Doug Coombe
Goodbye, polka-dot road
This time without bulldozers, the Heidelberg Project is coming down again.
by Chris Handyside
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8/19/98
It's time to pay your last respects to a true Detroit
landmark, a controversial tribute to the modern urban
landscape. Tyree Guyton began the process of dismantling his
colorful, massive, engaging found-art installation (though
that's too small a word to capture the scope of the
project!) Aug. 8. While there isn't the drama of bulldozers
as in 1991, the impact is not lessened. Not that everyone is
taking that impact to be negative. In fact, some of Guyton's
neighbors gave him the vote of no confidence that ultimately
resulted in this dismantling.
This is hardly the end of Guyton. You may have noticed more of his trademark colored polka dots on buildings, street signs and even light posts lately. These are both a reminder of Guyton's plans to erect a new installation in the near future and an invitation to reflect on living in and making art around the complex, multifaceted city of Detroit.
In the meantime, you can see the Heidelberg Project as it goes. In addition, the next two weeks will see a flurry of Heidelberg-related art, film and music events. Detroit's techno and hip-hop community will come out in support of Guyton and Heidelberg this Thursday, Aug. 20, with "Revitalize" at Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall (431 E. Congress, 313-537-8037 for information). A-list musical artists will perform to benefit the relocation and future city-based art undertakings. For more lineup information, see this week's "In One Ear." A screening of the Heidelberg/Guyton documentary Come Unto Me takes place Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Detroit Film Theatre (5200 Woodward Ave., inside the DIA, 7:30 p.m.). A reception/fundraiser will follow at C-Pop Gallery in its temporary digs in the Hartz Building (1529 Broadway, Detroit -- C-Pop will open its permanent space on Woodward in midtown this fall). "Dreamin'," a one-man exhibit of works by Guyton, opens that day at C-Pop. Also on display at C-Pop will be "Faces In the Hood: Faces of God," an exhibit of portraits on car hoods by Guyton. Both exhibits run through Sept. 25.