Art is a story, in this case it's a creative neighborhood with an array of canvassed houses surrounded by smiling sidewalks and a polka dot covered street. This outdoor art exhibit was created by Tyree Guyton. The Heidelberg Project is located in Detroit, Michigan. The installations have had a positive impact on the community, from the resilient artist to the art. This magical place is the definition of a "diamond in the rough," the spot in question on the map, between "OZ" and "Wonderland." I personally have enjoyed multiple visits to The Heidelberg Project over the years, there has always been something new that grips me.
Unfortunately throughout the course of 2013-2014 several of the houses were subject to arson and either were entirely destroyed or hardly salvageable. However, that hasn't stopped Tyree Guyton from reinventing with the house remains. He is a true artist who has the ability to keep moving forward, embracing the loss of his work and adding it to the technique of redesign.
So what can be expected at a visit to The Heidelberg Project? Aside from the oddly decorated houses, you'll see lots of recycled materials; hundreds of shoes with no feet, lots of painted faces with no bodies, polka dots, random home appliances, taxis, Gods, burnt baby dolls, clocks, the possibilities of what you'll find at a place like this is endless.
Here are a few of the photos I've taken over the years (2007,2009,2012,2013) dedicated to the man behind it all, please keep creating so we can keep enjoying and escaping to this playground! You truly are a voice of hope!
Clock House
This house always provoked the philosopher in me. A porch full of numbers and hands presenting questions about time. Where the clocks all tick to a different tock. If there ever was a worm hole in the hood, this was it. What time is it really? What is time? If we knew how much time we had would we waste less of it? Clocks still decorate the streets and trees, but this house was lost to arson in 2013.
There's two very significant depictions on this old television, the year 1967 which has to do with the Detroit Race Riot that changed this street and city forever and "The Polka Dot," with it's symbolism of connection and unity a common theme on Heidelberg St.
Connect call anyone?
Party Animal House
The Party Animal House always reminded me of a foster home where every stuffed animal hung out to dry represented a child lost in the state, abandoned; the weathered plush of a bear or dog or bird, left behind. This was the corner house at Mt. Elliott and Elba and easily was my favorite. Unfortunately it was another that was burned down, back in 2014.
Souls on Fire
This sculpture is a sad yet very real display of drugs and death. As far as the name goes, I'm not sure what it's called, possibly Memorial, but it was designed by students of the University of Michigan. The red piping is shaped like a trellis of veins over two plastic mannequins with bricks on their chests. There are two needles depicted in front being stabbed into the beginning of the open circuit, and the final needle on the ground empty but paid for with cash and life.
Drugs, including heroin and painkillers, are leaving a fatal mark on not only Detroit, but Michigan as a state. These drugs can tare apart families, they alter the user by way of addiction, they destroy lives if they don't take them. You put a price tag on a person when you offer or deal them poison. You sell yourself out when you swallow the pill or insert the needle. If you want to find heaven and self medicate, pick up a paintbrush, a pencil, charcoal, recyclable materials, create something from your struggle. That's the message I got from this artwork.
More faces to smile back at or play hop scotch across.
House of Soul
Where the boys threw vinyls at her window.
The House of Soul was covered in records all the way around. This house was among those lost to arson in 2013. There was something eerily romantic about this vinyl decorated vacancy.
OJ House
The OJ House was the first house to be damaged by arson at The Heidelberg Project in 2013. The OJ here stands for Obstruction of Justice. This porch was a hoarded collection of old televisions and toys, with the letters OJ written all over.
Noah's Arc
A throne for the wild.
Although I did take all of the above photographs none of the artwork is mine and I take no credit. My opinion and words are my own. Other people's views and experiences visiting might be different from mine. The Heidelberg Project is a playing field for emotion and political statement, free to the public and worth the trip for those who are open minded. I'm just sharing some of what this wonderful place in Detroit has to offer in hopes that others will go explore.
For more on the Heidelberg Project check out these links:
- The Heidelberg Project
- The Heidelberg Project Facebook Page
- The Heidelberg Project Instagram - @heidelbergproj
- #Heidelbergproject
- "Art From The Ashes" (Video) by Tilapia Films
RAD MOUTH
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