Presented by the Detroit Public Library and DMJStudio, October 2025-January 2026, Reception - Saturday, December 6 | 3pm-5pm. Join us at the Main Library Gallery to experience this wonderful exhibition and these artists! Light refreshments and music.

 

Engine Number 2

We stopped at the flashing red lights

On the way to the airport 

Dawn was just beginning to break 

behind the silhouette trees

To ease the tension

I said “I don’t really mind trains

because I love to watch the graffiti 

and listen to the sound”

My driver perked

“Me too” he said

“The artwork can be 

really good!”

After that our conversation turned

to woo’s and ahh’s

when the red lights illuminated 

a particularly snazzy design

The caboose came and went

but the flashing lights stayed

as another set of freight

followed directly behind

“Well shoot” I said

“Guess we shouldn’t have 

enjoyed that last one so much.”

My train spotting companion laughed

We continued admiration

Comfortable in each other’s company

As if surrendering to engine number 2

was a choice

We were rewarded

with huge letters near the end

that said “Frac the Police”

Erupting us in grand finally laughter

Sometimes Joy happens 

in moments of waiting 

through intentional misspellings 

revealing the purpose of resistance

New Work, My Father’s Shirt.

 

New work. Sculpture studies.

 

Skyscapes

 

New work

 

New Mural with Wittenberg University Students - Thomas Library, Director Amanda McLellan

 

Class Demo - Painting 2

 

Swallow Hard

When your ex-girlfriend 

jumps in front of a semi-truck

because she just can’t take 

one more fucking thing

When your lungs fill with fluid

Slowly over time

50 years to be exact

One cigarette after another 

When your legs stop working

after your husband dies

and you have forgotten 

everyone’s name that you love

When you make sure

no one is following you home

from the grocery store

because they guessed the wrong gender

When you are afraid to ask

someone’s citizen status

because we don’t know 

who is listening anymore 

When you call your cousin

who lives in Southern California 

to make sure their house

hasn’t burned down to the ground

When you are the only one in the store

that the owner is following around

calling you buddy

but what they really mean is black

When your left arm goes numb

Neck muscles pinching your last nerve 

Knots from the ropes

holding the world upon your shoulders 

Swallow hard