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Detroit moves to destroy urban junkscape
After years of legal wrangling, the City of Detroit finally cleared the way in February for its plan to destroy the colorful urban junkscape known as the Heidelberg Project. On February 4th, a demolition armada of bulldozers, police and city workers arrived and pulled down as much as 30% of the art attached to abandoned houses and hanging from the trees.
Notable victims: the "Happy Feet" house was leveled, along with another house not even on Heidelberg Street, where artist Tyree Guyton was storing all the artwork saved from the 1991 demolition of the original Heidelberg Project.
Guyton's legal defense team has filed a $3 million lawsuit against the city.
Detroit's latest bulldozer onslaught was scheduled for April 7, and Heidelberg supporters were planning to rally. The Project is considered the third largest tourist attraction in Detroit.
[04/10/1999]
Another setback for Guyton: his Shoe House, in St. Paul, Minnesota, is in trouble. The new owner doesn't see the thousands of shoes attached to its exterior as "art" -- he's planning to redecorate.- Address:
- 3600 Heidelberg St., Detroit, MI
- Directions:
- East side of the city. Along the 3600 block of Heidelberg St., between Ellery and Mt. Elliot Sts.
- Phone:
- 313-974-6894
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
"Garbage" folk artist delays city cleanup of Heidelberg Project
Detroit city leaders have once again been thwarted - at least temporarily - attempting to dismantle the Heidelberg Project. The Project has been the junk sculpture vision of inner city artist Tyree Guyton since 1985. The Detroit city council voted to remove the displays, which are mostly on city-owned land, but a last-minute restraining order from a circuit court judge stopped all action until after a hearing on October 1.
Guyton has created numerous statements from garbage, discarded appliances and found junk along the 3600 block of Heidelberg Street. He's painted slogans on abandoned houses, strategically piled old shoes and turned the neighborhood into a living statement about poverty and slums. It's a wild array of folk extrusions, polka dot houses, trees, cars, and Finster-esque faces painted on windows.
Like Houston's Orange Show, the Heidelberg Project attracts more than its share of smitten preservationists and is a rallying point for the folk art community. Detractors claim Guyton is a shameless self-promoter - but is that a bad thing? Defenders claim it is the third most popular tourist attraction in Detroit.
[09/27/1998]- Detroit, Michigan - Parking Garage with Beautiful Ceiling
During regular business hours there is security, but if there is a Tigers / Lions game I believe they open up to general public. Just tell them you want to see the ceiling. They let us in for a few minutes to take pictures.
[Lisa, 11/28/2013]Parking Garage with Beautiful Ceiling:- Address:
- 220 Bagley St., Detroit, MI
- Directions:
- Downtown. I-75 exit 50 onto Fisher Freeway West, then a quick right onto Grand River Ave. The parking garage is about five blocks, on the left. Entry restricted.
No one admitted -- the grumpy man at the front desk of the attached office building claims insurance reasons (although there were dozens of cars parked inside...?). Views are limited by security fences, but you can at least stick your camera in enough to take a few shots.
[Gretchen, 05/30/2013]- Detroit, Michigan - Parking Structure with Beautiful Ceiling
The former Michigan Theatre had many incarnations in its history. My firsthand knowledge was during its days as the Michigan Palace in the 1970's, seeing Kiss, Aerosmith, Golden Earring, and George Carlin in its intimate setting. Now it has sunk to its current status as a parking garage, but it can be secure in the knowledge that it's the most beautiful parking garage in America!
[Laurie Blacker, 08/30/2006]
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Sept 2008: Localgal Barb notes: "If you want to see this structure, all you have to do is watch the movie "8 Mile" featuring Eminem."