Access Arts Covers Belle Isle

Belle Isle is Detroit’s central park, an oasis small enough to cover in a day and large enough to draw its own breath, free of the smog and buzz of the city. The place is open to barbeques, frisbee, fishing, hikes, song and dance, and even has a small zoo and museum, all free. Every July and October some local artists, brought together by Access Arts, spread their natural structures across the three miles of Belle Isle and integrate them into its trees, fields and bridges. The result was a treasure hunt across the scenic island, with the art as beacons to some of the finer landmarks, like an old tower near the river I had never noticed during my other trips. The art came in the form of shoes, unraveled VHS tapes, plastic hands, mirrors and doors and generally avoided philosophical weight. I met some of the artists around the island, and the Howell sisters are pictured blowing bubbles inside their “enchanted willow”. Access Arts set up an interesting type of art exhibit and used the landscape to draw visitors without even disturbing it.