Detroit – Public Art and Architecture from Around the World

Pylon

Posted by Cindy on August 8, 2017

Aug 082017

Philip A. Hart Civic Center Plaza
Jefferson and Woodward Avenues
Detroit, Michigan

120 feet tall by 7 feet square The Pylon is the terminus for Detroit’s main street, Woodward Avenue.

Created by Isamu Noguchi, the monumental work is of joined steel sections. The rectangular pylon makes a quarter turn as it heads upwards to the sky.

Isamu Noguchi (November 17, 1904 – December 30, 1988) was a Japanese American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces, such as the Noguchi table for Herman Miller, some of which are still manufactured and sold.

Belle Isle

Posted by Cindy on August 4, 2017

Aug 042017

Belle Isle Detroit, Michigan Belle Isle is a 982-acre island park in the Detroit River, between the United States mainland and Canada. Belle Isle is the largest city-owned island park in the United States and is the third largest island in the Detroit River. It is connected to mainland Detroit by the MacArthur Bridge. One interesting story told about the island is part of Motor City history. It is said that one night in 1908 Byron Carter of Cartercar stopped to help a stranded motorist on Belle Isle. When he cranked her Cadillac, it kicked back and broke his jaw. Continue Reading

FLW in Detroit

Posted by Cindy on August 3, 2017

Aug 032017

The Melvyn Maxwell Smith and Sara Stein Smith House Bloomfield, Michigan The Melvyn Maxwell Smith and Sara Stein Smith House also known as My Haven is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed Usonian home that was built by the owner/occupants in 1949 and 1950. The Smiths were two public school teachers living on a tight budget, to realize their dream they scrimped and scraped in ways most people would never consider, but the reward is this wonderful gem. It is said that Mr. Smith, upon seeing a photo of Falling Water for the first time while studying to become a teacher, Continue Reading

Detroit’s Guardian Building

Posted by Cindy on August 2, 2017

Aug 022017

500 Griswold Street Detroit, Michigan There has been so very, very much written about the Guardian Building of Detroit, that my writing here is simply for me to remember this stunning building and that I had the pleasure of walking into it and staring. Built for the Union Trust Company the building is 486 feet tall with 40 floors and was the second tallest building in Detroit and the world’s tallest brick building when it opened in 1929. Designed by Wirt Rowland of Smith, Hichman, and Grylls it came in at a cost of $12million. The tangerine colored “Guardian Brick” Continue Reading

Detroit’s Renaissance

Posted by Cindy on August 1, 2017

Aug 012017

The Book Building at 1249 Washington Blvd, Downtown Detroit So much has been written about Detroit’s decline, and yet so little has been written about its renaissance. Yes, the outlying areas have a long way to go, but the new construction and renovations happening in the downtown area are staggering. This post by no means covers the enormous amount of renovation occurring, these are just a few of this author’s favorite buildings. The Book Building, designed by Louis Kamper for the Book brothers, was built in 1917, the tower was added in 1926. There was considerable criticism about the building Continue Reading

Heidelberg Project

Posted by Cindy on July 31, 2017

Jul 312017

3600 Heidelberg St McDougall Hunt Neighborhood Detroit, Michigan Just 15 minutes away from the African Bead Museum is the Heidelberg Project. I went anticipating a fabulous folk art installation due to all the hype, disappointing is the kindest word I can use. That being said, the motivation behind the project and the heart poured into it, should not ever be dismissed. There are three over riding themes to the Heidelberg project: clocks, faces, and shoes. The clocks are to remind you that it is never too late to act. You may think you do not have the time, or it Continue Reading

African Bead Museum

Posted by Cindy on July 25, 2017

Jul 252017

Dabls’ MBAD African Bead Museum 6559 Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan * I had the absolute privilege to speak with Olayami Dabls, the creator of Dabls’ African Bead Museum (pictured above), and he told me some of his story. He began this project during the Clean Up Detroit program, a project to help clear all of the empty lots of the trash and building parts left after many homes were bulldozed. He repeated often, how he was surprised the city had not shut him down and how happy he was to just keep doing what he was doing. He did point Continue Reading

Pewabic Pottery

Posted by Cindy on July 24, 2017

Jul 242017

1025 Jefferson Avenue Detroit, Michigan Pewabic Pottery is a ceramic studio and school founded in 1903 by artist Mary Chase Perry Stratton and Horace James Caulkins. Caulkins was considered a high-heat and kiln specialist, and developed the “Revelation kiln”. Caulkins invented the kiln to help with his dental supply business, he then sold his kilns to other dentists so they could fire enamel for their patients. Mary Perry Stratton was “the artistic and marketing force. Mary Stratton established the ceramics department at the University of Michigan and taught there. She also taught at Wayne State University. In 1947, she Continue Reading

The Saarinen House

Posted by Cindy on July 23, 2017

Jul 232017

Academy Way Cranbrook Bloomfield Hills, Michigan A tour of the Saarinen house is an amazing look into the perfectionism of Eliel Saarinen and his design beliefs and senses. The house combines Arts and Craft movement ideas with Art Deco elements for a stunning and harmonious work of art. * The home was built concurrently with sculptor Carl Milles next door for a cost $140,000 for the two. The typical cost of a home at that time in Detroit was $6250. The home was completely restored in 1994, after having been changed by subsequent owners from 1950 to the 1990s. The Continue Reading

The Spirit of Detroit

Posted by Cindy on July 21, 2017

Jul 212017

2 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan This stunning sculpture is the best-known piece of public art in Detroit. It’s location and presentation was well thought out. The backdrop was designed by the architectural firm of Harley, Ellington and Day, also responsible for the Veterans Memorial Building in Detroit. The sculpture itself is by Detroit area sculptor Marshall Fredericks. Commissioned in 1955 for $58,000, the sculpture was dedicated in 1958. The seated figure represents the spirit of humanity. In his left hand, he holds a gilt bronze sphere, with emanating rays, symbolizing God, in his right hand he holds a group of Continue Reading