In the News!

Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit

June 8, 2006

BY NICK SOUSANIS

Demolition in Detroit is an all too regular occurrence at times its practically a spectator sport. And while the decision to destroy rather than refurbish is often debated, too often the bulldozer, wrecking ball, or even the strategically placed dynamite has claimed the building with no thought of all the good, reusable materials left inside.

Enter the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit, whose motto is, Just because a building has outlived its useful life, that doesnt mean that all of its components are obsolete. It is in support of this worthy and much-needed operation that the exhibition Urban Alchemy will serve as a fundraiser. (The exhibition includes pieces from 28 artists who work with found objects as well as an auction of transformed doors, see our related story here.)

ASWD is run by Carolyn Mosher, who offered me a tour of some of the doors that will be auctioned off this Friday night (including works by local artists like Jerome Ferretti, Jack Summers, and Gail mally-mack, as well as a door from internationally acclaimed artist Willie Cole for whom ASWD provided all the doors for his recent installation, a labyrinth of doors at WSUs Elaine L. Jacobs Gallery).

After looking at some of the treasures, such as a grand old clock from Paris and a majestic staircase, Mosher and I sat down on a salvaged swingset outside the warehouse, and talked a bit about the operation.

Three years ago, Mosher was in Chicago, having finished a Masters at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was running a gallery, when her daughter encouraged her to come back to the Detroit area. On a visit back home, she met with a city planner who asked her to start a non-profit around salvaging building materials. He explained how much of the citys aging materials were ending up in the landfill for example, Belgian pavers: high-quality bricks originally brought over from Belgium, which were used as weight in ships before being put to use in construction. These pieces, which catch as much as $10 a piece in Chicago, were being thrown out in Detroit. While other cities have organizations putting these materials back to good use Detroit had nothing.

Mosher accepted the challenge and came back to the city and got to work. Over the course of the first year she researched what others around the country were doing and what needed to be done, while establishing non-profit status and forming a board to run the organization. Just one year ago the original warehouse opened for business and began the process of deconstruction, the planned and systematic disassembly of buildings, which allows component parts and pieces to be removed without damaging them, so that they may be reused, and where this is not possible, they skim, which is the removal of more easily obtained materials like doors, hardware, and light fixtures. Since then theyve fully deconstructed 7 houses, skimmed many more, and kept 350 tons (!) of materials out of the landfill much of it lumber. ASWD has created 12 jobs, training these workers in deconstruction, and done $175,000 in sales. And just recently, they doubled their space, moving into a second warehouse adjoining their 4885 15th Street location. Additionally they provide customers with authentic materials otherwise unavailable, and young people can get decent stuff at a great price.

At one point during our conversation, a young contractor approached us, and expressed his thoughts on the operation: People in the city would rather use whats here than get new. In a postmodern time, when culture is a mix of eras like a DJ spinning records, buildings which combine the old and the new just make sense.

To help regenerate the city, help preserve the environment, give people jobs, and provide affordable building materials has not been an easy task. However, Mosher explained that although the ASWD has consumed the past three years of her life, Its incredibly rewarding to see peoples happy faces, its worth every second. Ive loved it. Im privileged to be a part of it. Weve worked so hard to make it what it is. People should come and check us out. Theres always a treasure to be discovered here.

ASWD is located at 4885 15th Street in Detroit. For more information visit www.aswdetroit.org or call founder Carolyn Mosher at (313) 515-0399.

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