Some people like to say Detroit is a blank canvas. In fact it's a canvas which has been painted over and over again by millions of present and former residents. If a blank canvas is what you seek, you will probably need to travel far beyond the moon to find one.
Taking the concept literally, the best way to see how Detroit's canvas has been painted is from the air. And if you're an underprivileged type in lack of your own flying vehicle, then Google Earth provides the next best vantage point. From above you can see the Belle Isle bridge rendered with Barnett Newman minimalism, while cemetery roads appear as something Cy Twombly may have scribbled.
With 140 square miles of canvas the possibilities seem limitless. Railyards full of shipping containers are especially cooperative with their composition; sometimes even the light is right.
Detroit is all about perspective, from its fabled problems to its fabled greatness. A news reporter, a photographer, a criminal, a skeptic or an idealist, whomever, will always find what they are looking for here. And if you are looking for a piece of land that appears to be a combination of geometric and abstract expressionism from the air you will find that too.
With Google Earth you can literally spin the city anyway you choose. Which is what has been happening to Detroit since long before Google Earth came around.
Are all of those by famous artists? Or are some your own creation? I know I sent you a HATR original then, not too long ago. I like the clock-like gauges of the waste water treatment plant near Zug Island.
ReplyDeleteNice job, as always.
~HATR.
the reason I like your blog so much is precisely because I enjoy your perspective of the great city of Detroit. This piece highlights this beautifully
ReplyDeleteHigh marks for this.
ReplyDelete--LtD
I showed this to my MFA classes @ CCS. They were knocked out.
ReplyDeleteThe place where OMS comes from is a small town.
ReplyDeleteThey think so small, they use small words.
But not OMS, OMS is smarter than that,
OMS worked it out.
OMS'll be stretching its mouth to let those big words come right out.
OMS has had enough, OMS is getting out
To the city, the big big city.
OMS'll be a big noise with all the big boys, so much stuff OMS will own
And OMS will pray to a big god, as OMS kneels in the big church.
Wow, referenced in a MFA class, way to make it to the Big Time, as Peter would say. Congrats OMS.
By the way, we want more!
~HATR.