DDA spends $3,500 a year to help businesses remove graffiti
By Ryan Stanton
The Ann Arbor News
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - There suddenly are a lot more trees in Tree Town.
And not just the many real trees the city of Ann Arbor and Downtown Development Authority have been busy planting along city streets.
Stenciled tree artworks have been popping up on buildings around downtown Ann Arbor and elsewhere in the city in recent days, delighting passersby and raising the question: Who's the mystery artist behind these creations?
It turns out they're the work of Rebecca Arends, a local massage therapist who is on a mission to combat graffiti in the city, and the DDA is helping to fund the effort, according to The Ann Arbor News.
The simple designs, which also feature birds flying and resting in the trees, now adorn a number of buildings that have a history of being tagged by vandals.
They can be found on the side of the Northside Grill, the Family Therapy Associates and Carter's Auto Service buildings, and a vacant building next to Mark's Carts, among other places.
"It seems to be achieving its goal," said Diane Kreger, a therapist at Family Therapy Associates. "She has a certain philosophy as to how these sort of deter graffiti."
Arends, owner of Excelsior Massage Therapy, used stenciled artwork to discourage unwanted graffiti on an often-targeted retaining wall near her business two years ago. At a cost of $70 and four hours of labor, she painted a base color over the patchy wall and stenciled gold stars onto it using spray paint.
Arends said at the time she hoped the transformation would inspire other businesses to attempt similar projects on their own buildings.
The latest stenciled artworks around town represent an evolution of Arends' original idea, and they seem to be well received.
DDA Executive Director Susan Pollay called Arends a community hero and said her efforts to beautify and reclaim her community are to be commended.
The DDA has been allocating $3,500 a year to help downtown business owners and property owners pay for graffiti-removal supplies. But with a limit of $25 per property, not too many of them were taking advantage of those funds.
Pollay said Arends approached the DDA about upping the limit to $100 per property, and the DDA agreed.
That's allowed Arends to pay for the paint and supplies to do what she's doing now at the various properties in cooperation with the owners at no extra charge.
Jim Koli, owner of the Northside Grill, agreed it's a great concept and an excellent way to discourage graffiti.
"She did it all for free," he said. "She approached me, and I know she was approaching the DDA and other people to try and do more."
With trees painted on his building, Koli said, it's less likely to get tagged now. But if it does get tagged, he said, it would be relatively easy to replicate the design.
"So, if it gets tagged, you paint it, and just come right back and you can put it right back up again, so I think it's an excellent concept," he said.
Arends wasn't available for an interview, but she previously spoke about her philosophy on using artwork to discourage unwanted graffiti.
"I would like to say I'm an artist because everyone is an artist, but this has broad appeal because anyone can do it," she said. "I just used a stencil."
She added, "There are all these places that keep getting graffitied. Painting over and stenciling walls is a solution to urban blight that is cheap, quick, and won't bum you out if it gets ruined - it's a quick fix."
Published: Thu, Sep 10, 2015
