Art WIth Abandon in Detroit (Design 99)

"Ruins porn," as it's been called, undermines even hopeful tales of creative renewal. The idea that artists can treat the city like a canvas ends up suggesting that it is a lost cause, an entire metropolitan area written off as raw material for upcyclling. The net effect is part of America depicted as if it exists in some distant reality - sombody else's ploblem, nothing to do with us. [[From the Sunday NY Times SundayMagazine)

The exception, as the author pointed out, is Mitch Cope's and Gina Riechert's Design 99. According to the author Design 99 echoes the exuberance of the Heidelberg Project.

Is anyone familiar with Design 99?
Any comments on the article?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/ma...ed-t.html?_r=1

Design 99 are a really great example of courageous people who have managed to do a lot with little capital. Their decorating services are cheap and pretty smart. They invested in both residential and commercial properties and jazzed-up nearly derelict surroundings. I dont think their ideal is to become an IKEA or a major brand name. Their goal is to be able to be creative and interact with Detroiters in a positive way.

First line...

"I’ve never spent time in Detroit, but I’ve seen an awful lot of images of the city in the last several years."

How does this make this guy any better are offering a critique on the city. Sorta like saying "Well I've never been there either but I think blah blah blah..."

Another bullshit commentary from another out of town know nothing.

P.S. nothing against Design 99. They are great.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MDoyle

First line...

"I’ve never spent time in Detroit, but I’ve seen an awful lot of images of the city in the last several years."

How does this make this guy any better are offering a critique on the city. Sorta like saying "Well I've never been there either but I think blah blah blah..."

Another bullshit commentary from another out of town know nothing.

P.S. nothing against Design 99. They are great.

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I try to be open minded when reading an article about Detroit from an out of town author; however, when the intro starts with the words "Well I've never spent time there..." an extra filter of critical thinking is added. In a way the message of "ruins of Detroit" may have over shadowed the primary subject...that of Design 99.

Which is why I puke at all graffitti. It is just someone taking a shit on someone else's property; A big fuck you to the entire populace.

I don't know about Design 99 but I do have a hate-on for the graffitti dip-shits.