. 

What do you think the future holds for the city of Detroit? 

I see the city becoming another spot where art and the resurgence of a new industry that will make it a great place for families and for people who will find it worth living and caring about our city. 

Lastly, what is the genesis of the name “Shades”?

The name “Shades” is from when I was younger - I found wearing my sunglasses 24hrs a day was cool and also the way I blended colors in my graffiti letters. I thought about “optics or specs”, but “Shades” was way better.

Jessica “Jaydee” Decker

DAVE KWIATKOWSKI

Where were you born? Dearborn Heights

Where do you currently live? I live in Ferndale at the moment.

What is your place of business and how long you’ve been in business? The Sugar House in Corktown. We’ve been open three months.

What did you do before The Sugar House? Motorcycle builder. Options trader in Chicago. Hosted a reality TV show on Discovery Channel.

Why did you decide to open The Sugar House in Detroit and not someplace else?
There is such a great community of people in Detroit. It’s such a small town, and everyone that lives here loves it. I wanted to add something to that community. And realistically, we could never have done this is some other big city, and it just wouldn’t have been as cool in the suburbs.

How do you feel your business has affected your neighborhood? People in Detroit want more quality products – they seek them out. I think that’s what we’re offering. A bit of quality, and a bit of culture that Detroiters deserve.

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the city since you’ve opened? We’re so new, but I took about a year and a half to get this place open. In that time there have been tons of exciting developments in the area – Astro Coffee has totally transformed this block – Mercury Burger Bar will be open soon – our little area really is becoming an eating and drinking hub in Metro Detroit.

What do you think the future holds for the city of Detroit? I don’t want to be naive – there are still tons of problems in Detroit, but there are so many exciting new developments it’s hard not to get excited about the future. I think we’re looking at an actual resurgence of the city.

Lastly: Explain your no standing policy and how it has been received by Detroiters. The drinks we’re making take time. A lot of time. So we limit the number of people that we allow in so we can focus our attention on the existing customers. I would rather have sixty people in here that are getting their drinks quickly and have a great time, instead of a hundred and fifty people pissed off that it takes forever to get a drink. Some people have been upset that they can’t come in, but once they actually are in here, I think they get what it’s about. We opened this place so we could deliver an excellent product, everything else takes a back seat.

David Joseph Mancini

Where were you born? Royal Oak. 

Where do you currently live? I live in Midtown, Detroit.

What is your place of business and how long you’ve been in business? Proprietor of Supino Pizzeria, in business just over 3 years.

What did you do before Supino? My prior employment was as a Physical Therapist.

Why did you decide to open Supino in Detroit and not someplace else?
My heart is in Detroit, its where I live and play and I wanted to be a part of something that would be a positive force for the city, however small. 

How do you feel your business has affected your neighborhood? Ryan Cooley, Detroit realtor-extraordinaire, told me he mentions Supino as an incentive to move into the area- that made me smile. 

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the city since you’ve opened? People taking the lack of jobs and turning it into an opportunity to create their own job: Dai and Jess at Astro coffee, Torya continues to expand into new ventures, Grant at City Wings, Dave K. at the Sugar House, Eric and David at the Sunday Dinner Co., Tom, Maurice and Stavros at the Hudson Café, Celeste at St. Cece’s pub, Jerry’s expansion of the Park Bar, and the Linn’s opening Nest- its inspiring.

What do you think the future holds for the city of Detroit? More challenges ahead: likely receivership, if so keep the faith and we can emerge stronger- but I’m an optimist. 

Lastly: You were recently out of commission. How hard was it to not make pizza? It was really hard going in, my surgery coincided with the painful end of a long-term relationship and Supino having been featured on the food network- definitely the weirdest two week period of my life. Now that its settling, I’m so proud of how my staff responded- they’re a great bunch.