Muralist spreads LOVE in Detroit despite stolen rental car, bad weather
By Robert Allen, Detroit Free Press | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"It's part of the fun of doing murals," said Owen, 31, an artist from
He painted the large silhouettes of hands, with fingers spelling L-O-V-E, on Thursday at
"It's something different in
Owen had planned to start earlier in the week, but chilly weather Monday and Tuesday caused delays. Then, on Wednesday he discovered his
Owen arrived in
"The caliber of the graffiti in
Owen has stops in
He said he's careful to make sure his work is only on legal walls. The building he painted on
"I wanted to do something that was simple, easy to execute, simple coloring but had a really powerful message," Weaver said, adding that he wants the message "to reinstate hope and revitalization back into this neighborhood -- that somebody has to show the community some love."
Weaver said this and other paintings in the area are put up through volunteer efforts, and volunteers were coming to pick up trash in the area through the weekend.
Owen said LOVE was conceived after he drew the hands in a sketchbook about five years ago. He decided he wanted to cover
"It's a bold image and people notice it and it kind of plays a line between fine art, logo, graphic design, mural, street art -- somewhere in the middle," he said. "A lot of people relate to it in that way."
"The hand signs for love," he said. "I like that. That's beautiful."
After putting up the primer Wednesday night, Owen was able to finish the piece by about noon Thursday. And just as he was putting up the last bit of paint, he got some good news.
"I was working on the 'E,' and I got a call from the insurance company that they found the car that was stolen," he said. "It all comes back around, I guess. You never know with this town."
Owen had some supplies in the car when it was stolen. But asked Friday whether he was able to get them back, he said he hadn't had a chance to call about the car. He was on his way to finishing one more mural in
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