Detroit was the nation’s most industrious city in the1950’s. The failing auto industry, coupled with social, racial and political tension, affected the city harshly. No other city in the United States underwent a similar dramatic and long-lasting level of decline, abandonment, and urban decay. Through my lens, the view of Detroit abandonment is different. As I document the past and forgotten era of the city, I am able to capture its remaining charm and loneliness. The abandoned...
more »Detroit was the nation’s most industrious city in the1950’s. The failing auto industry, coupled with social, racial and political tension, affected the city harshly. No other city in the United States underwent a similar dramatic and long-lasting level of decline, abandonment, and urban decay. Through my lens, the view of Detroit abandonment is different. As I document the past and forgotten era of the city, I am able to capture its remaining charm and loneliness. The abandoned houses evoke unexpected feelings of sadness mixed with curiosity, fantasy and adventure. There is a weird beauty, mixed with haunted eeriness and mysterious surroundings. I feel like an archaeologist exploring the beauty of past destruction. As my eyes investigate the structures, my mind wonders back to the better times. The decades when these houses were full of life, when children were born, and families prospered. There was achievement and pride in Detroit. The city was vibrant, booming and prosperous. What happened? The history is lost, the community is lost, and the city is lost. I want to preserve the history of Detroit, I want to maintain a photographic archive of the olden days, and remember the city’s former glory.
It’s a wonderful time to watch the city being rebuilt—with hope and enthusiasm for a better future.
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