Who

I’m JoeLikes:

  Dark Chocolate (like +85%), artists that push the limits (i.e. explorers), warm light, the blue colors, being very tired, dreaming, conspiracy “theories” (the juicier the better), belly laughs, hacky sack, info graphics, the female form, David Byrne, saunas, Settlers of Catan, being in the woods when it rains – the smells and the sounds, red heads, freckles, and the sun on my belly.

Dislikes:

The sound of Neil Young’s singing (He’s awesome, it’s just that voice!), poorly trained dogs that jump on me – I will growl at you, poison ivy, hoppy beer, small things crawling on me that I cannot see, righteous people, perfumes, and sun screen.

History:

Hey, I grew up in the Michigan suburb of Ferndale just north of Detroit. I was lucky to attend the inspiring Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts (CASA) during high school. I spent one semester at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. In lieu of incurring a college debt, I leapt for the coastal retirement town of Frankfort  where my grandmother had once lived. At first resurrecting the old family haunt, the idea was to eventually build an art studio. At 20 years old in 2004, the house was stage one and had a long list. The town was sleepy except for a 10 week vacation destination season. But with a dip in Lake Michigan 5 blocks from my door, I figured sheesh, life is rough? Scraping by on commissions and odd jobs, stage one has lasted 14 years (and counting) – she is a beautiful beast of a house. Luckily stage 1 included an art studio in Grandma Pillows’ old  bedroom (that’s Marge Grix for the unfamiliar). Stage 2 may involve the awkwardly underused foyer – a bit odd for the home, potentially perfect for a sweet little gallery space. So that’s where we’re at, if you happen through that corner of the state just look for a house with “trees” holding up the front porch (you’ll know it when you see it) and give a knock!