1xRUN, Montana Cans, The Seventh Letter and CONTRAprojects present:
The Detroit Beautification Project
May 14th 2012 - Detroit, MI. As the chill of winter has given way to the warm hues of spring in Detroit, we’re excited to unveil one of the largest public arts projects in Metro Detroit history. During the initial phase, executed in the first 2 weeks of May, over 25 internationally renowned street artists converged on Detroit and Hamtramck for an expansive public arts project.
To coincide with the first phase of the project, 1xRUN is excited to release a series of prints with several of the participating artists including RISK, SEVER, STEEL, REYES, DMOTE, WANE, CES, REVOK, TRISTAN EATON, DABS & MYLA, 123 KLAN, POSE, ZES, ASKEW and NEKST. Proceeds from the print sales will continue to provide funding for the ongoing project.
“The artists participating in Detroit Beautification Project span the globe and provide an international and unique perspective on art in the public domain. We as Detroiters should welcome with open arms these artists who have fallen in love with our city and choose to create here...” said Matt Eaton who spearheaded the project.
Beginning at Grand River Ave and Rosa Parks, near the Motorcity Casino on a group a vacant buildings, the project quickly expanded across town and throughout the cities of Detroit and Hamtramck. Building owners, community leaders and local residents have been overwhelmingly thrilled with the bold, colorful and uplifting murals.
Stirring up a bit of additional drama, a tongue-in-cheek memorial piece entitled “The Death of Street Art” by Atlanta based artist SEVER has catalyzed local debate and global discussion. Depicting the iconic characters created by legendary street artists Shepard Fairey, Os Gemeos, Barry McGee, Banksy, Futura 2000 and Kaws carrying a coffin on which a plaque reads “STREET ART”, the mural is painted on a building owned by the city of Hamtramck and stirred some 40+ residents to sign a petition in complaint. However, local businesses and residents quickly rallied and within just a few hours of what one local home-owner described as, “the best-attended city council meeting in a decade,” a hastily circulated counter-petition in support of the project garnered almost 200 signatures. The provocative image received significant coverage on international blogs and news sites and as yet remains pristine. Director of Community and Economic Development, Jason Friedmann says, “This kind of mural is absolutely appropriate for a city-owned building. Hamtramck is a cosmopolitan, creative powerhouse and remains proud to take ownership of such an internationally relevant artistic statement.
Over three days San Francisco based artist Reyes labored on a huge piece covering the three story side wall of a VFW hall in Hamtramck. This incredible mural now serves as a welcoming beacon expressing the progressive and creative attitude of the community.
The Detroit Beautification Project is an ongoing initiative by the sponsors and supporters, including Montana Cans, The Seventh Letter, 1xRUN, Contra Projects and 323East Gallery. Additional artists will be announced throughout the year. For up to date information you can follow @1xRUN@XIIIV@the7thletter@CONTRAprojects @323East on twitter or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
About 1xRUN: 1xRUN is the premier online destination for exclusive one of a kind artwork in any and all forms. Working with leading and emerging artists from around the world, 1xRUN is focused on bringing limited-edition time released artwork to collectors across the globe. Here at 1xRUN, our artists are a special breed and so are our customers. We strive to offer a one of a kind product that suits both and is unlike anything else in the marketplace.
About 323East: 323East is a collection of creative energy materialized in a mashup of art, culture, lifestyle and creativity. Located 20 minutes north of downtown Detroit in Royal Oak, MI; 323East is home to over 400 artists with rotating works in a variety of mediums. Recent exhibitions include local and international artists Glenn Barr, John Dunivant, Ron Zakrin, Audrey Pongracz, Yumiko Kayukawa, and many more. Punk Rock Meets Counter Culture. To learn more visit 323East.com
About Montana Cans: MONTANA is an art product company that has been influencing the art and street art scene for many years. MONTANA Team and founders continue to be visible, active members of the art and street art scene. MONTANA products are unparalleled in quality, assortment and variety.
About The Seventh Letter: THE TRUTH aka Overachievers aka Loyalty and Royalty aka The best product on the block aka Google: TheSeventhLetter
About CONTRAprojects: CONTRAprojects is a global project dedicated to supporting rebellious, visionary artists who straddle the worlds of high art and street art.
Some of the mural locations include:
Detroit
Ponyride bldg, Corktown
13939 Joseph Campau
Hamtramck
11443 / 11445 Joseph Campau
"Welcome to Hmtramck"
Joseph Campau & Hamtramck Blvd
8569 Joseph Campau
Roosevelt Field
8820 Joseph Campau
2384 Holbrook / Michigan and Brooklyn
2054 Caniff
Royal Oak
323east Gallery - 323 E. 4th Street
For additional information about the project or hi resolution photos please contact:
Join us at 323East this Friday April 27th from 6-8pm as Lyric 2012 Continues with Artist Derek Hess in-store book singing of Black Line White Lie.
Black Line White Lie is the long overdue book featuring over 275 black and white images by artist Derek Hess. This book covers over 20 years of his black and white drawings from images of his earliest flyers to some of his more recent works like Cancer of the Soul and Valentine. Derek dedicates this huge 300 page book to his fans which also includes a chapter of over 70 tattoos that people have done of his works.
Internationally-known artist Derek Hess has spent the past twenty years creating fine art & rock poster art that has not only made him a household name, but has also caught the attention of both the Louvre and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where his work is featured in both institutions permanent collections. In addition to numerous CD covers he has been featured on TLC, MTV, Fuse, VH1, Alternative Press, Spin, Juxtapoz Magazine and many others. After years of creating posters and flyers for well-known bands such as Deftones, Thursday, Every Time I Die and Taking Back Sunday, as well as his very popular fine art Hess has finally compiled a book of his much in demand Black and White drawings.
Derek will be at 323East signing his books and speaking with fans. Derek is a participating artist in LYRIC 2 curated by Glenn Barr which will be one display during his signing. A limited edition print of Derek's Lyric piece "Ground" inspired by the Celtic Frost song will be released on 1xRUN and we will have a few on hand at the book signing this Friday from 6-8p. Check out 1xRUN for more information on the print release - http://1xrun.com/runs/Ground_Print_Book_Combo
As the chill of winter has given way to the warm hues of spring here in Detroit, we’re excited to unveil our most recent public arts project that will bring over a dozen of the world’s premier graffiti artists to the city of Detroit for a series of murals in the neighborhoods that need them the most.
To coincide with the first phase of the project we’re excited to release a series of prints with several of the participating artists including RISK, SEVER, STEEL, REYES, DMOTE, WANE, CES, REVOK, Tristan Eaton, Dabs Myla, 123 Klan and POSE.
We are presenting this never before seen image of a piece REVOK created in a now demolished church back in 2009 during his first visit to Detroit. In what is commonplace in the world of graffiti & street art, an artist will go to great lengths creating a piece of work in certain location, only to have the works lifespan cut short by city clean up crews, over zealous and mentally disturbed vigilantes or rival artists… Or in this case a demolition wrecking ball. The work often lives on only in the documentation of a few, or in this case one image.
In May of 2011 we embarked on a public art project with SCM Studios on Woodward Ave in downtown Detroit, our most historic roadway. This once vibrant shopping district was mostly vacant, with a few night clubs and a sushi restaurant scattered throughout the 1400 and 1500 blocks. The idea was to take vacant and abandoned store fronts and put art in the windows to fill the cavernous void these once bustling spaces filled.
With only a few days to get the project going we reached out to a select group of Detroit's finest graffiti artists, Rift, Fel3000ft, Malt and Sintex to help transform 2 store fronts. Memorial day weekend is always a sign that summer is here and with the Movement - Detroit Techno Festival pumping out the tunes just a few blocks away, we worked around the clock. The camaraderie we've shared on past project helped us work through the long nights and execute a kick ass production with limited supplies, scrapping wood from previous projects to create canvases for the install.
Once the project was complete several media outlets found the story interesting and we were able to gain the attention of city government and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. With the DEGC's help we secured additional spaces on Woodward Ave to provide exhibition space for artists. With the new set of windows secured we were fortunate to receive a bit of funding to help with suplies and documentation of the project.
As the summer progressed we worked with Red Bull on a 2 window installations that were used as promotions for the Art of Motion - Parkour World Finals held at Hart Plaza. The windows were also transformed for the Detroit Creative Corridor'sDetroit Design Week. We worked with Architects, Fashion Designers and other creatives to transform the windows once again.
In early November of 2011 we held an exhibition at the gallery with 3 Brooklyn artists - AVONE, Kimyon Huggins and Ellis G. Each of the artists had their chance to work in the windows, displaying their art on Detroit's main thoroughfare. As the project progressed through out the winter we kept full steam ahead and on February 10th 2012 we installed 15 works of art by local and international artists that we both respect and appreciate their work.
In under a year Street Culture Mash and 323East Gallery has activated seven vacant storefronts in Downtown Detroit with dozens of curated installations through a grassroots public art project. Two of those buildings have since been sold, the others we will continue to curate until occupied.
Sean Desmond and The Tenderloin Project give us a glimpse at San Francisco’s most marginalized neighborhood. Pairing Sean along side Detroit photographer Jason Vaughn shows a parallel between two places that have been written off by the general public.
In the vacant Athlete’s Foot building, you can see the works by Meca, Tom Thewes and Beau Stanton. Pictured below is Matt Eaton's contribution to the project, this is the start of a new series that will be featured in his upcoming exhibition at 323East this August. Meca, a Windsor/Detroit based aerosol / fine artists provided works based on a series of city scape scenes. Meca's new work will be featured in a solo exhibition at POP Gallery in Windsor this summer.
We met Brooklyn based artists Beau Stanton when he was on tour with Ron English for the Detroit Project over the summer. Beau was excited to return to Detroit and work on a mural project using photos and other Detroit centric inspiration he discovered during his travels.
Gregory Holm created several audio/visual installations in two adjacent store fronts and above those spaces activating the entire facade. Greg has made a significant impact on the local art community with his recently completed projects, Ice House Detroit and Fire House Detroit.
In addition to the curated installations, local street artist Eno Laget added some “Detroit seasoning” to one of the boarded up, and busted out windows of the Michigan National Bank.
Photo Credits: Tyler Shick, John B and Craig Hejka
The Detroit Project is a 3-part web documentary that follows Ron, his wife Tarssa, and their two kids Mars and Zephyr, on a graffiti road trip from New York to Detroit. Showcasing English's wry sense of humor and his relationship with his family, The Detroit Project provides a unique glimpse into the artist's process… and what it's like to have Ron English as your dad.
PART 1: Leaving New York
The English family leaves New York and hits the open road.
Part 2: Detroit
In this part, Ron and his crew roll into 323East to put up a mural on the side of our building. Just as they were wrapping up the liberation of our billboard, 5-0 rolled up on the scene.. hard.
Some flicks of Ron doing his thing here at 323.
Part 3: The Packard Plant
Ron and family visit one of our favorite abandoned landmarks, the Packard Plant.
