Detroit Beautification Project

[Wild]

I live in Woodbridge. Over the past couple of months, I have noticed that someone is placing large displays of graffiti on buildings along Grand River.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[DetroitPlanner]

If these are the building at Warren near St. Leos its supposed to be there.

[Wild]

If these are the building at Warren near St. Leos its supposed to be there.

Yes there are some near St. Leo's, but there are many more going towards downtown and I've even noticed it at the Marathon on Avery.

Is is part of a project?

[Detroitnerd]

Google "Detroit Beautification Project"

[Parkguy]

Today's detnews.com. Maybe part of this?

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...xt|FRONTPAGE|p

[Wild]

This is it! Thanks!

[jtf1972]

I see the one on Gratiot nearly every day. Don't know how this is "beautification" at all. In fact, it's rather hideous... Is it still illegal to spray graffiti if not part of an official "beautification" project?

[Wild]

I see the one on Gratiot nearly every day. Don't know how this is "beautification" at all. In fact, it's rather hideous... Is it still illegal to spray graffiti if not part of an official "beautification" project?

I totally agree. Almost everyone that I've seen is ugly, with the exception of the Native American.

I'm still not clear if it's really a city approved project.

[socks_mahoney]

[warsaw7]

I totally agree. Almost everyone that I've seen is ugly, with the exception of the Native American.

I'm still not clear if it's really a city approved project.

I would love for you to explain how this is ugly. Please elaborate. Read the article, the building owners approved the work before it went up. Respect the art and the artists, most of them came here on their own dime. Would you rather see blight and tags? I think not. Do your research on the Wynwood/Miami Design District before you go and trash other people's work.

[Wild]

I would love for you to explain how this is ugly. Please elaborate. Read the article, the building owners approved the work before it went up. Respect the art and the artists, most of them came here on their own dime. Would you rather see blight and tags? I think not. Do your research on the Wynwood/Miami Design District before you go and trash other people's work.

I read the article. For those building owners that approved the work, that's their prerogative. However, many of the buildings that I see on Grand River are empty.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I find beauty in things that you might not. I do not find beauty in death symbols, cartoonish characters and garish colors.

I really don't care whose name is attached to these works, in my opinion, it's graffiti not art.

[warsaw7]

I read the article. For those building owners that approved the work, that's their prerogative. However, many of the buildings that I see on Grand River are empty.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I find beauty in things that you might not. I do not find beauty in death symbols, cartoonish characters and garish colors.

I really don't care whose name is attached to these works, in my opinion, it's graffiti not art.

Well Mr. Helper why don't you go out and enforce some justice on these "graffiti writers." I am sure the city has bigger fish to fry than slapping a citation on some ARTISTS who are trying to help beautify the city. And yes I did use the words "artists" and "beautify" in the same sentence. Because I would rather see this amazing art form instead of profanity or RIP Jazz Dog, lol. Before you go and call this graffiti and show a lack of respect for these artists, why don't you go and watch them paint live and get to know them, they are wonderful people who really do care about this city, especially the out-of-towners.

[socks_mahoney]

I think its beautiful. One of the artists working on it is the same one who did the giant tiger/red wing/detroitanimalbeing on the russel industrial center.

[jtf1972]

The city needs to have some laws related to the appearance [[and upkeep) of property. If I were to paint a building I own solid black and put up a giant boar & sign calling the street the "Hog Block" it should be a fineable offense as it would be a detriment to other properties on that block. Same with yellow cinder block buildings selling liquor, tagged graffiti, murals and polka-dotted teddy bears.

While a select few may look & like what they see, the majority finds it tacky at best & it can hinder growth and upkeep of nearby properties.

[getmoore]

I HATE graffiti but I totally love these works of art. Go figure.

[Wheels]

Love it or hate it the bottom line is it pumps up all the taggers and gives them more reason and less resistance to trash anything they feel like. If you legitimize it where do you draw the line?

[downtown_racine]

Looks awful I would hate to live anywhere near it or have to see it on a daily basis.

[jtf1972]

To me, when graffiti is accepted and legitimized, doesn't it lose some of its appeal? When I was a kid I thought that seeing shots of subway cars in videos covered in big bubbly letters was fresh! As an adult I see it as a pain in the arse eyesore that will cost money to clean up. Still, as a kid what made it fresh was that it was different and the establishment hated it. What mad it so fly was that it would be merely temporary... Now you see it, now you don't. Now it's seemingly becoming a legitimate eyesore.

I have previously noted that I have become a fan of minimalist art. Let's get some white paint & have nice, neat, blank walls!

[thecarl]

To me, when graffiti is accepted and legitimized, doesn't it lose some of its appeal? When I was a kid I thought that seeing shots of subway cars in videos covered in big bubbly letters was fresh! As an adult I see it as a pain in the arse eyesore that will cost money to clean up. Still, as a kid what made it fresh was that it was different and the establishment hated it. What mad it so fly was that it would be merely temporary... Now you see it, now you don't. Now it's seemingly becoming a legitimate eyesore.

I have previously noted that I have become a fan of minimalist art. Let's get some white paint & have nice, neat, blank walls!

I agree with Wheels and with much of the sentiment expressed above. Graffiti, whether sanctioned or not, makes the city look feral. It accentuates the "anything goes" appearance of Detroit, which is not all good. And it encourages any attention-seeking booger to buy a case of spray paint and scar up the city.

[laphoque]

More art please!

I loved that DIA project where they placed portraits around town.

I like a lot of this work.

I think that all manner of these types of projects and initiatives should coexist in an ever-changing visual symphony that will only make this a more interesting place to live.

[jtf1972]

More art please!

I loved that DIA project where they placed portraits around town.

Reproductions of some amazing works placed about town and graffiti are two completely different things.

The reproductions show persons who may not otherwise think about great art what exists out there and may influence them to seek out more.

Graffiti adds to a feeling of confusion, corruption and lawlessnes. It may inspire "art" of its kind, but that will only add to the air of chaos. Please don't mind the pile of broken glass next to the car on blocks... that is only a portion of the artist's vision!

[mauser]

I know this discussion got started in another thread, but this project deserves extra attention considering its scope.

I started taking photos of all the pieces in the various location, and it's hard to keep up. The quality level of the work is pretty exciting. Probably controversial though.

Heres the first three sets of photos, there are about a half dozen more going up.

http://detroitfunk.com/?p=9038

http://detroitfunk.com/?p=9040

http://detroitfunk.com/?p=9042

Here is the Google map to the first 20 or so pieces, but there are a lot more already.

[1953]

I hope they arrest whomever is doing all this graffiti.

[Detroitnerd]

I hope they arrest whomever is doing all this graffiti.

Oh, here we go ...

[warsaw7]

I hope they arrest whomever is doing all this graffiti.

Why would they arrest anyone? The walls have been sanctioned by the building owners for these artists to paint on.........