Schulz 1

Where are We Going?

Trina Schulz

HON 1000
Dr. Buccellato
November 23, 2015

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Introduction
The Heidelberg Project is a provocative piece of art, formed by Tyree Guyton in 1986.1 It
is composed of several themed houses and heaps of thrown away toys. This art was a response to
the urban decay Guyton observed as he rose to adolescence amidst his Grandfathers home on
Heidelberg Street and in the surrounding areas of East Detroit. Now, almost thirty years later,
countless numbers of people from around the world flock to see this controversial and thought
provoking display. The Heidelberg project is an example of how adversity can be embraced to
create an awareness of inequality and provide a representation of where those, not only on
Heidelberg Street, but all those facing discrimination in Detroit intend on going. The direction of
Detroit can be seen in The Heidelberg Project in its intentional design and mediums used, the
purpose of Tyree Guytons creation, reactions to the project, and the projects continuous
development and destruction since 1986.
Historical Significance
To understand the significance of The Heidelberg Project it is important to look at the
historical context of the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood. This neighborhood resides 2 blocks
from Black Bottom and has been increasingly stricken with poverty over the past 40 years.
Devils night, a night of arson, has also taken a toll on the area leaving houses gutted from fire
with nature left to take over the formerly inhabited spaces. Currently 75 percent of those living in
the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood have a household income of less than $30,000 and those in
the twenty-fifth percentile make only a little over $10,000.2 Much of this was a result of the

1 McLean, Linda K. The Heidelberg Project: A Street of Dreams: Celebrating

Humanity through Universal Harmony. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Northville, MI, MI: Nelson Pub.
& Marketing, 2007. 1-25.

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housing discrimination that had taken place, starting in the 40s and the subsequent race riot of
1943 and explosive rebellion of 1967.3 It is these realities that compelled Tyree Guyton to action.
Physical and Behavioral Characteristics
The Heidelberg project is maintained by locals whom Tyree Guyton employs and by
those who volunteer. It is an ever-changing piece of art due to its outdoor nature and the
controversy it invokes. Also being a social space, tours are held and people from all over the
world come to visit due to the projects astounding notoriety. To date there have been twelve
counts of arson and various break-ins by those who are enraged by the statements Guytons art
makes.4 Also, under Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, 4 of Guytons houses were demolished.
According to the city, the site promotes breeding grounds for vermin and poses a potential fire
hazard, not to mention those who believe it to simply be an eyesore.5 Despite every attempt to
destroy his work, Tyree continues to maintain his composure and optimism. It is the adversity
that only makes his message stronger and provides The Heidelberg Project with more publicity.
This is the sites purpose; to raise awareness and promote analysis of the strife and inequality
many Detroiters have faced.
2 Household Income in McDougall-Hunt, Detroit, Michigan (Neighborhood)."
Statistical Atlas. Accessed November 22, 2015.
http://statisticalatlas.com/neighborhood/Michigan/Detroit/McDougallHunt/Household-Income.
3 Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. 1st ed. Chicago, Ill., Ill: Chicago Review Press,
2012. 162-164, 190-196.
4 "Heidelberg Project News." Heidelberg Project News. November 9, 2015. Accessed
November 20, 2015. http://www.heidelberg.org/news_publications/.
5 Bradsher, Kieth. "Art? Maybe. Junk? Perhaps. History? For Sure." New York Times,
February 6, 1999. Accessed November 20, 2015.
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/06/us/art-maybe-junk-perhaps-history-forsure.html.

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When visiting the Heidelberg project on November 11, 2015 at 6:30 p.m., the area had a
sort of eccentricity about it. Several cars drove down the street as if they had discovered the
peculiar site by accident. They slowly made their way down the street noticing the art from the
safety of their cars. One young, Asian couple, visiting from another city, decided to park and ask
about the street and continued to observe. It is important to note the non-verbal communication
that occurred that night. Everyone there seemed tense. With heads tilted and arms crossed the
observers had obviously never seen anything like this before. Everyone was curious, but
continued to constantly look around as if there was a threat of danger. This exemplifies the racial
division that is present in Detroit and is indicative of the impact this divide has had on the
community at hand.
Evaluation
The Heidelberg Project is an example of Detroits resurrection. Many of the art pieces
Tyree Guyton has made are spray painted faces of every race on old car scraps.6 There is irony
here in that Detroit once stood tall because of the hard work of the under-class in the local
factories. It is only now after the decentralization of so many factories, that in Guytons art the
faces of these workers are being intentionally recognized. The direction of Detroit can be seen in
the actions of Guyton. He has seen Detroit in its many forms and in 1986 decided to stage a
protest in the form of art. Through Guytons work is continually vandalized, burned, and
demolished it The Heidelberg Project represents the spirit of Detroiters. It shows that those who
have suffered here will no longer sit idle by as the government allows discrimination and
insufficient public service to continue.

6 Walters, Wendy S. "Turning the Neighborhood Inside Out: Imagining a New Detroit
in Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project." The Drama Review 45, no. 4 (2001): 64-93.
Accessed November 22, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1146929

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It is important to note that while many are avid supporters of Guytons art, the nature of
its creation and form brings out much criticism. The behavior observed there is representative of
the ignorance of those who are not as racially profiled feel in the presence of such art. One is
meant to feel uncomfortable in hopes that with their ignorance diminished he or she may be
compelled to action. While Detroit, according to the Heidelberg, is striving for equality there are
those who will not entertain this way of seeing. But curiosity is a starting point and Guyton
achieves his purpose of awareness through his arts initial absurdity and innate controversy.
Conclusion
The Heidelberg Project serves as a reminder of the past, but provides a way of seeing into the
future. The art reminds one of what has happened to the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood and
much of Detroit. Racial discrimination tore the city apart and left it desolate but the Heidelberg
project is telling of a people willing and striving to rebuild. By establishing itself, the project has
brought an awareness to the struggles of Detroit. It is through this cognizance that one is able to
make a change. This change involves first an awareness of the problem and is carried on by a
motivation and desire for a better place to live. The Heidelberg Project, through its provocative
message and the social movement it has inspired, provides an example of the transformation a
neighborhood can have. It is these actions that are indicative of how in racial adversity one can
embrace such a struggle and redefine where Detroit is going. If people can come together with
Tyree Guyton and so drastically redefine such a racially torn and poverty filled place then there
is most certainly hope for Detroit to be just as radically changed as well.

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References
Bradsher, Kieth. "Art? Maybe. Junk? Perhaps. History? For Sure." New York Times, February 6,
1999. Accessed November 20, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/06/us/art-maybejunk-perhaps-history-for-sure.html.
"Heidelberg Project News." Heidelberg Project News. November 9, 2015. Accessed November
20, 2015. http://www.heidelberg.org/news_publications/.
"Household Income in McDougall-Hunt, Detroit, Michigan (Neighborhood)." Statistical Atlas.
Accessed November 22, 2015.
http://statisticalatlas.com/neighborhood/Michigan/Detroit/McDougall-Hunt/HouseholdIncome.
Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. 1st ed. Chicago, Ill., Ill: Chicago Review Press, 2012. 162164, 190-196.
McLean, Linda K. The Heidelberg Project: A Street of Dreams: Celebrating Humanity through
Universal Harmony. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Northville, MI, MI: Nelson Pub. & Marketing, 2007.
1-25.
Walker, Marian. "Reward in Heidelberg Project Fires up to $20,000." Detroit Free Press,

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Walters, Wendy S. "Turning the Neighborhood Inside Out: Imagining a New Detroit in Tyree
Guyton's Heidelberg Project." The Drama Review 45, no. 4 (2001): 64-93. Accessed
November 22, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1146929