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At
the bottom of Woodward Avenue, the grand street that runs right
up through the middle of Detroit like a backbone, there stands a
gigantic bronze fist held in a cradle.
The Monument to Joe Louis was made by Robert Graham and given to the city in 1986 by Sports Illustrated magazine to commemorate the centennial of the Detroit Institute of Arts. It's a sculpture of Louis' forearm, the fighting fist of a black hero. A lot of people dislike the sculpture. A lot of white people dislike the sculpture is how that last sentence should have read, and it could be further refined by adding the words liberal, well-meaning or middle class to the mix. Earlier this year the fist was vandalised, a couple of (white) guys threw (white) paint over it. They said that they targeted the fist because of its "violent imagery" and because it was an inappropriate symbol of a city plagued by crime, guns and drugs. I've heard that sentiment repeated by other people who would never dream of vandalising some public art. I don't live in Detroit, I've never been robbed, beaten or threatened by a Detroiter. To me Detroit is a friendly city, where people from every walk of life want to know where I'm from, why I'm there, and when I say "Because I like it here," I get smiles and waves. I don't feel afraid in this place, but I know that a lot of people do. My home is a city that builds monuments to army generals, rich philanthropists and royalty. Public sculpture is more often than not made to aggrandise corporate business. I feel alienated by almost every statue that I see in my city, it means less than nothing to me. When I look at that fist I feel moved that a popular black sporting hero could inspire such powerful art. Yes, it's a symbol of the city's fighting spirit, as well as a memorial to individual achievement. But to me it's also a sculpture for a city squaring up to its past. It's a monument for a riot, for strength, for black power, the city's poor urban inhabitants. I think it's a miracle that this potent and loaded symbol is there in the street, owned by the people. That's how I read it. I think it's a brave and truthful sculpture and I love it. This city knocks you out. http://www.robertgraham-artist.com/civic/joelouis.html |
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