Visit to Woodward Avenue – Detroit, Michigan
Glass + Mirror Craft has produced four illuminated laminated towers that are located along Detroit’s historic Woodward Avenue. In this sculptural project, Glass+Metal Craft laminated two pieces of glass with a thermoplastic interlayer. During the day they have an aqua color accented by dark colored illustrations. At night they are illuminated, guiding people along the over 20 mile length of Woodward Avenue between Detroit and Pontiac. We visited during the daytime and caught at least three of the four towers.
Our journey started in Midtown, just across the expressway from the Central Business District. At one time the Motown Records headquarters were on this site. To the far left the Fox Theater parking garage is in view. This garage helped mostly suburban theatergoers to feel comfortable driving into the city to see a show. Later this site along Woodward Avenue would become home to Little Caesars Arena.
Orchestra Hall featured prominently in Detroit’s comeback story. When faced with demolition, local musicians rallied and helped to restore this historic building. Today it anchors the section of Woodward Avenue. Sensitive infill buildings to either side give deference to the scale, color, and materials of Orchestra Hall.
One block away another historic building was awaiting restoration. Infill also helped to partially revive this block.
Finally, by Wayne State University, the Old Main building can be seen in the background. To the far right is the Albert Kahn design Detroit Public Schools building that was later taken over by Wayne State University. And immediately in the foreground is a location that once had several one-story buildings, including an art supply store. All of this was removed to prepare this site for some form of eventual redevelopment.
We had to go a block off of Woodward Avenue to visit the American Beauty Electric Irons on Cass Ave in the New Center area. The iconic sign is said to have influenced a film that shares the same name.
In the city of Highland Park, the public library is still empty. Highland Park is entirely surrounded by the City of Detroit, making it a city within a city. Once home of the famed Ford Motor Company, after the factory left the future of Highland Park changed overnight.
We were saddened to see these multiple story buildings, once clad with copper domes on the corners, to be burnt out and likely awaiting eventual demolition.
The Ford Motor Company continued to stand empty facing Woodward Avenue. A sign on the light post promoted Woodward Avenue as “An American Road.”
In Ferndale the bridge flying over 8 Mile Road had some effort at public art. A photograph of Model T cars is mounted to the wall.
One last stop was near Bloomfield with the white tile clad Hamburgers building. One time we notably remember stopping here with our graduate advisor from Cornell University while he was visiting Detroit. It made for a tasty lunch while giving a similar tour and on our way to his talk later that afternoon.