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Essay / Street Art in Detroit
If you've been on any type of social media lately, you've no doubt seen how popular street art is right now. Miami, Los Angeles and Berlin are known for their creative and unique street art. There is, however, another city that deserves the same recognition, Detroit, Michigan. Detroit is home to dozens of street art murals of all kinds. You'll find beautiful watercolors, floral designs, political statements, even technicolor cartoon monsters, and so much more! Detroit is a city with a rich history that has struggled over the past half century. Political corruption, race riots, bankruptcy and rampant crime have plagued this fair city since the 1960s. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay However, over the past 5 years, Detroit has begun its comeback. Crime, residential, economic, and business statistics have all improved since 2013. The vibrant street art scene is just proof of the budding hope and optimism that currently defines Detroit. There are dozens of pieces of street art throughout the city, but the most concentrated area of murals is at Eastern Market, an open-air market in the city. The Eastern Market is home to local plants and flowers, traditional farmers' markets, fresh produce, artisan goods, live music and much more, all depending on the day of the week. On every street corner and adorning almost every flat-fronted building are dozens of murals by various street artists, some world-famous, others local and relatively unknown. My favorite is Louise Chen, aka Ouizi, with her beautiful and vibrant floral murals. Every year, Detroit celebrates its street art community with a festival called Murals in the Market. The festival hosts street art tours to educate the community about the murals and artists. The festival also commissions artists to create new murals in this area each year. The joyful and creative atmosphere is further celebrated with various events, including a block party, meetings with artists over cocktails and round tables. The Murals in the Market festival also hosts a bonfire one evening at Lincoln Street Art Park, a small open space dedicated to art installations. What is special and unique about street art is that it is inherently public. This means that anyone, regardless of their background, can observe and appreciate street art. Nowhere is this more important than in Detroit. With a history of economic and social inequality, public art has the power to level the playing field. It is not reserved for the privileged or the elite, it is accessible to everyone. Unlike fine art, which is protected in museums, street art is open to the elements. The work will be weathered and eroded by the elements. Like the people of Detroit, whose trials have made them even more beautiful and precious.