Shepard Fairey-Obey Mural, Detroit, MI

©tom stoye

It's finally finished. Last weeks visit by renowned street artist Shepard Fairey, has resulted in this 185' foot mural on the backside of the Compuware Building.

I've never liked this building, it looks like a bunch of boxes huddled together in a shopping mall aesthetic. So for me personally, the mural follows the street art edict of taking something and making it better with art.

The naysayers are already out in full force though. The key complaints I've heard are twofold; number one being, it was financed by Dan Gilbert, and number two, it wasn't done by a local artist.

Regarding the finances, this was not a paid piece. Only the costs were paid for (300 cans of paint I had heard), but Shepard Fairey did not receive payment for the mural itself. That being said, I don't care who paid for what, I like looking at it.

As far as the disdain for Gilbert, I don't even know where to begin… so I won't.  It doesn't warrant a response. As they say, haters gonna hate."

Regarding local talent doing the mural, there are many beautiful local murals around Detroit done by our homegrown talent. Being local doesn't give you exclusive rights for EVERY public mural: or any art for that matter. The DIA has a few non-local artists in it I believe, and that seems to have worked out  well.

I respect the talented pool of artists we have in this area, and I think they have been poorly represented at times, but there are no shortages of empty wall spaces in Detroit. The opportunities are there, they just need to be cultivated by the artists. I think we, as artists (myself included), often struggle with the business-side of our art. Figuring out ways to get to the next level can feel impossible, but it's doable if your work is solid and you are honest with yourself.

As a friend recently said, "If you don't like it or the way it was done…by all means prove us all wrong by doing it the right way YOURSELF."