The Grand River Creative Corridor is an art corridor and neighborhood revitalization project concentrated on Grand River Avenue between Rosa Parks Boulevard and Warren Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. But according to news that broke on Motor City Muckraker, Steve Neavling received information that on “Monday building owners on Grand River were hit with numerous fines [from the city of Detroit] because of murals painted by some of the world’s most talented artists.
“All of the murals were painted with permission from the building owners, who must now remove the paint or face property seizure. Derek Weaver, who started the Grand River Creative Corridor in July 2012, received about $8,000 in fines and has been ordered to remove “graffiti” from his buildings.”
The article struck a chord with many passionate Detroiters on social media while hundreds of commenters started to share Mayor Duggan’s official statement regarding the implementation of the new graffiti crackdown.
One of those concerned citizens, took to the Mayor’s official Facebook page to say,
Murals and other forms of public art can transform and revitalize a city — making it safer and improving quality of life for residents. Please see this example from Tirana” in the TEDTalk video, “Take back your city with paint.”
Later Wednesday, Motor City Muckraker announced that:
Mayor Mike Duggan personally apologized to the head of the Grand River Creative Corridor on Wednesday after he and other property owners were fined for having exteriors adorned with professionally painted murals.”
Launched on July 15, 2012 the project features over 100 murals on 15 buildings; an outdoor fine-art gallery at a bus stop; free-standing art installations; a clean-up of overgrown vegetation, trash, and vandalism; and an economic stimulus project for local businesses. [Source: GRCC website.]
According to GRCC via Facebook, “All walls rotate in the project. We are currently accepting proposals for that wall and others. If you’re interested please email them at contact@grccdetroit.com.” Furthermore, they clarified-
We don’t allow artists to come and just paint buildings. We need to get the building owners permission first then organize the project.”
PLAYGROUND DETROIT is thrilled with the outcome of this ‘misunderstanding’ and all of the support that the internet was able to gather together to help reconcile the situation. Let art prevail!
The post MAYOR DUGGAN APOLOGIES TO GRAND RIVER CREATIVE CORRIDOR FOR GRAFFITI FINES OVER REVITALIZATION PROJECT appeared first on PLAYGROUND DETROIT.
