I had the pleasure of working alongside some amazing talent in our Eldorado Treehouse. I hired Regina Rivard earlier this year because I believe in her creative vision and wanted to give her a place to showcase her talent, while simultaneously honing her craft and building her portfolio. This is the shoot she dreamed up. And below are her beautiful words about the magical day.

Eldorado General Store Detroit Regina Rivard Ernest Turner.jpg

"What happens when a visionary shop owner, a creative director, a photographer, a hairstylist and an architect-turned-model get together in a raw, unfinished space? Well, a lot of sawdust gets kicked up, but an example of future magic is illuminated, too.

“Eldorado inspires others to be creative,” Erin tells me, “and I want it to be a platform to push creatives—artists, forward.” This mission of hers has deeply resonated, personally, and practiced through my participation in our team, a dream team, made of real life magic. This April I directed the first creative photoshoot to take place on the third floor of the leaning cake slice of Corktown; Eldorado shop owner, Erin, affectionately has named the space “The Treehouse.”

Despite the chill of the spring air, and kisses from lingering winter breezes floating through the uninsulated walls, the aura of the space on that day felt warm. Running up to the third floor from the shop with billowing piles of rugs and hides in arm, again with stuffed Kilim pillows, then wicker furniture, potted plants, a bundle of sweet-smelling sage, a glamorous disco ball nearly half my size, a set was created that belonged as much as to the transformed space as it would any interior design magazine.

Our model was dressed in Eldorado head-to-toe; precious lace, pink pants shimmering with glittery threads, flowing silk dashed with ribbons, and the contrasting hard leather of heavy boots. Her hair was teased into loose, natural, texture, a hint of moisture applied to her skin to catch the light, then some of our favorite stones are placed onto her bare wrists, and between the knuckles of her thoughtful hands.

Since the day The Treehouse was teased as a creative space via this shoot the influx of interest has been exciting! In its current state, light pours through the southern windows facing Michigan Avenue, and splashes upon the rough concrete walls, which still have century-old wallpaper from its original tenants clinging to its pores. Unpolished wood floors lie under the framing beams of what will be a new ceiling, and the framing between the rooms the open space does not yet, but someday will, contain. It’s a perfect blank canvas.

Eldorado is on the map as a place to visit when in Detroit, gather items of inspiration, and here also to invite and encourage artists to create and collaborate.

Let’s make magic?"

-Regina Rivard, Eldorado Creative