From blight to beauty

The Tyree Guyton story has been begging for a lavishlyillustrated and wonderfully written children’s book. Now, J. H.Shapiro, formerly known as Jane and formerly of the Lansing area andnow living in Portland, Ore., has written “Magic Trash,” a beautifullytold story about one of Michigan’s most beautiful people.

The book is illustrated by Vanessa Newtown, who wiselyused some of the same techniques Guyton uses in his own work to evoke asense of merriment in found pieces.

Detroit artist Guyton started painting his Heidelbergneighborhood 25 years ago. He had returned to his childhood home afterserving in the Army and attending art school, only to find vacantdilapidated and abandoned houses. Where some saw blight, Guyton saw ablank canvas, which he turned into an elaborate display of housesdecorated with polka dots, stripes and every imaginable shape, all inbright colors.

His neighborhood is famous worldwide, but it is stillcontroversial. In 1991 and 1999, city officials sent bulldozers todestroy his art, claiming it stood in the way of planned urbanredevelopment projects.

Nowadays, Guyton gets grants from government andnon-profit agencies to install his sculptures. Last spring, he put10,000 useable shoes and boots on a city block with the intent to givethem away to those who needed them.

You can learn more about the Heidelberg Project at www.heidelberg.org

Shapiro answered questions about her new work:

How did you discover Tyree Guyton and what piqued your interest in writing about him?

“I discovered Tyree Guyton’s art seven years ago while adocent at the Kresge Art Museum on the Michigan State Universitycampus. His American flag-painted workman’s lunchbox locked inside abirdcage inspired adults to write poetry and (inspired) children toreach out to touch. Then I saw the short film ‘Come Unto Me: The Facesof Tyree Guyton.’ and I knew that Tyree’s true story had the elementsof a good children’s book including antagonists, crashes and, finally,a satisfying ending.” 

What was the hardest part for you in writing the book?

“A challenge for me, as with all stories, was to stayfocused and not to try to tell everything. In Tyree’s story I wroteonly about his life as it relates to art. There was much about his lifeof which I still know little. For example, several of his brothers havebeen ‘lost to the streets,’ but I don’t know details.  Thisbook was only about his art, so I focused on his relationship with hisgrandfather, who gave him the paintbrush and told him, ‘paint yourworld.’ I liked this message for all children. Tyree’s Grandpa Sam, bythe way, was a step-grandfather. The two of them just happened to hitit off.”

What is your observation about children’s reactions to the book and how his art influences those around him?

“Tyree’s art is important because it transformed acast-off neighborhood into a multi-colored sculpture park made of foundobjects. The neighborhood seemed to grow in strength even as it wasattacked with criticism and bulldozers. Tyree says, ‘Some people get itand some don’t.’ And that seems O.K. to him, as long as his work isleft standing.

“One day when I visited Heidelberg Street with my husbandand a Detroit friend, Tyree showed us a huge metal sculpture being castfor installation in downtown Detroit. We were all thrilled to watch theprocess and eager to know the results. Later, we were sad to learn thatthe city had rejected the piece because of technicalities in theprocess of commissioning it. So controversy lives on. However, thestatue has finally been installed at a different location downtown.

“On the day of this visit we watched a dance group createa performance piece and a graduate student lay bricks for an entrywaymonument. People continue to be inspired by Tyree’s work.”

Practically speaking, how did you work with such a busy artist as Guyton?

“Most of my communication during the years of working onthis book has been with Jenenne Whitfield, Tyree’s wife and thedirector of Heidelberg Project. Tyree has usually been busy creatingart and often talking with visitors on Heidelberg, while Jenenne takescare of management. Thus, when I asked Jenenne, “What size paintbrushdid Grandpa Sam give to 9-year-old Tyree?” she asked Tyree, thene-mailed his answer. Both Tyree and Jenenne have been consistentlyfriendly and eager for the children’s book, but without Jenenne’s helpthis book might not have been published. I’m donating half my authorroyalties to the Heidelberg Project.”

Didn’t you belong to a writing group? How did that work?

“Before I moved to Portland, I belonged to the fabulousLansing children’s writers group that still meets at Schuler Books. Weeach brought work, read it and then gained by all the comments fromother members. One moment that stands out in my memory: Debbie Diesenreading a rhyming story. Then (another member) commented, “If thisdoesn’t get published, nothing will.” Do I need to say that Debbie’s‘Pout-Pout Fish’ went on to make a big splash? (Diesen is a localchildren’s book author living in Grand Ledge.)

This writers’ group is part of the national organization,the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. If anyonereading this is interested in writing for children, please join SCBWI.More information is available at www.scbwi.org.”

Have you started another book?

“Currently, I’m writing a novel with a 10-year-oldprotagonist, and two picture books. These may be lucky enough to bebound as books some day or they may rest quietly in my files ofunpublished stories. Time will tell.”