Tyree Guyton's Street Folk

by Jason Moritz (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown USA

My wife Melanie and I live in Jackson, and we both love art, especially public art. And there’s some fine works (mainly sculpture) around town in Jackson. But we’re always looking for more, and it’s even better when it’s in Michigan. We’ve made the trip to Grand Rapids for both ArtPrizes—Melanie exhibited some photographs last year, and we both plan to have entries this year. However, we were really excited to hear about Art X in Detroit, and we had to see what a public art exhibition might look like, Motor City style. So we went the other way on 94 this time—75 miles east to Detroit for the first Art X. If I had a dollar (extra for the two yellow City Cabs) for every car that slowed, stopped and/or turned around at Woodward Ave. and Edmund Pl. in Detroit last Sunday morning, I’d be a rich man. Why? I guess when you see a street blocked off and full of shoes, your initial reaction is probably going to be something like “What happened here?” as you slow, stop and/or turn around for a longer/better look. Anyway, that was the question from one of the three teens in a Jeep that stopped. “This artist, Tyree Guyton, this is his exhibit,” I said as I handed them a printout from the Art X Detroit website about “Street Folk.” One of them took it and nodded as they looked around with delight. (Are teens “delighted” these days? These three sure were. Big smiles and even some skipping was involved.) Later, down at the John R. St. end of Edmund, a long-haired vet on his way to park cars (“Ten bucks today.”) for that afternoon’s Tigers game was impressed too. Although he thought the display “bizarre” it had “moved” him. “And isn’t that what art’s supposed to do?” he asked. I agreed, but I don’t think he recognized me later as he flagged me in for my ten bucks. Sadly, the Tigers lost too. My last encounter was with a young guy walking on the other side of the sidewalk. “Do you know what this means?” he asked. “Nah, crazy though,” I replied. He chuckled and shook his head in agreement. But “crazy” in a good way. At least that’s how I meant it. (Tyree Guyton’s “Street Folk” for Art X Detroit continues through April 24 on Edmund Pl. between Woodward Ave. and John R. St.)