Broderick Tower - Humpback Whale Mural

[Sehv313]

I've always seen this mural as a staple of the city, not because of the many of years it has been located on the side of 10 Witherell St. but how it stands out apart from everything around it. In a 'sort-of concrete jungle' city like Detroit, this huge bright blue attraction of 'jumping humpback wales' almost seemed illuminated when I entered Downtown last week for the first time since our Pre-Covid 19 days. Now I ask, not about the history of the 1997 Humpback Wale mural but why out of all animals did the artist[[s) choose jumping humpback whales for this mural instead of something more agressive like tigers, lions, bears, etc.? Does anybody know?

[NSortzi]

Because whale murals were his thing. According to the Wikipedia article they were done by invitation of the property owner. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Whaling_Walls

[Kathleen]

Learn all about the artist Robert Wyland and his art and his conservation philosophy here: https://www.wyland.com/the-artist/

[Meddle]

Now I ask, not about the history of the 1997 Humpback Wale mural but why out of all animals did the artist[[s) choose jumping humpback whales for this mural instead of something more agressive like tigers, lions, bears, etc.? Does anybody know?

Why does everything need to be 'aggressive'? Why not peaceful and playful?

Does anybody know?

[EGrant]

Why does everything need to be 'aggressive'? Why not peaceful and playful?

Does anybody know?

Kid Rock/Eminem Voice-over: "Because we're DEEEETROIT. GRITTY. WE HUSTLE HARDER. FACTORIES. MUSCLE. ITS HALFTIME, AMERICA. DE2ROIT. SPARKS FLYING IN AN AUTO PLANT.

[Seven&wyo]

Wyland may be, objectively, the worst artist I've ever seen.

[rb336]

Wyland may be, objectively, the worst artist I've ever seen.

The word you are looking for is "subjectively." You don't like him. Fine. what "objective" criteria are you imposing? Is his perspective off? color palate wrong? depictions of the animals inaccurate?

Do you have any other artists involved with marine life who work at such scales? Let's see links to their work. Or those who cover similar subjects at any scale. Why are they "objectively" better?

[Meddle]

Also, remember this is a mural painted on the side of a building under whatever the prevailing weather conditions were. It's not likely going to be of the same quality as one painted on a canvas in a studio.

[Meddle]

I've ever seen.

Of the millions of artists out there, how many have you seen? And do you mean you've 'seen' as in having met them in person? Or that you've seen their works?

[401don]

I've never minded the mural although I do find it oddly out of place. If it's going to be there I wish the colors were a little bolder. It has always looked faded.

[Sehv313]

I've never minded the mural although I do find it oddly out of place.

Agreed, and this is why I posed the question? Why Whales, and why in Detroit? ...Beautiful mural btw.

[ABetterDetroit]

Agreed, and this is why I posed the question? Why Whales, and why in Detroit? ...Beautiful mural btw.

The artist Robert Wyland was born and raised in Madison Heights. Marine mammals and especially whales are his thing. Large murals world-wide made him famous so it makes sense that the D has one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wyland

[Seven&wyo]

The word you are looking for is "subjectively." You don't like him. Fine. what "objective" criteria are you imposing? Is his perspective off? color palate wrong? depictions of the animals inaccurate?

Do you have any other artists involved with marine life who work at such scales? Let's see links to their work. Or those who cover similar subjects at any scale. Why are they "objectively" better?

No I mean objectively. He has absolutely no grasp of correct value, focal point, brush strokes, his color palette is gawdy to say the least, he's a grown man who paints primarily in acrylic[[which is for children) and his painting lack any kind of energy a picture could have. I can't believe someone who paints like a child could be so successful. Depressing

[Meddle]

I can't believe someone who paints like a child could be so successful. Depressing

I'm guessing you think Guyton's messes are masterpieces?

[Ray1936]

As one who has absolutely no artistic talent [[although I appreciate most art), I'd love to have his talent in my second life. Just sayin'.

[Satiricalivory]

Acrylic is for children? I haven't heard that before.

[EGrant]

We're talking about brush strokes on an 18-story mural? Haha what a world.

[Zacha341]

Ah the oil verse acrylic argument. Sigh...... it's a wonderful image where none of that is applicable for applying paint to a brick, concrete or other type of substrate. It's a beautiful mural!

[Gistok]

Ah the oil verse acrylic argument. Sigh...... it's a wonderful image where non of that is applicable for apply paint to a brick, concrete or other type of substrate. It's a beautiful mural!

I always think that it looks better than an advertisement. If you look at downtown Detroit in the 1920s and 1930s there is a preponderance of billboards and building ads all over downtown. I'm glad that downtown hasn't been inundated since then... the city center looks very much more photogenic now.

Although I used to like the large theatre marquee blade signs on downtown theatre's. A pit that only the Fox has a multistory one now. In the 20s-50s you used to be able to stand at W. Adams and Woodward, and be able to turn your head in 360 degrees... and see a dozen theatre marquee's.

[Satiricalivory]

Kind of a reach. It says he moved to Laguna Beach waaaaay back in the 1970's! LAME! We dont know her!

I don't really care much about the mural either way but you know that if anybody tried to get rid of it we're gonna have a bunch of middle aged Karens from Auburn Hills protesting in Grand Circus Park about it.

Does anybody know what the wall looked like before the mural? I can't for the life of me find a single photo. I assume the elevator shafts are placed there so they couldn't put windows in.

[DetBill]

Kind of a reach. It says he moved to Laguna Beach waaaaay back in the 1970's! LAME! We dont know her!

I don't really care much about the mural either way but you know that if anybody tried to get rid of it we're gonna have a bunch of middle aged Karens from Auburn Hills protesting in Grand Circus Park about it.

Does anybody know what the wall looked like before the mural? I can't for the life of me find a single photo. I assume the elevator shafts are placed there so they couldn't put windows in.

I’m not quite sure whats lame about moving to San Diego in the 1970s?, People move for numerous reasons, just as many artists in their 20s and 30s now move around the country for numerous reasons, he had an intense interest in oceanography, so San Diego was an obvious choice. Now, I’m not a middle aged Karen, [[ personally I absolutely hate that now popular phrase that seems to be the cool thing to say and is soo worn out, I feel sorry for someone named Karen, or, should we assign cute names to people of different age groups and particular races for their stereotypical behavior ? , one does realize we all fall into that one way or another.. ) but I am a middle-aged person who, does not live in Auburn Hills, but rather has lived in downtown Detroit since 1990, when most wouldn't come near downtown, and I can personally attest that when this mural was done, it created a major attention getter for downtown Detroit. There was just plain concrete on the rather bland side of the building all along. You must remember that there were some efforts to tear the building down because it was tilting badly and it was an eyesore to many. Also, the surrounding area looked like a disaster zone. So for this artist, who is world known for his murals, to come back to Detroit where he was from originally, and donate substantial time and materials to make this mural, was considered to be a major donation and a plus for Detroit at the time. He had a beautiful museum in the San Diego area dedicated just to his art works, it was really a interesting museum to see if you enjoy sea life art when I was there years ago. It seems on here , not too many people appreciate his work, and thats fine, art is always subjective, but he is appreciated in many other cities throughout the world and many world-class cities around the world commissioned him to do work for them incidentally. A mural of this size is not an easy thing to do, its not childs play by any means, and has significant value in other cities. It’s so strange to read a lot of the input here, from people who obviously don’t know the history of it, because they were either not around, or weren’t even born, but for those of us that were around at the time of its painting ,it was considered to be a major accomplishment And yes, if it were to be painted over or destroyed , there most certainly would be an outcry from many people in the art community, you don’t have to be a suburbanite to not want to see valuable art destroyed. I am most curious how so many get upset when some old building thats vacant and abused gets torn down [[ a valid concern ), yet , don’t seem to understand the value of something like this mural. It’s funny how overtime people often minimize things done by prior generations, Seeing only things , that are done currently as being relevant. Im sure the same will be said in twenty years about things done downtown and midtown now, with people wondering “ what in the world were they thinking, its ugly” Its all kinda funny how life goes on..

[p1acebo]

I’m not quite sure whats lame about moving to San Diego in the 1970s?, People move for numerous reasons, just as many artists in their 20s and 30s now move around the country for numerous reasons, he had an intense interest in oceanography, so San Diego was an obvious choice. Now, I’m not a middle aged Karen, [[ personally I absolutely hate that now popular phrase that seems to be the cool thing to say and is soo worn out, I feel sorry for someone named Karen, or, should we assign cute names to people of different age groups and particular races for their stereotypical behavior ? , one does realize we all fall into that one way or another.. ) but I am a middle-aged person who, does not live in Auburn Hills, but rather has lived in downtown Detroit since 1990, when most wouldn't come near downtown, and I can personally attest that when this mural was done, it created a major attention getter for downtown Detroit. There was just plain concrete on the rather bland side of the building all along. You must remember that there were some efforts to tear the building down because it was tilting badly and it was an eyesore to many. Also, the surrounding area looked like a disaster zone. So for this artist, who is world known for his murals, to come back to Detroit where he was from originally, and donate substantial time and materials to make this mural, was considered to be a major donation and a plus for Detroit at the time. He had a beautiful museum in the San Diego area dedicated just to his art works, it was really a interesting museum to see if you enjoy sea life art when I was there years ago. It seems on here , not too many people appreciate his work, and thats fine, art is always subjective, but he is appreciated in many other cities throughout the world and many world-class cities around the world commissioned him to do work for them incidentally. A mural of this size is not an easy thing to do, its not childs play by any means, and has significant value in other cities. It’s so strange to read a lot of the input here, from people who obviously don’t know the history of it, because they were either not around, or weren’t even born, but for those of us that were around at the time of its painting ,it was considered to be a major accomplishment And yes, if it were to be painted over or destroyed , there most certainly would be an outcry from many people in the art community, you don’t have to be a suburbanite to not want to see valuable art destroyed. I am most curious how so many get upset when some old building thats vacant and abused gets torn down [[ a valid concern ), yet , don’t seem to understand the value of something like this mural. It’s funny how overtime people often minimize things done by prior generations, Seeing only things , that are done currently as being relevant. Im sure the same will be said in twenty years about things done downtown and midtown now, with people wondering “ what in the world were they thinking, its ugly” Its all kinda funny how life goes on..

Well said, I always thought it was a cool and unique mural in the middle of downtown Detroit.

[Gistok]

One of Detroit's best muralists is Asian-American artist Louise Jones, who has done some fantastic murals around Detroit and around the country.

https://ouizi.art/murals

2 of my favorite of her commissions are on just regular commercial buildings that really shine with her blazing floral work in SW Detroit...

[Meddle]

Well said,

Dunno. Didn't read that wall-o-words. Woulda bin better with paragraphs.



And if you didn't quote the whole thing.

[Meddle]

Its all kinda funny how life goes on..

It's all kinda funny how paragraphs work.