No Bones About It: Permits Ban Art Installation for Local Halloween Fun House Attraction
Do you Dare to See the Banned Art Exhibit?
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Do you Dare to See the Banned Art Exhibit? 〰️
10/27/25 - Lansing, Michigan - Okemos Coffee Shop, a small business looking to spread some Halloween joy was had a trick delivered to them, via red tape. Bureaucracy, some could say, is even scarier than razor blades sticking out of a red apple.
Angela Risk, owner of the new coffee shop located at 1732 Hamilton Rd, Okemos, Michigan 48863, was only looking for a fun and creative way to highlight Lansing’s art scene, Halloween, and her new business. Instead, she has been met by problematic permits, push back from the local fire department, and a now postponed grand opening of her business, which has been years in the making. The intention was to tie the grand opening of Okemos Coffee Shop with a Fun House Art Installation by local artists this October.
”I’m a historian at heart, collecting art, furniture, and more from the greater Lansing area, providing a space for their history to flourish in what will hopefully become a popular coffee shop in Okemos,” stated Risk. “My goal is that my coffee shop not only encapsulates the history of the area but also encourages more art to happen in a collaborative space; that’s what the garage next to the coffee shop and outdoor seating area is all about.”
As Risk was preparing to debut her new business, she wanted to encapsulate that artistic freedom and historian hat by offering a Fun House Art Installation during the week of her Grand Opening. Unfortunately, the city, insurance groups, and local fire department had a different idea in mind for her. After local Lansing artists Adrienne Gelardi, Art of Adrienne, and Tod Parkhill, Lovely Junk Michigan, transformed the garage space into an interactive art installation, Alien Ocularium Funhouse, they found out they would not be able to open the coffee house and the funhouse at the same time. Because of permits, red tape, and a few “wild lights” here and there that the fire department deemed risky.
Ways to See the “Banned” Art Exhibit at Okemos Coffee Shop
Angela, Adrienne, and Tod’s intentions were to deliver a “spoopy and bizarre artsy funhouse” for surrounding Lansing residents with the themed attraction. So, they don’t intend for red tape to stop them. They are offering individuals “private screenings” for a limited time, as Angela has given the artists 30 days' notice to remove the fun house. Additionally, if you see a big wacky inflatable tube man (pink) waving outside of the coffee shop, it means that the public are welcome to come in, sign a waiver, and check it out.
From now until that clear-out date, the artists ask the public:
Should art be banned?
Are you brave enough to explore the unknown?
Do you have the courage to see a “banned” art exhibit meant to entertain, scare, and deliver delights?
Current Wacky Arm Inflatable Tube Man availability that has been scheduled:
October 30: 6-9PM
November 1-2: 3-8PM
November 3-4: 3-6PM
November 8: 3-6PM
Although the coffee shop can not officially be open, they are moving full steam ahead with what one could say is a “banned” art installation. Official's aren’t going to let this fun house art installation be DOA, with the grand opening of Okemos Coffee Shop being pushed back by about 4 weeks, they intend to allow the public to experience the fun house before and after Halloween. The greater area of Lansing, Michigan can visit the banned art installation“ at their own risk” to see the beautiful hard work of Adrienne and Tod, who created the fun house out of every day objects, like cardboard, pool noodles, and recycled goods.
How to Support “Banned” art in Lansing, Michigan: Donations & Community Food Drive
Donations to see the space are encouraged, as these artists put hours of hard work, sweat and tears into the installation. Suggested donation is $10, but canned food and non-perishables are accepted too — as Okemos Coffee Shop will donate the items to a local food pantry in need. As SNAP programs and food pantries will begin to waiver in November, the artists and Risk want to offer a way to give back to the community in these tough times. Delivering both creative entertainment for the Lansing art scene and collecting donations for those in need during these difficult times.
So this October, will you roll the dice?
Give a “banned” art installation a chance?
Visit Okemos Coffee Shop at 1732 Hamilton Road, Okemos, Michigan 48864. The installation is outside of the coffee shop’s historic building and in the Garage.
Online donations can be made at ko-fi.com.
See photos of the process, and installation of the “Banned” Art below.
Reach out to Angela Risk at ang.risk@gmail.com for additional details or check out the Facebook event page. (Mind you their dates are old and incorrect)
Watch the Interview with Art of Adrienne and Lovely Junk Michigan about Banned Art Installation at Okemos Coffee Shop
Behind the scenes of the “Banned” Art Installation at Okemos Coffee Shop
