Limited-edition prints of David "Meggs" Hooke's mural on Russell Street are sold in two sizes at Inner State Gallery on Gratiot.
Detroit gains a vivid leave-behind from Los Angeles artist David Hooke's recent trip to open an exhibit of 40 works by him at Inner State Gallery on Gratiot alongside Eastern Market.
The visitor, who signs his works as "Meggs," is a street artist as well as a fine art painter raised in Melbourne, Australia. His timely gift to the city is a 6,000-square-foot wall mural of a roaring Tiger and the words "Rise Up" -- a mantra for the baseball team and the city.
David "Meggs" Hooke is a painter and street artist from Melbourne, Australia.
It's at Russell and Trombly, between Piquette and East Milwaukee in the Milwaukee Junction area.
"It was created as my homage and direct reference to the city of Detroit," Hooke says in an Instagram post quoted by Jordan Skole at the Remake Detroit blog.
It's his biggest solo wall mural, says the artist, who adds:
"The power of a Tiger and its relationship with Detroit now represents a continuing symbol of tenacity & hope for a new era of positive change and regrowth.
"As soon as I created the piece, I knew that when I painted a mural for the city I wanted to use this image and elaborate on it, focusing more on the tiger and the words Rise Up, emphasizing the energy and momentum of forward motion and self-empowerment. It was my way of giving back to a city that had welcomed me, inspired me and allowed me to take from it to expand my own work & ideals."
-- Alan Stamm
