As much of metro Detroit spent last week reflecting on the 50^th anniversary of the domestic uprising that devastated neighborhoods along the former 12^th Street (now named for civil rights icon Rosa Parks), some others celebrated a vision for the community’s future.

Stripped nearly bare by arson and looting to shops and storefronts that once sustained the neighborhood, the area of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Clairmount has begun showing signs of beauty and culture, reflecting the sensibilities of long-time residents who weathered the deadly storm of 1967’s uprising and attraction to newcomers who might plant roots in the area. Anchored by Karasi Development, an organization dedicated to creating mixed-used buildings, including an educational center at Atkinson Street near Rosa Parks, an artistic rendering by Hubert Massey will greet neighbors.  “Evolution: Rising Strong,” a 240-by-360-foot mural.

 “Murals in the community provide a perfect platform to welcome new and returning Detroit families to the city, and to expose them to more than 50 years of history.” – Hubert Massey

Noted for his prolific resume of public artwork, including the tile in the Charles H. Wright Museum of African History’s rotunda, Massey says the addition of “Evolution: Rising Strong” will help re-define the neighborhood through visual symbolism that represents hope and endurance.

“We gotta have art,” he says. “Murals in the community provide a perfect platform to welcome new and returning Detroit families to the city, and to expose them to more than 50 years of history.

“Images that capture legacies and create an opportunity to tell long-forgotten stories are lasting images, indeed. This mural will stimulate discussion of important historical benchmarks and memories that enable the community to immerse itself in Detroit pride, while also setting the cultural record straight.”

Massey’s mural will help highlight Gordon Park, located at the site where the 1967 uprising began. The park features a playground, fitness equipment and historic marker.

  Art in Detroit, Gordon Park, Hubert Massey, Karasi Development, neighborhood redevelopment