Mural commemorates residents of Corktown, Hubbard Richard neighborhoods
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The photo mural at 1800 18th St. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios
A new photo mural near Michigan Central honors the longtime residents of the three neighborhoods around the renovated station.
The big picture: Artists Jessica Trevino and Romain Blanquart, Hubbard Richard residents and former Free Press photographers, took photos of 104 residents in Corktown, North Corktown and their own neighborhood.
- The mural, "I Am Because We Are" — which has an accompanying photo booklet — was unveiled last month on a vacant building owned by Dan Gilbert's Bedrock.
Context: Ford has spent somewhere around $950 million on its Corktown mobility campus, including restoring the historic former train station.
- The six-year redevelopment project has brought both excitement and trepidation, with new energy and investment mobilizing the economy, while also threatening to displace longtime residents due to housing cost increases.
What they're saying: Trevino and Blanquart tell Axios the changes to the neighborhood make it essential to commemorate the multi-generational families that have helped shape the area's past and present.
- "We really wanted to honor that guard — the people who really held the fort down," Trevino says.
How it worked: When most people think of murals, they think of paint. But Trevino and Blanquart took portraits of residents and had the photos printed locally on long banners of vinyl that were installed on the building.
- Trevino, who was born and raised in the neighborhood, and Blanquart found participants by word of mouth and referrals.
- Some photos are individual, while others show multiple generations.
Zoom in: The project "shows the continuity and care that neighbors have given each other over the decades," Clare Allenson, who is featured in the mural, tells Axios. The Hubbard Richard resident grew up in Corktown. "It's a special part of the city because we've seen a lot, we're going to see a lot."
- Another featured resident, Atiba Seitu of North Corktown, tells Axios getting photographed for the project was "absolutely fun" and promoted connection among neighbors. He texted other folks in his neighborhood to join, too.
- "I just thought I'd come there to take a few pictures. It was totally engaging. … They talk to you and do a whole stream of images. Now I know what it feels like to be on the runway."
By the numbers: The mural's $90,000 grant came from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation through its Cultural Crossroads initiative, with other support from Michigan Central and the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.