The Heidelberg Project – a collection of abandoned homes and crackhouses in Detroit that look like they were decorated by a bunch of drunken crackheads – has been been chosen to represent the United States in the architecture component of this year’s Venice Biennale, which – according to the Detroit News, “the New York Times calls “arguably the most prestigious contemporary arts festival in the world.” 

I, like many other Detroiters, consider the Heidelberg Project an eyesore that should have been demolished decades ago. Fortunately for Tyree Guyton – the ‘artist’ responsible for the Heidelberg Project – the good folks of suburbia deemed it ‘art’, formed committees to preserve it, and tour groups to come to Detroit and see it. Completely ignoring the fact that they didn’t have to live next door to it. Now the city is stuck with it.

But I digress. I would like to congratulate Tyree Guyton, and all involved. Art is subjective. And since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,  I wish them nothing but the best!