Dequindre Cut, copy, and paste

My name is “Shades.” It’s not my government name, my real name is Antonio Agee… I mean, you can’t write your formal name on the side of a building unless you want to get caught!

I’m a graffiti artist and I hail from the Detroit area. I have been doing my art for over 15 years and I have enjoyed the crossover from street artist to gallery and commissioned artist. I was excited when D.G.A.T. asked me to write a countdown for spring (since the snow is melting and now is the perfect time to see the art that’s been hiding under winter) on the local scene of viewing Urban Art and graffiti around Detroit.

So here we go, I’m listing them in order of popularity and safety…

1) Dequindre Cut.
The best place in the city to see graffiti and get into the feeling of what we [graffiti artists] experience would be the Dequindre Cut. It’s an old, shut down train line that ran south to the warehouses on the river and north towards the major lines that would lead the trains out for industry. The two-mile area is now, for your pleasure, a bike/jogging trail from the river to eastern market.

2) Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit.
The C.A.I.D. is a hub for all graffiti artists to showcase their art. The owner, Aaron Timlin, let a group of artists come and paint the outside of his fence that surrounds his art garden. It turned out great and now there is an array of graffiti art on the outside for your viewing pleasure. I even graffitied a semi truck there in an Alice in Wonderland theme.

3) 5 E Gallery
The new Detroit scene of hip-hop artists needed an outlet that would just be for the movement. When I say movement, I mean that hip-hop isn’t just a word; it’s a culture that is recognized all over the world, like Jazz, Classical and Rock & Roll. This culture has elements that have made it what it is. The elements are: 1. B-boying 2. MCeeing 3. Graffiti 4. DJing 5. Knowledge. That is when 5 Elements Gallery came to life for the culture. The walls on the outside all the way around to the back alley are covered with graffiti. The owner, Sicari, lets different artist come and paint on the walls without the fear of cops and jail time. It’s cool because you can see amazing work that is done with out the immediacy that is needed to paint when illegal. Plus 5 E is a great venue that holds all types of hip-hop events inside from performance to art shows. So go see.

All aboard!

4) Michigan Central Depot Train Station

But… if the above isn’t enough and you have a little danger side in you, you can always suit up and get out of your pumps, throw on the Timbos w/ spelunking gear, and head over to the Train Station off Michigan and explore years and an array of graffiti art that has been painted inside from top to bottom by a many artist from the area and abroad. I wouldn’t suggest to just waltz on in… there is a fence that is there to keep you out. But look at the fun it would be just to experience breaking in for the sake of art.

Ciao,

S
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Find out more about Shades and his art:
www.shadesdet.com