The Owner's Story
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My name is Eric Mondine, I am a Grand Rapids, MI native. I’ve been part of the Madison Avenue, Garfield Park neighborhood, since the late 80s, and a property owner in the area since 2006. I have seen the area thrive, and I also bear witness to the impact the drug epidemic has had on the area. I’ve witnessed factories shutter their doors, and thriving businesses close. Some due to lack of capital, others to lack of generational planning. I was fortunate enough to see the value of this business district and begin the process of revitalization before the property values in the area have skyrocketed.
Owner's Connection To GR, Thoughts on Liberation, Reclamation
Liberation: Liberation means to me, the ability to pursue your visions, and goals without systematic restraints impeding your progress. Liberation is the freedom to partake in American Enterprise, on equal footing, where your hard work and dedication are rewarded.
Reclamation: Reclamation to me is empowerment, it is taking control of your community, and your community’s narrative. Reclamation is starting where you are and determining your journey’s outcome.
About the Artist
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I am Edwin Anderson and I’m from the southeast side of town in Grand Rapids, MI. I’m an Artist and Entrepreneur, I sometimes like to go by as an ArtPreneur. Being part of my community is a big deal to me and I put in the effort to help create a better space for where I’m from. I’ve been an artist since the beginning of my life. I believe the genius before me, my mother, passed down some of her talents along to me and I later found a way to make it my own. With art, I’m able to help create stories for the ones who are unheard of or forgotten about. Making a visual representation for people to see with their own eyes the stories that were left out of the picture. I use my art to help bring a connection among the community where it is located. I want the peice to start conversations and lead to people connecting with one another. I look at it as in Art Activism and that’s what I’m doing.
ARTIST'S CONNECTION TO GR, THOUGHTS ON LIBERATION, RECLAMATION
Liberation and reclamation, to me, means to be free and have full capacity to be one’s self. To reclaim what was once theirs or to claim what rightfully belongs to them but had been taken from or wasn’t given the opportunity to be claimed in the first place.