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Popular Detroit art exhibit destroyed by fire

David Yarnell
/
wikipedia.org

A popular Detroit art installation was destroyed by fire this morning.

The Obstruction of Justice House was part of the Heidelberg Project on Detroit's east side. It was created by artist TyreeGuyton. He used discarded items and paint to transform two city blocks into an eclectic and sometimes controversial art exhibit.  

Guyton's wife, Jenenne Whitfield, describes,"You turn down the street, and there's this explosion of color: The trees, the sidewalks, the vacant lots. All had been turned into a giant landscape, a work of art that is literally known around the world."

Whitfield says officials told her the fire was deliberately set.

She says, "The front façade is still standing, but it’s a goner. It’s definitely a goner." 

Whitfield adds that Guyton is upset about the loss, but plans to continue turning other people's trash into art. "We lost artwork, we lost tools, we lost lots of things. But we will continue. We’ll prevail. And I’m really happy about that, so that lifts me up."

 

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