22 images of hand-painted Detroit murals and signs

By Metro Times editorial staff on Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 4:43 pm

Yesterday, we blogged about our conversation with Camilo José Vergara, who had a bone to pick with the weekend's upbeat story about two white, college-educated sign painters -- because, aside from the occasional Tyree or Dabls, the African-American artists and themes on the city's walls weren't mentioned. In the interest of shining a light on that body of work, he's sent along a number of images, many of which will appear in his book, Detroit Is No Dry Bones, coming out this fall.

Photos by Camilo José Vergara http://www.camilojosevergara.com/

Scroll down to view images

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Sylvia Burke, detail of her mural, The History of Detroit, including the Motown Museum and Old GM Building. 1776 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, 2006

Camilo José Vergara

Sylvia Burke, detail of her mural, The History of Detroit, including the Motown Museum and Old GM Building. 1776 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, 2006

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Rain On Us Deliverance Ministries, We're The Church Where God Has No Limits! This church was still operating in 2013. Its name had changed to Prophetic Ministries but the minister's name remained the same. 4256 Mitchell Street, Detroit, 2003.

Camilo José Vergara

Rain On Us Deliverance Ministries, We're The Church Where God Has No Limits! This church was still operating in 2013. Its name had changed to Prophetic Ministries but the minister's name remained the same. 4256 Mitchell Street, Detroit, 2003.

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Nativity scene comissioned by Kat, painted on the ruins of the Goethe apartment building. McClellan at Goethe, Detroit, 2014.

Camilo José Vergara

Nativity scene comissioned by Kat, painted on the ruins of the Goethe apartment building. McClellan at Goethe, Detroit, 2014.

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Ruins of the Goethe apartment building of 1924. Kat, a neighbor who lives across the street, hired a sign painter. Berry, the postman, commenting on the art work, said: "The neighborhood is being blessed. The area is so bad that they could use a blessing. The murals on it are about faith," and remarked of the building that it was not "so much the eyesore that it used to be." McClellan Ave. at Goethe St., Detroit, 2014.

Camilo José Vergara

Ruins of the Goethe apartment building of 1924. Kat, a neighbor who lives across the street, hired a sign painter. Berry, the postman, commenting on the art work, said: "The neighborhood is being blessed. The area is so bad that they could use a blessing. The murals on it are about faith," and remarked of the building that it was not "so much the eyesore that it used to be." McClellan Ave. at Goethe St., Detroit, 2014.

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Inner City Crossover Gospel Ministry, Cass Ave. at Temple, Detroit, 1994

Camilo José Vergara

Inner City Crossover Gospel Ministry, Cass Ave. at Temple, Detroit, 1994

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A homeless folk artist approached the owner of Willie's Garage about painting the façade. The artist painted the story of transportation, a playful arrangement of letters, vehicles, and animals ranging from donkeys to jet planes. In 2015 the former garage is being refurbished. 2520 Michigan Ave., Detroit, 1991.

Camilo José Vergara

A homeless folk artist approached the owner of Willie's Garage about painting the façade. The artist painted the story of transportation, a playful arrangement of letters, vehicles, and animals ranging from donkeys to jet planes. In 2015 the former garage is being refurbished. 2520 Michigan Ave., Detroit, 1991.

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Mr. Fix It, a former 1920s High Speed Gas Station in 1995. The artwork is by Eugene an itinerant sign painter with a distinctive style. His fading store signs can still be seen in southwest Detroit. Epworth St. at West Warren, Detroit, 1995

Camilo José Vergara

Mr. Fix It, a former 1920s High Speed Gas Station in 1995. The artwork is by Eugene an itinerant sign painter with a distinctive style. His fading store signs can still be seen in southwest Detroit. Epworth St. at West Warren, Detroit, 1995

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'67 Lincoln, Willie's Garage. 2250 Michigan Ave., Detroit 1997

Camilo José Vergara

'67 Lincoln, Willie's Garage. 2250 Michigan Ave., Detroit 1997

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Clean Whips, 11556 Livernois Avenue, Detroit, 2015

Camilo José Vergara

Clean Whips, 11556 Livernois Avenue, Detroit, 2015

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Million Dollar Spot, Barbershop and Beauty Salon, Livernois Avenue at Northfield Avenue, Detroit, 2000, G. A. V. artist

Camilo José Vergara

Million Dollar Spot, Barbershop and Beauty Salon, Livernois Avenue at Northfield Avenue, Detroit, 2000, G. A. V. artist

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Above the image, the sign reads: "Dancing, I Choose You Presents Ballroom Classes." 7631 W. McNichols Rd., 2015

Camilo José Vergara

Above the image, the sign reads: "Dancing, I Choose You Presents Ballroom Classes." 7631 W. McNichols Rd., 2015

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Soul Food, Glenn's Kitchen. 9525 Wyoming St., Detroit, 2014

Camilo José Vergara

Soul Food, Glenn's Kitchen. 9525 Wyoming St., Detroit, 2014

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Decayed Dentures, Customized Dental Laboratory, 2919 Mack Avenue, Detroit, 2007. The artist Bird commented "when they were first painted they looked good."

Camilo José Vergara

“Decayed Dentures,” Customized Dental Laboratory, 2919 Mack Avenue, Detroit, 2007. The artist Bird commented "when they were first painted they looked good."

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Dare to Dream mural depicting Coleman Young, Malcolm X and MLK Jr., as well as gold medallist Tommie Smith and bronze medallist John Carlos making the Black Power salute during the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics. Muffler shop, Cloverdale at Elmhurst, Detroit, 2015.

Camilo José Vergara

“Dare to Dream” mural depicting Coleman Young, Malcolm X and MLK Jr., as well as gold medallist Tommie Smith and bronze medallist John Carlos making the Black Power salute during the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics. Muffler shop, Cloverdale at Elmhurst, Detroit, 2015.

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Obama, Frank Tires #1, 4270 7th Mile East, Detroit, 2009, mural by Ron.

Camilo José Vergara

Obama, Frank Tires #1, 4270 7th Mile East, Detroit, 2009, mural by Ron.

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13910 Mack Ave., Detroit, 2008. The woman portrayed is the deceased singer Aaliyah. Aaliyah attended the Performing Arts High School in Detroit. She had several hit records before dying in a plane crash in 2001. She was in two movies and was married to singer R.Kelly for a short time.

Camilo José Vergara

13910 Mack Ave., Detroit, 2008. The woman portrayed is the deceased singer Aaliyah. Aaliyah attended the Performing Arts High School in Detroit. She had several hit records before dying in a plane crash in 2001. She was in two movies and was married to singer R.Kelly for a short time.

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Marty on the side of Kal II Auto Repair Shop. Marty died of a rare blood disease that afflicted his whole family. Memorial by Scribbles, E. Warren Ave. at Lenox, Detroit, 2014.

Camilo José Vergara

Marty on the side of Kal II Auto Repair Shop. Marty died of a rare blood disease that afflicted his whole family. Memorial by Scribbles, E. Warren Ave. at Lenox, Detroit, 2014.

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Memorial to seven children killed in a house fire on Feb 18, 1993. 2258 Mack Avenue, Detroit, 1993

Camilo José Vergara

Memorial to seven children killed in a house fire on Feb 18, 1993. 2258 Mack Avenue, Detroit, 1993

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The African Amalgamation of Ubiquity, mural, substance abuse treatment center, Operation Get Down. Painted in 1985 by Curtis Lewis, the panorama represents a view of the history of black people, going back to the Egyptians, and their presence in Detroit, culminating in the portrait of Coleman Young. 9980 Gratiot Ave., Detroit 1995.

Camilo José Vergara

The African Amalgamation of Ubiquity, mural, substance abuse treatment center, Operation Get Down. Painted in 1985 by Curtis Lewis, the panorama represents a view of the history of black people, going back to the Egyptians, and their presence in Detroit, culminating in the portrait of Coleman Young. 9980 Gratiot Ave., Detroit 1995.

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Enchained, kneeling African slave facing slave ships on the ocean waves. Behind him masses of Africans await the same fate. Detail from The African Amalgamation of Ubiquity, mural on a former substance abuse treatment center. Curtis Lewis, artist, 1985. 9980 Gratiot Ave., Detroit 2015

Camilo José Vergara

Enchained, kneeling African slave facing slave ships on the ocean waves. Behind him masses of Africans await the same fate. Detail from The African Amalgamation of Ubiquity, mural on a former substance abuse treatment center. Curtis Lewis, artist, 1985. 9980 Gratiot Ave., Detroit 2015

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