By the code of the street, there's a difference between graffiti wall art and malicious vandalism. Location matters.
"Thre's a right and wrong," says a Antonio "Shades" Agee, a Detroiter who describes himself as "one of the original graffiti artists in Detroit." He explains the right-wrong distinction in a blog post illustrated with the photos shown here, which he shot downtown of a defaced Cifford Street building being renovated for a bar and restaurant.
"All I Ever Wanted" is spray-painted in large script on its previously clean limestone wall alongside the wooden front door. That's out-of-bounds, Agee posts Tuesday, labeling one image as shown below.
Someone paints the side of a business that hasn't even opened and a man has put his hard-earned dollars into an investment . . . and the revitalization of #Detroit. . . .
This is REALLY SAD!! . . . If you know this person, I think u should discuss these rules with them . . . They also tagged the synagogue across the street. Location: Clifford and Griswold in Dtwn Det!"
The building under development at 30 Clifford appeared as a music club called the Shelter in Eminem's 2002 film "8 Mile," was a liquor store in "Transformers" (2007) and was blown up in "Red Dawn" (2012), according to Curbed Detroit editor Paul Beshouri. It's being transformed by the owner of Louie's Ham & Corned Beef on Riopelle in Eastern Market, he adds.
For his part, Agee is working on a mural inside Children's Hospital of Michigan and has done commissioned work for Chrysler, Ford, Fiat, Quicken Loans and Universal Studios. He has exhibited at C-Pop Gallery and Motor Gallery, has two installations at MSU'us Holden Hall and incorporated as ShadesDET, LLC.one
