The Owner's Story
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Indicative of the rooted connection to the neighborhood where he was raised, Darel first began his entrepreneurial career opening an insurance agency in Southeast Grand Rapids. For more than nine years Darel served LINC’s Board of Directors as Treasurer, and most recently as the organization’s Co-Executive Director, serving a critical role that brings together housing, economic development, essential needs services, business incubation, and real estate development serving Kent County. Through his leadership, Ross has helped secure over $67 million in funding for community improvement efforts resulting in over 300 families increasing their assets, training over 600 residents, improving over 750 homes, and creating over 120 full-time jobs.
About the location: Abandoned for over 20 years set for extensive rehab and future home of the Forty Acres Enterprises Headquarters, it used to the ’THE place’ in Grand Rapids to get hair done. Like many of the other beauty salons and barber shops in the hood this place served as gathering space, consulting office, church and office for the community.
Owner's Connection To GR, Thoughts on Liberation, Reclamation
Your connection to Grand Rapids: Born and raised, I am just a kid from the Southside trying to make it happen
Where you are from: Grand Rapids
What the word “Liberation” and “Reclamation” mean to you: Freedom, Wealth, & The honest opportunity to pursue happiness
About the Artist
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E’lla Webber, was born February 24, 1977 in Grand Rapids, MI as E’lla Luster. A world renowned artist/ black female gallery owner, remarkable, vibrant personality, painter and sculptor of renowned skill, E’lla’s work has been sought after by top celebrities while also impressing at events such as ArtPrize, Harlem Fine Arts Show, and others across America.
E’lla mentions how art is definitely a God given talent and her prayers and answers to and from the Lord led her. As a single mom of 6, she was unable to go out and about with peers, and enjoying the fun life because she was always home taking care of her children. So, what she decided to do was utilize her time at home and start creating things with her little people. If she and her family wanted walls colorful, they would begin to paint on their bedroom walls. If they wanted to build more rooms – as a homeowner at the early age of 24 – she would go and get drywall, nails and a hammer and create whatever she wanted with her children.
During the winter of 2015, E’lla was receiving rave reviews for her remarkable sculptures that have now become staples at such gatherings as the annual ArtPrize. She was also in the tops for painting with fire during Artprizes 2017 competition. Following an acclaimed showing she began gearing up for a run at Harlem Fine Arts Show. There after, she continued to create masterpieces to show the world. E’lla considers herself to be a for-real artist! She never sticks with one medium but feel that all mediums are just as important as the next. She walks art, She talks art, She is art! “ E’lla hopes that art will continue to bleed to her children, in hopes of making a major impact to the world on how God is in full control of our lives, even through the beautiful gift of art!
In the words of E’lla,
“As being called an ‘African American woman,’ most will consider us to be angry or with having an attitude. I consider us to be wise and aware, watchful and protective. Fierce and confident, sacrificing anything for anyone we encounter! Our black boldness will overshadow a multitude. We are not individuals to be quiet in a silent storm. We refuse to stay calm while under a furtive skin attack. We will remain boisterous and changeless. We will always have to force reclamation for our respected position on a land that we can never be accepted in nor comfortable enough to call home but yet, continue to stay in our guarded position and remain afloat. Our fight for reclamation continues to be ignored or nonexistent but yet, we still remain strong with minimal strength, trying to take back our beautiful blackness that has always been forced to cease. In all, one can never minimize my gift of art nor my God-given talent because I am a true artist as my birth name speaks volume! E’lla”
ARTIST'S CONNECTION TO GR, THOUGHTS ON LIBERATION, RECLAMATION
Liberation: The modern dictionary will state that liberation means, “the act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression; release.”
As an artist we live this life daily, as we think freely, and never want to feel enclosed or locked in. We like to do as we please with no guidance or structure and it’s all done without Fear! Any indication or interruption that may interfere with our freedom, may cause us to feel controlled, we will feel things are incomplete and I can almost guarantee we will leave that situation peacefully unfinished and will no longer entertain the presence of anything uncomfortable that blocks the feeling of liberation.
Reclamation: The English definition of reclamation is, “The process of claiming something back or of reasserting a right.”
As being called an “African American woman,” most will consider us to be angry or with having an attitude. I consider us to be wise and aware, watchful and protective. Fierce and confident, sacrificing anything for anyone we encounter! Our black boldness will overshadow a multitude. We are not individuals to be quiet in a silent storm. We refuse to stay calm while under a furtive skin attack. We will remain boisterous and changeless. We will always have to force reclamation for our respected position on a land that we could never be accepted and comfortable enough to call home but yet, continue to stay in our guarded position and remain afloat. Our fight for reclamation continues to be ignored or nonexistent but yet, we still remain strong with minimal strength, trying to take back our beautiful blackness that has always been forced to cease!