December 13-18. 1887
DETROIT - "Hom. e to
e- Tree" .aDdS on empty
lot in Detr . s CeDter area.
But this isn't j any sculp­
ture. 'Geo e- Tree"] • sculp­
ture d de up of several
different geometric repre-
·0 • '.
ere' a 400 pound er
an top of pyramid tha
turns 360 degrees to ow wind
direction, a 35-foo tower with
geometric apes hanging from
chains like leaves from a branch,
a sundial, and a 'cylinder made
out of refuse concrete, All of
Chr
these pomctric sculptures are
m de from scrap metal and
refuse concrete.
Constructing art made from
'junk has been popular in e
Yor for sometime. Matt Cor­
bin started this form of art in
Detroit back in the 70's. He and
Richard Bennett worked for
three eeks this summer to
create 'Gcome-Tree'.
"We wanted to do something
to the face of Detroit.and make
it something positive," Corbin
said. "We wanted it to be a posi­
tive statement that everyone
I!L "
uses.
The neighborhood residents
hope that 'Geome- Tree', a part
of the Clairmont Community
Art Project, will help bolster a
feeling of community pride.
Claudia Corbin, spo esper­
son for The Clairmount Com­
munity Art Project said, "This is
one of the few times that permis­
sion h been given by the city of
Detroit Community and
Economic Development
Department to use a city-owned
vacant lot for art purposes."
13
e ork spon or Coffee·
Brigades to Icaragua
The Nicaragua Networ ,
orking in solidarity with the.
people of Nicaragua in their
struggle for self determination,
i organizing three Harvest
Brigades to Nicaragua to pick
coffee: Dec. 8-29; Jan. 3-17 and
Jan. 9-30.
Approximate cost i $540
(excluding round trip U.S. -
Mexico City).
"Coffee, one of Nicarague's
primary sources of income,
"
ma light : Car Ie
ne
can lead to ca ta trophe
By Tracey arr \
Capilal News Service
LANSING -- Once again, the
German tradition of putting up
colorful bulbs at Christmastime
continues. And .oace again,
careless handling of these lights
is a too frequent tradition.
But if they are working
properly, Christmas lights. are
no more dangerous than any
other househol light, a state
Fire Marshal official says.
U. Eugene Schmitt says his
department h no data on how
many homes are et afire by faul­
ty Christm lights, but it can
and does occur.
"Don't turn them on, leave
and leave them on," Schmitt sug­
gests.
Here are some other safety
suggestions for lighting up the
holidays:
- Only buy lights that are
listed by a nationally recognized
testing laboratory. The box
should show this. For example,
many lights are approved by Un­
derwriters Laboratories; boxes
would show "UL" with a circle
around it
- Check to make sure there
are no frayed wires.
- Keep the tree watered. The
drier the tree, the more likely a
fire will start. Also, the earlier a
tree is cut the drier it gets.
- Use smaller bulbs. Bigger
bulbs expend more heat, and
therefore are more of a fire
hazard However, "most lights
won't heat up too much, Schmitt
says.
- Don't let the lights touch
drapes or paper.
- Indoor lights are more of a
fire�dthanomdoor��
Schmitt says, adding that he has
not yet heard of outdoor lights
starting a fire.
"There shouldn't be a
problem with that, he says.
But lights should only be used
outdoors if they are labeled on
the box as outdoor lights, he
says.
While Christmas lights are a
generates hard currency needed
to import items vital to
Nicaragua' survival like
medicines and spare parts.
Please join us. African­
Americans are encouraged to
apply, said Michele Costa,
brigade coordinator.
Contact: Nicaragua et­
work, 2025 I St., NW, ste, 212,
Washington, DC 20006. (202)
223-2328 Hotline: (202) 223-
NICA.
po entia! hazard, at least trees
aren't lighted with candles any
more.
families.
Monday, December 21, 12
noon is the deadline for all
news and as copy for publica­
tion in the December Z1 and
January 3 issues.
OTICE
The Michigan Citizen of­
fices will be closed We9.,
December 23 at 5 p.m. and re
open Mon., Jan 4 in order
that our employees may enjoy
the holidays with their