Detroit needs a statue

I think that Detroit needs a very large statute some type of symbol of what is Detroit. New York has the statute of liberty, St. Louis has the arch, Chicago has that thing in Grant Park, Indianapolis has that huge momunent [[the one that resembles ours in Campus Martius but three times bigger)

Now, you might say that our statute is the Joe Louis fist, when I'll go on record and say I really, really, really don't like the fist so hopefully we don't take that as our statute. And, the half circle statute across the street from fist in hart plaza doesn't do it. And, the curved pole next to the curvy thing isn't large enough.

So maybe putting the Spirit of Detroit on a four story platform would do. Or how about a large something with a image of a Model T and Motown record however its done artistically might do.

In my documentary "The Great Detroit" we have photos of Detroit's wall murals and some outside artwork.

To support our efforts, go to www.strongdetroit.net

Statue is the three-dimensional piece of art. Statute is a written law.

We don't need to change ANYTHING about the Spirit of Detroit statue. Why the hell would you make it UNACCESSIBLE to the public? A four-story platform...might be the single-worst idea ever floated on this board.

Nah, no more odes to the past, we've got enough of them. Ever drive out on I-94 to the airport? Big tire there.

We didn't preserve the big stove very well.

I don't think any statues or statutes will change the city's stature one whit.

Sorry.

My daughter really likes the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument that's in Campus Martius Park.

This exchange was the most amusing thing i have read on this board in a while. :D

While I think the idea of slapping our existing statues on pedestals or islands is silly, I think gentle poster touches on an important point: our public art is generally lacking, with emphasis on "public."

The exceptions I would take are the Spirit of Detroit and the Heidelberg Project [[love it or hate it). These are installations that people identify with, interact with, visit, and have personal meaning to many people.

I'm a firm believer in art for art's sake but I think an artist really makes an impact with public art when it draws people from all walks of life.

Look at your facebook. I guarantee, unless you're a friendless weirdo, you or your friends have pictures with the Bean in Chicago. It's a huge draw. People interact with it. It brings people together. It's fresh an inspiring.

My favorite public[[sort of) art in Detroit is Hamtramck Disneyland. Truely organic folk art!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamtramck_Disneyland

Do I think better/more public art will save Detroit? Not by a long shot. Will it have an economic impact? Doubt it. It isn't always about dollars and cents, though.

While I don't think we need to spend a cent on a new statue right now, it's funny this conversation was brought up.

I was staring at Belle Isle from Hart Plaza a week ago and thinking about what if something like the Eiffel Tower would have been built on Belle Isle a century ago or so. Some type of gigantic unity monument that showed that the US/Canada are deep allies. It could've been a very dramatic - if not entirely likeable [[depending on design, of course) - piece of architecture that would dominate the sky for miles around.

Please excuse my misspelling, statute should be statue as suggested.
And, I'm only suggesting some statue as a positive marker nothing more.

Lets not forget Robocop is coming!

isn't there going to be a robo-cop statutue put up soon? isn't that good enough???

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Originally Posted by Wheels

Lets not forget Robocop is coming!

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beat me by 5 seconds!!!!!

Poobert... Detroit doesn't know how to properly display the statuary we already have....

The Thaddeus Kosciousco [[USA Bicentennial gift from Poland) statue on horseback along Michigan Ave. on the west side of downtown is situated like a roadside billboard. It needs a better location of prominence.

The Merrill Fountain, once in the middle of Campus Martius has been relegated to broken unused statuary in Palmer Park. It's not working [[for probably going on 3/4 century) and has been damaged [[although it was cleaned up by the friends of Palmer Park). It should be relocated back downtown as a working beautiful fountain.

The Hurlbut Memorial Gate, that Wedding Cake style statuary behind the closed gates of Waterworks Park is inaccessible, although the city did fix it up [[although the bust of old Chauncey Hurlbut is still missing)... 99% of all Detroiter's don't even know that there's a beautiful double staircase on the non-viewable water side of that Beaux Arts gate. I've always thought that after they ruined the Belle Isle entranceway by removing the tunnel and fancy bus pavilion, that they should turn that confusing interchange into a simple but elegant traffic circle, and move Chauncey's gate to the middle of the circle as a nice entranceway to Belle Isle's bridge and park. It's current use as a fancy fence ornament is pretty lame...

The Millenium Bell on Grand Circus Park has all the charm of a cow bell, and should trade places with one of the neglected statuary I just mentioned...

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Originally Posted by Gannon

A four-story platform...might be the single-worst idea ever floated on this board.

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Nah its not even close. Remember the guy who wanted the kids from GLEE to come up to Detroit from Lima Ohio and sing and dance around the train station?

What about that statute they put to forth regarding arresting the homeless for no reason.

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Originally Posted by Gistok

The Thaddeus Kosciousco [[USA Bicentennial gift from Poland) along Michigan Ave. on the west side of downtown is situated like a roadside billboard. It needs a better location of prominence.

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Spoken like a true east sider! I've used that statue as a rain shelter while waiting for a bus more than once! :o

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Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Spoken like a true east sider! I've used that statue as a rain shelter while waiting for a bus more than once! :o

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LOL.... well it may be badly located, but the law of unintended consequences kicked in and it became useful! ;)

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Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Nah its not even close. Remember the guy who wanted the kids from GLEE to come up to Detroit from Lima Ohio and sing and dance around the train station?

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Don't know how I missed such a gem of a notion. Thanks.

Sorry, Strong. But I still nominate yours for the bottom five.

Have you driven through North Corktown to see the sporadic displays of public art there?!

Noticed that all of the government-subsidized housing projects have their own form of steel art? I should document them, now that I've noticed this trend in Highland Park and Detroit.

I think the Joe Louis Fist is great art, it always causes discussion and education...somethings in my definition of art.


Cheers!

As much as I hate to say it, the best thing about the Millenium Bell is the trivia that it doesn't have any ring to it. Two shells disconnected do not make a bell. The gas tanks as clappers was a nice touch, shame that one was scrapped.

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Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Nah its not even close. Remember the guy who wanted the kids from GLEE to come up to Detroit from Lima Ohio and sing and dance around the train station?

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Oh him.... he was a hoot... didn't last long here.... I remember he thought we were making fun of him on the LEGO thread in DYES Connections... and went off on some strange tangent about Frank Lloyd Wright being a hack...

No one mentions the lovely statue in front of One Woodward Ave.? ;)

public art doesnt need to be massive to be effective or enhance its surroundings. woodward @ jefferson avenue has an incredible amount of public art, there is no need to put anything on a pedestal.

i am curious to see what they do with the redevelopment of hart plaza and the riverfront. i think there are quite a few opportunities to enhance those spaces with public art... on pedestals.

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Originally Posted by Gannon

Don't know how I missed such a gem of a notion. Thanks.

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Enjoy!
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...highlight=glee

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Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Enjoy!
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...highlight=glee

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After reading this thread, and the one mentioned above, am I the only one who thinks a 4 story tall monument of the Glee cast that would straddle the river, and is made of Lego would be a really good idea? :cool:

Book:
http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=DLqZKaoCLtUC

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Originally Posted by leapfrog

After reading this thread, and the one mentioned above, am I the only one who thinks a 4 story tall monument of the Glee cast that would straddle the river, and is made of Lego would be a really good idea? :cool:

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Only if it has a gondola to cross the river in...

Based on the title of the tread, Detroit needs improved grammar.

Detroit needs more parking lots

http://mvictors.com/images/2009/Q1/bubba.gif
My suggestion? "Bubba"
Hands-down the most iconic event to symbolize Detroit. An eternal flame issuing from an upside-down police car, Bubba standing on top.*

[[...A burning police car in 1984, after the Tigers won the World Series. An eighth-grade dropout nicknamed Bubba held up a Tigers pennant in front a burning vehicle...)
http://mvictors.com/?p=1997

[[*Please be advised that this is an attempt at humor and is not to be construed as a serious opinion.)
:)

Bigger doesn't mean better. Maintaining what's there is fine by me.

http://detroit1701.org/Public%20Art%...Sculpture.html

I am partial to the Soldiers and Sailors monument, The Big Tire, The Big Stove, and the Stargate in Hart Plaza....and, of course, the Fist....

Well, Robocop is coming. Isn't he?

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Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Enjoy!
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...highlight=glee

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LOL... that's right we don't have a minimum age limit on this forum, do we!

And to think of all the posting time wasted talking about that...

And the Glee members made out of LEGO... reminded me of this same guy and LEGO... you would think that a thread with another forumer's name in the title would answer who it's about... but that guy/kid didn't have a clue....
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...5-Gistok-LEGOS

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Originally Posted by Zulu Warrior

I am partial to the Soldiers and Sailors monument, The Big Tire, The Big Stove, and the Stargate in Hart Plaza....and, of course, the Fist....

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The Stargate in Hart Plaza.... :D lol.... Zulu Warrior, it's good to have you back... you too Southen... must be busy with photography...:cool:

I like the Dodge fountain. I like the underground railroad memorial, but I don't like it's location. Same with the Kosciuszko statue.

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Originally Posted by splake

I like the Dodge fountain. I like the underground railroad memorial, but I don't like it's location. Same with the Kosciuszko statue.

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I believe that a Monument or national park was to be built in Detroit or the Detroit area to honor the women who worked in factories during the WWII, and that Rosie the Riveter was going to be the insperation. The workers involved in the war effort and the mechant marines who supplied Europe seem to be the most overlooked for their sacrifies. Any effort to honor them is long overdue.

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Originally Posted by leady106

I believe that a Monument or national park was to be built in Detroit or the Detroit area to honor the women who worked in factories during the WWII, and that Rosie the Riveter was going to be the inspiration. The workers involved in the war effort and the mechant marines who supplied Europe seem to be the most overlooked for their sacrifies. Any effort to honor them is long overdue.

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This might be an appropriate place for that, but it's some distance from where most people will see it...
http://www.willowrunairport.com/information/history.asp

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Originally Posted by mikefmich

No one mentions the lovely statue in front of One Woodward Ave.? ;)

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I've got a good statue story that my Dad told me...


The U.S. Jaycees had their National Convention in Detroit back in 1966, in their offices at One Woodward. My Grandparents from Chicago attended as they were both heavily involved in that organization, and the convention usually lasted about a week.

Some of the members got bored and decided to pull a prank on Downtown Detroit. Overnight, they painted large green footprints on the ground leading from the Spirit of Detroit to the naked lady statue in front of One Woodward, and footprints going back. Like he visited her in the middle of the night :p.


The lady statue is actually a ballet dancer and is called "Dance Step," by Giacomo Manzu.

Did they do footprints twice? I remember that, but I thought it was a bit later than 1966.

Kinda cute.... :)

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Originally Posted by mikefmich

Did they do footprints twice? I remember that, but I thought it was a bit later than 1966.

Kinda cute.... :)

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Maybe so. It was a notorious prank at the time.

What do we do with the hundreds we already have? Also what about this guy stuck looking at Woodward all day long, one of 20ish cast and available for all to see. We have lots of statuary around just need to get the word out where it is!

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Originally Posted by p69rrh51

What do we do with the hundreds we already have? Also what about this guy stuck looking at Woodward all day long, one of 20ish cast and available for all to see. We have lots of statuary around just need to get the word out where it is!

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Yes, we do have lots of good public art and this is a great guide book for locating it. It's by Dennis Narocki, an art historian and professor at CCS.

Attachment 16096

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Detroit-Pu.../dp/0814333788

i was gonna say stripclubs. Never be enough of them

How about a giant 40?

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Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

How about a giant 40?

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weak sauce. just like this.

Art on a pedestal showing how all sexy Detroiters behave themselves outside the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.

Detroit needs a lot more than a statue.

Ever been to St. Louis? The Arch doesn't seem to make much of a difference there.

Liberty Enlightening The World is a symbol for the entire nation, but if France never gave it to us NYC would still be NYC.

Chicago & Indy's statues are so memorable they were mentioned, but not named [[other than in pronoun form)

What a cool link! Nice collection of items.... Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Pam

Bigger doesn't mean better. Maintaining what's there is fine by me.

http://detroit1701.org/Public%20Art%...Sculpture.html

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Fantastic book!

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Originally Posted by Neilr

Yes, we do have lots of good public art and this is a great guide book for locating it. It's by Dennis Narocki, an art historian and professor at CCS.

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Detroit-Pu.../dp/0814333788

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Or proof-reading.

Yeah, where the fuck is my Robocop?

I backed the robocop, its not so lavish but to put up a multi million dollar statue in Detroit would just show the world where our priories are [[exactly where they are, in the gutter). We cant buy our way back into civilized society with a statue.

I prefer smaller works all over the city by individuall ppl and neighborhoods like The Heidelberg, the work going on on the Yes Farm on Farnsworth, Tyrees shoe driveway on Canfield X Chene. Its the little individual pieces that set our city apart. Fuck a stainless steel bean in Chicago. Maybe someday we'll have the resources to have a big bean but for now it would seem like a bit of over the top look at us type of BS.
Id like to see some grant money come in to do a bunch of smaller pieces all over the city than one giant big one. Get people here to drive all over the city to check out a bunch of work rather than just go downtown.

BTW, Does anyone have any old linoleum tiles they could give up? Ive got an idea. Vinyl tiles wont work. Have to be linoleum.

Right on Djangolito. Right the frig on.

I don't suppose a Muffler Man would go over too well here, eh?

There don't currently seem to be any in Detroit.

Instead of a muffler he could hold a catalytic converter in one hand and a sawzall in the other. ;)

Laughing my ass off...I remember either my first post or one of my firsts on this forum back in 07 or 08 was about the exact same subject. I've matured since then. We don't need a statue. We need jobs. Decent school system. Businesses. People. Efficient city government. Low crime and fast police/fire response.

What about a statue of a large Model T?
Now I think Detroit is recognized for the Spirit of Detroit statue and it should be included in advertisements more than it has been.

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Originally Posted by Strong

What about a statue of a large Model T?
Now I think Detroit is recognized for the Spirit of Detroit statue and it should be included in advertisements more than it has been.

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Detroit is recognized for it's corruption. How about putting large $100 bills in The Fist and hanging it from it's side?

Yes, these four dudes need to be closer to the river.
Also heard there's a bunch of historic statuary belonging to the Detroit Historical Society that's sitting out in tall grass at Fort Wayne. Haven't seen it myself.

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Originally Posted by Pam

Bigger doesn't mean better. Maintaining what's there is fine by me.

http://detroit1701.org/Public%20Art%...Sculpture.html

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Originally Posted by robtandersen

Yes, these four dudes need to be closer to the river.
Also heard there's a bunch of historic statuary belonging to the Detroit Historical Society that's sitting out in tall grass at Fort Wayne. Haven't seen it myself.

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Is that the statuary from Old City Hall?

Yes, these four statues by Julius Melchers had been on the top of the old city hall. They were removed before the demo, stored for some time at Fort Wayne and then found a new home on the Wayne State campus. The statues were a gift to the city from Bela Hubbard who commissioned them when the city hall was first built. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Theodore_Melchers

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Originally Posted by Wheels

Lets not forget Robocop is coming!

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Still want him?? They're filming the new Robocop movie in.... Toronto FFS!


Awefully cool car he has though!

Attachment 16186
epic detroit is epic

We need a Statue?? You could never do this with the Statue of Liberty!

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...f-world-series

"You could never do this with the Statue of Liberty!"

She takes a larger size and more form fitting.

Detroit has tons and tons and tons of public art in the parks and boulevard medians. It's all over the place.

Plus we have some very successful pieces of public art like the Spirit of Detroit, Dodge Fountain, and the Joe Louis Fist. We also have other public art that's not as well known to the public but is done by notable artists.

The rest is mostly just random public art because it seems like every organization out there wants to change Detroit, and all they can think to do is donate a piece of public art to the city.


I'd say we need less public art, and more high quality public spaces to display the art.

We like your idea of erecting a giant statue in the city of Detroit and second the motion, Strong! - The Birds