In 1997, Robert Wyland painted a 108-foot mural on the Broderick Tower, which has been under renovation for the last year and will finish construction in September. But as the rest of the building got spiffed up, the humpback whale mural did not. And if you don't know what we're talking about, blame Verizon. The Whales are currently covered by a banner for Verizon's 4G network. It seems the owners think of this wall as a billboard and could care less about the art. Wyland wants to restore the mural but so far it is a no-go. Wyland campaigned against the banners, which the building's owners say they use to generate cash from advertisers to pay for the tower's $53 million renovation. Wondering why Whales in the first place? (Us too):
Some people asked, 'Why did you paint whales in Detroit?' I wanted to draw the connection between the lakes and the oceans. They're all connected. We're a water planet. Once you explain it, people get it," he said. · Beached whales? Iconic Detroit mural may fade away; that's fine by owners [Crain's]
· Broderick Tower Archives [Curbed Detroit]
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