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A wonderful opportunity to work with The Heidelberg Project, Detroit, Michigan.

  • Writer: Julie Balliu
    Julie Balliu
  • Aug 29
  • 2 min read

I have received a wonderful opportunity to paint the full set of 12 houses for The Heidelberg Project, based in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Only two houses remain, which I have painted: 'Dotty Wotty House', Tyree's original home, and 'The Numbers House', so the others will be painted from archive photographs.



Background:

Controversial to some, inspirational to others, The Heidelberg Project in Detroit was born out of urban decay, poverty, street violence, and deprivation in the 1980s.


Upon returning to his childhood area of Heidelberg Street in 1986, Tyree Guyton put his mind to transform the street. His artistic grandfather, Sam Mackey, told him to 'pick up a paintbrush, not a weapon', so he used abandoned homes and vehicles as his canvas, and discarded items to create sculptures and still life.


Despite council resistance and arson, Tyree continued with his vision to produce an open air art exhibition, which involved 12 houses and a huge array of 'yard art' in which over 250,000 international visitors now arrive to experience Heidelbergology - a commitment to community engagement and transformative thinking.


Moving forward into the future under the care of Andrew Sturm, Exective Director, the project envisages a museum, gallery, and shop on site, and my artworks will be reproduced into prints, cards and posters for the visitors. I hope to exhibit the original artwork on site next year for their 40th anniversary.


Please do visit their social media to see the great work they do within the community, an 'ology' that could be placed in many towns and cities worldwide.

With thanks to the inspirational Tyree Guyton and his wife Jennene and the ever focused Andy Sturm, Director. And a big thank you to HP for the archive photographs and video.




 
 
 

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