If you follow my blog or instagram, you know. Scratch that. I loooooovvveeee street art. Seriously, I’m obsessed. Everywhere I travel, I make an effort to find street art. I personally love the juxtaposition of a city and the art, out there for everyone to see, and hopefully, appreciate. I’ve been to a lot of cities and written about a lot of street art, but Detroit street art is some of the best I’ve seen. That’s saying a lot.
So if you haven’t seen my previous posts, here’s Paris street art, Miami street art, New York street art, Germany street art. Now you can understand just how much street art means to me. Although I’ve been to a lot of places and seen a lot of art, I was pretty sure nothing could top the street art in the Wnywood district in Miami, Despite my confidence, Detroit street art did beat it. Here’s why.
When my friend told me about Eastern Market, I didn’t have that many expectations. She told me it was a safe area to see good street art. Honestly, I would rather go to less safe areas and see the real art of the streets. Despite my preference for the raw and real, I was short on time since I was in town for work. So I headed to Eastern Market and the street art blew me away. Wow, I mean wow.
I wish I could accurately describe in words and capture in photographs just how stunning these murals are. There is something about the fact that just a couple blocks from the hip and trendy, well kept Eastern Market, there are abandons warehouses, boarded up buildings, broken bottles, and trash strewn around. It just felt so authentic; I felt like I could feel the pain coming out of some of the murals. So many of the pieces hit me, instantly.
The beauty of art is definitely in the eye of the beholder. Art can transform you, it can make you feel things you didn’t even know you could or would feel. That’s why it’s so powerful and that’s why street art means so much to me. One moment I’m walking down the street, and the next minute I’m mesmerized by a colorful painting on the side of an abandoned building. It’s amazing to me how a painting on the side of a building can bring me so much joy, even amongst a very dark and hard place that many people would see as ugly.
I’m planning to write another story about my trip to Detroit, but if you get a chance to visit the city anytime soon, I highly encourage you to check out just how fantastic the Detroit street art scene is. I know you won’t be disappointed.
I love visiting the Eastern Market! The farmer’s market in the summer is fantastic and at Christmas the area just lights up! There is a new distillery there, Detroit City Distillery and they make amazing bourbon. The shops and restaurants there are great but it’s definitely the street art that makes this area so amazing! Every time I visit (which is a lot) I always find something new to admire. Great photos! xx Rox-Anne Celebrating This Life
Thanks so much for your comment Rox-Anne! I’m actually headed back to Detroit in a couple weeks for work, so I’ll definitely check out the distillery if I can squeeze it in!
The street art was discouraged for so many years. Many of the murals were repainted back to plain buildings. It’s so wonderful to see that in some areas it’s being encouraged again. Everything about the Downtown and Midtown areas of Detroit are being reinvented with amazing restaurants and breweries. This adds to the beauty. It’s wonderful to see growth and inspiration in the city after our years of despair.
Oh wow, I didn’t know that! Well, I’m so glad they are welcoming it now. It really makes the city so much more beautiful, at least to me! I’m headed back in a couple weeks, any restaurants I must try?