WHAT: Walk For Artistic Freedom
WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 21
WHERE: Grounds of the Heidelberg Project, 3000 Mt. Elliott, Detroit
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A CALL TO DETROIT’S ARTISTIC COMMUNITY IN RESPONSE TO HEIDELBERG PROJECT ARSONS
LOCAL ARTISTS WILL MARCH IN NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR ARTISTIC FREEDOM
Detroit community artists are being asked to participate in a “Walk For Artistic Freedom” to show their support for the Heidelberg Project which has been the subject of several recent arsons.
ARISE Detroit! has worked with some of the local artists that will be participating in the march, which will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, on the grounds of the Heidelberg Project, the urban art vision of Tyree Guyton who has transformed abandoned homes with his artistic creations. The walk will be held in conjunction with the Heidelberg Project’s annual Winter Solstice Event.
The march will take place on the grounds of the Heidelberg Project, around 3000 Mt. Elliott, on Detroit’s lower east side. The Solstice event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. also includes a bonfire, a harvest table and other family activities.
“In the past, ARISE Detroit has partnered with the Heidelberg Project and other community art efforts to show the healing and positive impact art can have in our neighborhoods,” said Luther Keith, executive director of ARISE Detroit! “It is important for the artistic community and others to demonstrate their distaste, disgust and unwillingness to accept this type of assault on artistic expression in Detroit.”
In 2011, ARISE Detroit! presented a Community Servant award to Guyton for his efforts to use his unique artistic creations on an area that before was known only for its abandoned housing stock.
One of the march participants is Ryan Myers-Johnson, a local performing artist in dance and choreography and producer of sidewalk artist festivals.
“The Heidelberg project has been a source of inspiration for me ever since I was a young girl,” she said. “Tyree Guyton is the ultimate artist and has put his whole life on the line to make a positive impact on the community. As artists, we need to let our voices be heard and let people know this is something we need and want.
“The arsons are crimes against art and crimes against our city,” she added. “What kind of message are we sending if we don’t respond. The Heidelberg Project has redefined Detroit as a center for art and draws visitors from all over the world.”
Donna Jackson, an artist who has a poster project called “100 Ways to Love Detroit,” said she supports the march.
“What’s going on at the Heidelberg Project is nothing more than urban terrorism,” she said. “We can’t let that stand. Historically, a lot of transition and movements in cities and countries, starts with artists speaking out in their creative medium. If we start silencing those voices, we will end up limiting ourselves creating more animosity and anger.
“We need the Heidelbergs as well the art in the DIA as well as artistic things that we have all over the city, so we can have all these voices speaking.”
Source:Arise Detroit.org