Business & Economy

Authors “Canvas Detroit” for art’s impact on the urban environment

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By BECKY McKENDRY
Capital News Service

LANSING — In “Canvas Detroit,” a new book from Wayne State University Press, Nichole Christian and Julie Pincus profile the Motor City’s brightest and most diverse up-and-coming street artists. From murals on boulevards to grass sculptures, their work can actively improve the urban environment and shine a light on previously ignored and abandoned cityscapes, the authors say. Detroit is a city that needs “problem solving,” Christian says, and art won’t solve it all. But the city is fostering a wickedly creative atmosphere that is ripe for revitalization. In a recent interview, Christian explained the importance of street art and how it can revitalize a city.

Environment

Ecologist James Ludwig discusses the “Dismal State of the Great Lakes”

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By BECKY McKENDRY
Capital News Service
LANSING — In his new book, “The Dismal State of the Great Lakes,” ecologist James Ludwig explains his personal and professional journey in realizing the extensive damage that has been done to the Great Lakes. Ludwig, 72, spent the majority of his career studying chemical pollution of the Great Lakes and its effects on birds. In the 1980s, he gained notoriety for raising a cormorant named Cosmos, whose bill had genetic damage linked to pollutants. Ludwig used the bird to communicate the hazards of chemical pollution to a variety of audiences, including members of Congress. Ludwig, originally from Port Huron, now lives in Canada where he writes and remains active in Great Lakes ecological matters.

Agriculture

Author tells story of endangered Kirtland's warbler

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By ALETHIA KASBEN
Capital News Service
LANSING – As a birder, William Rapai knew a lot about the Kirtland’s warbler, so he decided to tell the story of the rare species in a new book. It wasn’t always easy, he said. “I started four years ago, and there were some bumps in the road,” said Rapai, who lives in Grosse Pointe, Mich. “My wife had cancer and had surgery, but we got through that. “I have gone to Thailand, Iceland and Cuba to go bird- watching,” said Rapai.