Healing Through Art

By: Ashley Hennen

A mosaic that’s remniscent of Van Gogh’s Starry Night hangs in the lobby of Mariners Inn, the Cass Corridor shelter and treatment center for homeless men. The blues and golds look like that famous painting, but instead of a night sky spanning across this triptych, there’s a bridge that spans from dark to light as the mosaic tiles move toward the door.

“It’s transformation,” says Maxine Gardner a volunteering art therapist at Mariners Inn.

Mariners Inn is partnering with the Arts Corps Detroit.  Arts Corps Detroit is a community-based program at Wayne State University that offers service-learning courses and volunteer opportunities for students and others who want to help revitalize the urban community through the arts. ArtsCorpsDetroit is open to all Wayne State University students and also invites participation from the Detroit community.  Many of the art projects you'll see on our website and in our building were made possible through this amazing partnership and we look forward to many more amazing creations to come!

Take a second and check out their website at http://artscorpsdetroit.wayne.edu/index.php where you can see not only some of the art projects Mariners Inn has been involved in but also some of the other partners!

The Mariners Inn Choir is conposed of the men who are currently in treatment. They take part in music therapy once a week. Mariners Inn is thankful to have long term volunteers who faithfully come in to lend their musical expertise and allow the men to use music in a manner consistent with the mission of the Inn. Check out this video of the guys singing below!

Also, the choir had the opportunity to record a full cd. Take a listen here!

Two resident artists displayed their art work at DTE during the week of April 25.  A mosaic picture of President Obama created out of dominos was also on display.  Mariners Inn would like to thank DTE for their community support and leadership. Check out the pics below!

Check out this video featuring the beautiful artwork our men have created!

Mariners Inn consumers and students from Wayne State University used dominos to create a mosaic of President Obama. The theme of the project is “Yes We Can”. The men picked this theme because they have learned that they can work to achieve success, overcome addiction, be productive, and lead the lives they want to lead.