Drive By, Drive By

In partnership with Canfield Consortium, a community development organization on Detroit’s east side, and Sidewalk Festival Detroit, an interdisciplinary outdoor celebration of performance, installation, and art in Detroit neighborhoods, I created Drive By Drive By during my residency with Sidewalk Festival in 2023. The concept of Drive By Drive By gives families in urban communities across Detroit a space to visit, reflect, and find peace through vulnerability. The installation invites individuals who have lost loved ones to drive-by shootings to process grief in a safe and healing environment. Participants were encouraged to bring photos, memories, and personal reflections to honor those lost and to release what they’ve been holding onto in a healthy way, surrounded by community support. This work was deeply personal. I have a family member who was a victim of a drive-by shooting, a relative who served in the army and was killed at a liquor store on Detroit’s west side. Through this experience, I understand what it means to carry unspoken grief and the emotional weight of violence that lingers long after the event. The purpose of Drive By Drive By was to create awareness and healing within communities most affected by gun violence, offering a space for families to reconnect, protect, and support one another. It became a moment of collective care, where remembrance turned into resilience, and art became a way to process pain together.

Flowers were Sponsored by: Flowers for Dreams Detroit