Heidelberg Project founder sculpts for Wayne State

Sept. 28 marked WSU's celebration of the Heidelberg Project's 20th anniversary. The project, a locally and nationally recognized neighborhood endeavor, was founded by Detroit's own Tyree Guyton. Erin Robinson, a student and Elaine L. Jacob Gallery employee, was very pleased with Guyton's work. "I recognize his work now," Robinson said. "I know it's been a piece of Detroit for decades. I have seen his work personally and I don't find it offensive like some people. It's cool... it's interesting." Many of Guyton's pieces were donated to the gallery for the exhibition. Life, hope, determination and God are the dominant themes of the paintings and sculptures. Every inch of the walls is full of Guyton's work. His larger pieces were downstairs, followed by his smaller paintings and other work upstairs. Visitors were sidetracked from the art work to watch a documentary Guyton made, showing how he made the sculpture "Invisible Doors," which was given to WSU on Sept. 28. "I think Tyree is really amazing... very free and easy with his ideas and style," said Lisa Baylis Gonzalez, art exhibitions director for the department of art and art history. "I like the fact that he involves many different approaches, involves a lot of people…a lot of street talent." Guyton started his career 20 years ago, painting and expressing his thoughts and feelings on just about everything on Heidelberg Street on Detroit's east side. Designs range from polka dotted sidewalks to drawings of animals, people, dolls, and cars on the few houses on Heidelberg Street. His most recognizable pieces are the house with baby dolls hanging out of every door and window and the paintings of the "ghetto faces" on the car hoods. Guyton created this project in 1986 in an attempt to save his decaying neighborhood from drugs, gangs and prostitution. Less than a decade later, the project had become the city's most recognizable neighborhood. From the 1980s through today, Guyton has always made his work by hand working with whatever materials were lying around. Some of his works are made with old boots and vacuum cleaners and all of his paintings are made on plywood and the hoods of cars instead of canvases. "It's a kind of thing that I believe he didn't know he was creating until it was done," said John Ikera, a visitor to the exhibit. "I have studied his work and visited the homes. I'm pleased that I got to see his other work that I never knew existed. Every piece is a part of Detroit… it's super colorful. It doesn't feel like it should be here. It contrasts very nice with the gallery." On Sept. 29, the public was invited to a free symposium to hear the perspectives of students, scholars, and Tyree Guyton about the Heidelberg Project. Scholars and students spoke on how Guyton influenced their minds with art. "I really wasn't interested in one of my art classes, until I began to see paintings by Tyree's grandfather, Sam Mack," said WSU art student Stephanie Lynnette Zambo. "As I began studying Sam Mack's work, I began to understand how artists' paintings and sculptures communicate to the public. Tyree's work really communicates with everyone that understands his work." Students Mike Bogdan and Nathan Vince thanked Guyton for showing them how art can communicate on a personal level. Following the symposium, attendees were given the opportunity to visit the Heidelberg Project, via shuttle bus, and many attendees also visited the newly created sculpture for WSU by Guyton. After Guyton sat and watched the different nationalities and different ages on the WSU campus, he decided to name his sculpture that he gave to WSU "Invisible Doors." The Invisible Doors sculpture was supposed to be displayed in front of Old Main, but President Irvin D. Reid told Guyton that he believes the sculpture seems more at home near the Welcome Center. It resides between Barnes and Noble and the Welcome Center on Warren Avenue. "The concept of the sculpture is about doors of life that open and close, leading us to success or failure," Guyton said. "The doors contain many philosophical messages: doors that we hide behind, doors that shut us out of the world, doors of liberty, extreme doors, doors of waste, doors of consumption, and doors to a better place and time. It is designed with the hope of helping people to open the metal doors of their minds - doors that often block us from seeing new possibilities for all people." Saturday evening concluded with a reception and a book signing for Guyton's new book, "Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project."