Hey friends, Jer here.
What makes for the best sandwich? What is a sandwich, anyway?
Recently we set up our mobile studio at the Detroit Sandwich Party, where I asked those questions and more.
Here are three of my favorites:
A sandwich is a delivery mechanism. Like, for me, what I actually want—when I say a sandwich, I don't mean a salad, you know? Yeah. Or, if I'm at a cookout, I'll ask people to make the patty really, really thin, because when it cooks up, I don't want it to turn into a little round spherical meatball rolling all over the hamburger. Like, I want that to be a stable, architectural delivery system to my mouth.
-Matt, Detroit
Is a hot dog a sandwich?
So, a hot dog is not a sandwich. I ascribe to the line of thinking that if it's two pieces of separate bread, that's a sandwich. But if it is one continuous bread, like a hot dog, then it is like a burrito, right? So I think you can categorize sandwiches or hot dogs... one connected bread or bread item, versus two separate ones. And I think that then you have to construct the item differently based on that structural difference, right?
-Zena, Detroit
And, my mind was blown with this one.
My hot take is that a calzone is not a sandwich, it's a dumpling. It's folded, it's crimped, like it's sealed, and it's filled, like a dumpling. I would also argue that a ravioli is a dumpling, obviously. An Uncrustable sandwich, like the one I brought with me today, is a dumpling as well.
-Shelby, Detroit
That's just a sampling of the fun you'll find in today's episode. [Apple Podcasts] [Listen on any app]
We had so many awesome people stop by the table that this will be the first of a small series, because we take sandwiches seriously.
Thanks to Carlos Parisi for having us out, and make sure to put Detroit Sandwich Week in your calendars for between Christmas and New Years.
If you've got your own take — let me know!
If you know of the work of Georgia O’Keeffe, your mind probably jumps straight to her iconic, magnified flowers. Or maybe, the sun-bleached landscapes of the American Southwest. But a new exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts is completely reframing how to look at her legacy.
Georgia O’Keeffe: Architecture is a big deal for Detroit. It’s the first time her work has been exhibited here since 1934, according to the DIA.
I checked it out, along with photographer Ryan Southen.
The museum calls it a groundbreaking exhibition, pulling together approximately 35 architectural paintings that highlight her lifelong fascination with built spaces.
The spark for the entire project came directly from the DIA’s own collection.
“The exhibit really grew out of research that I started doing many years ago about a really special painting by the artist — a picture that shows a white barn that she made in the summer of 1932 during a road trip across Canada,” said Ben Colman, curator of American art at the DIA. “It’s the only work by O’Keeffe in the museum’s permanent collection... It really grew into a larger research project about the ways that O’Keeffe was fascinated by architecture across her career.”
Walking through the galleries, you see her scope expand from Lake George barns to the soaring skyscrapers of 1920s Manhattan — including views from the Shelton Hotel — and eventually to the adobe structures of Northern New Mexico.
What makes these paintings so striking isn’t architectural precision. O’Keeffe doesn’t paint every individual brick.
Instead, she strips away clutter to capture a mood, a feeling and an emotion attached to a place.
“There is an incredible clarity to her vision that I find so incredibly powerful in these works,” Colman told us. “I feel quite often walking through these galleries as if I’m looking through O’Keeffe’s eyes and seeing the world as she saw it.”
Seeing these early 20th-century urban scenes here in Detroit feels remarkably fitting, echoing our own city’s history of industrial growth and architectural ambition.
One thing that I like is that the exhibition pairs her paintings alongside photos of her during the same period. It creates a sense of connection and intimacy.
There's also a great section with interactive elements to share your thoughts and feelings on the work.
If you live in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb County, tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth and college students. Nonresident tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for youth and college students. General admission to the DIA remains free for tri-county residents.
Special exhibitions like this take years of effort to bring together, and having a world-class experience like this in our backyard is something every Detroiter should consider checking out.
Pro Tip: Residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties can see the exhibition free on September 30, October 25, and December 11.
Photographer Ryan Southen and I shared our impressions on the exhibit on the Daily Detroit podcast, along with a conversation with the curator. [Apple Podcasts] [Listen In Any App Or Online]
👀 A very special edition and episode tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled on your inbox and ears locked into your podcast app. Make sure you're signed up for future emails, if you're not already.
🫡 This work is made possible by you, our readers and members. Join us on Patreon, and if you do... we have a special little bonus for members from today's edition.
Until next time, remember that you are somebody — and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
