This pic (I once worked with a guy who spelled it “pict” every time…. drove me crazy) was taken of me back when the Dequindre Cut was but a mystery to the civilized world. We climbed through a hole in the fence and down a 20′ slope to see vagrants, used needles, a thatch hut and some of the most jaw dropping art in existence.
It’s since been all cleaned up, paved and remade into a bike and pedestrian path that goes from the Detroit River (east on Jefferson, close to Atwater Brewery) up to Eastern Market. They did a good job of keeping as much graffiti as was safe for children’s eyes… but some of the best definitely got taken down. I’m excited about the new path, but truly grateful I was able to experience this “art for the sake of art” untouched.