Heidelberg Project in Detroit Is Under Attack

Heidelberg Project - Obstruction of Justice (Photo courtesy of Marty Townsend)
Heidelberg Project – Obstruction of Justice (Photo courtesy of Marty Townsend)

For 27 years the Heidelberg Project has been labeled as both an eyesore and a beautiful sight to behold. The creation of internationally acclaimed artist Tyree Guyton, the project has been ongoing since 1986. Encompassing three city blocks, the massive art work utilizes the abandoned homes and the detritus of years of discarded goods to create an intriguing vision of life in Detroit.

Now the Heidelberg Project is under attack.

An arsonist has struck repeatedly and is trying to burn it to the ground. The first fire occurred in May 2013, but only partially burned the Obstruction of Justice structure. The artist and volunteers used the burnt structure, creating art from the ashes. By adorning the rear portion of the house with dolls and toys, they kept the house ?alive? as part of the sculpture village. On Oct. 5, the building was set ablaze again, this time leveling the entire structure.

Heidelberg Project - House of Soul (Photo courtesy of Marty Townsend)
Heidelberg Project – House of Soul (Photo courtesy of Marty Townsend)

Volunteers gathered to clear the debris and had no sooner completed the cleanup efforts when the arsonist struck the House of Soul Nov. 13. The entire structure was lost after a two hour battle by Detroit firefighters. Minor damage was reported to another Heidelberg structure next to the House of Soul.

Security cameras and other measures are planned after another house that makes up the internationally known Heidelberg Project outdoor art installation in Detroit burned.

The total number of fires reaches five.

In addition to the three fires that destroyed the Obstruction of Justice house and the House of Soul two smaller fires were extinguished before causing notable damage. A total of five fires had been set in a span of six months. Jenenne Whitfield, Executive Director of The Heidelberg Project reassured the public in an official statement:

No, we won’t give up or give in.? We will continue to positively impact our community through art.? When I stop and reflect on what 2013 has brought with these series of fires, I am convinced that we are on to something very powerful.? If this were not the case, negativity would not rear its ugly head. However, we were not stopped by bulldozers and we will not be stopped by acts of arson. Instead we WILL become smarter, stronger and even greater. Our history after 27 years demonstrates this!

Determined to go on, the volunteer staff began clearing the debris from the House of Soul. Within days, there was another fire and another structure was leveled. The temporary mobile patrol set up by the project noticed the sixth fire around 3 a.m. Nov. 21:

?by the time DFD arrived on the scene, the Penny House was fully engulfed in flames and the only option was a controlled burn. The Penny House, under renovation to become on-site office and community space, was burned completely to the ground.

Not taking time off for the holiday, the arsonist strikes again.

The arsonist struck again on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28). This time the target was the War House. The slight glow reported by security personnel quickly became a raging fire, completely engulfing the building. From the official statement:

The Arson investigators were on the scene immediately and took a statement from KAP Protective Services. Because the area is so dark, and the man was wearing dark clothing, it was difficult to catch him in the act. The Detroit Arson Dept is working in conjunction with the US Dept of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Any additional questions should be directed to Special Agent Donald Dawkins at 313-202-3400

Another fire was set Dec. 8 in the Clock House. There is no news at this time about this fire, how much damage it has caused, or if they have caught the arsonist.

The Heidelberg Project has an IndieGoGo fundraiser in progress to raise money for the increased security and costs associated with cleaning up after the fires. So far they have raised $33,838 toward the $50,000 goal.

The Heidelberg Project has a long history of fighting for survival.

This is not the first time the Heidelberg Project has been under attack. The city has tried to level the neighborhood sculpture on two occasions, in 1991 and again in 1999. The perseverance of Guyton and volunteers dedicated to the project has kept it standing.

See the news report on the fires here:

Please watch for my follow-up article about a summer walk through the Heidelberg Project.