Officials and a group representing artists responsible for seven murals across Detroit are remaining quiet about the project and its controversial fallout.
After Detroit City Council last week voted down a $215,000 contract for the completed work, the Free Press left multiple messages with New York-based artist group, Street Art for Mankind, seeking further details on where the mix-up ensued with city officials. Last year, after artists began crafting their murals, city officials say they were told not to continue work. Despite that, they completed the project anyway.
Street Art for Mankind has not responded to the Free Press inquiries.
Messages were left with the individual artists who painted the murals through the group as part of an initiative called “Be the Change.” Detroit’s art community aired their frustrations online over the fact that none of the works was made by Detroiters.
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Antoine Bryant, director of planning and development, apologized to City Council members for soliciting the contract to pay for the murals using city money without the nine-member body’s approval, which is required.