IAN WILLMS

Broken Line (2007-2010)

In 1927, the New York Times described the citizens of Detroit as "the most prosperous slice of average humanity that now exists or ever has existed." In 2013, Detroit was the largest American city in history to declare bankruptcy. At that time, one person was moving away from the Motor City every 20 minutes.

When the Big Three automakers discarded Detroit in order to exploit cheaper, unorganized labour overseas, a gaping economic wound was left behind. Working class families ended up trapped in mortgages they could no longer afford and never hope to sell. Open space became Detroit's newest abundant resource.

Since the conclusion of this work in 2010, the open spaces of Detroit have become a new lightning rod for creativity and innovation. There is a whole generation of folks who see Detroit as an opportunity; a blank canvass where a new ideas can have room to grow.

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