Tyree Guyton
Encyclopedia
Tyree Guyton is an artist from Detroit
, Michigan
, born on August 24, 1955. He is married to Jenenne Whitfield and lives within Detroit city limits. Before becoming an artist, Guyton worked as a firefighter and an autoworker and served in the U.S. Army. Guyton studied art at Marygrove College
, Wayne State University
, and the Center for Creative Studies—now College for Creative Studies
. Guyton counts his grandfather, Sam Mackey, and Detroit artist Charles McGee as his greatest influences.
Since creating the Heidelberg Project
with his grandfather in 1986, Guyton has received international recognition as an artist, educator, and community leader. Although he is an honorary director on the Heidelberg Project
board of directors, in recent years he has concentrated his efforts on his art exhibitions as well as on lecturing and teaching. In 2007, Guyton accepted a position teaching an honors program at the Wayne State University
.
Tyree Guyton's work has been installed and displayed across the world, including a feature in 1999 by the United States Department of State
in the Art in Embassies Program with an exhibition in the American Embassy in Quito, Ecuador. Permanent installations of his work have been established in Sydney, Australia, at the Detroit Institute of Arts
, and in Mount Vernon, New York
.
Tyree Guyton has received the following awards for his contributions as an artist and humanitarian: Wayne County
International Artist Award (2003), Award of Recognition, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
(2002), Best Known Artist in Metro Detroit, Detroit Free Press
(2001), "Michigan Artist of the Year," Governor John Engler
, State of Michigan (1992), Humanity in the Arts Award, Wayne State University
(1992), "Michiganian of the Year Award," State of Michigan (1991), David A. Harmond Memorial Scholarship (1990), "Testimonial Resolution Award," Wayne County, Lansing, Michigan
(1990), "Spirit of Detroit Award," Detroit City Council, Detroit, Michigan
(1989).
In 1999, Tyree Guyton was the subject of an HBO Films documentary, "Come Unto Me: The Faces of Tyree Guyton". This film won numerous honors, including an Emmy Award for editing in 2000 and honorable mention at the Sundance Film Festival
for director Nicole Cattell.
In 2005, Guyton and the Heidelberg Project
were featured on the Vision TV
documentary "Urban Shrines", produced by Toronto-based Markham Street Films. In 2007 Guyton's work was included in the French documentary "Detroit: The Cycles of the Mental Machine", featuring Techno
artists Mike Banks
and Carl Craig
, by director Jacqueline Caux.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, born on August 24, 1955. He is married to Jenenne Whitfield and lives within Detroit city limits. Before becoming an artist, Guyton worked as a firefighter and an autoworker and served in the U.S. Army. Guyton studied art at Marygrove College
Marygrove College
Marygrove College is an independent, Catholic, liberal arts college located in Detroit, Michigan. The college is sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.-History:...
, Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, and the Center for Creative Studies—now College for Creative Studies
College for Creative Studies
College for Creative Studies is an art education institution in the United States and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. It is a private, fully accredited, four-year college located in Detroit, Michigan...
. Guyton counts his grandfather, Sam Mackey, and Detroit artist Charles McGee as his greatest influences.
Since creating the Heidelberg Project
Heidelberg Project
The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art project in Detroit, Michigan. It was created in 1986 by artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather Sam Mackey as an outdoor art environment in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood on the city's east side, just north of the city's historically African-American Black...
with his grandfather in 1986, Guyton has received international recognition as an artist, educator, and community leader. Although he is an honorary director on the Heidelberg Project
Heidelberg Project
The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art project in Detroit, Michigan. It was created in 1986 by artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather Sam Mackey as an outdoor art environment in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood on the city's east side, just north of the city's historically African-American Black...
board of directors, in recent years he has concentrated his efforts on his art exhibitions as well as on lecturing and teaching. In 2007, Guyton accepted a position teaching an honors program at the Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
.
Tyree Guyton's work has been installed and displayed across the world, including a feature in 1999 by the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in the Art in Embassies Program with an exhibition in the American Embassy in Quito, Ecuador. Permanent installations of his work have been established in Sydney, Australia, at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is a renowned art museum in the city of Detroit. In 2003, the DIA ranked as the second largest municipally owned museum in the United States, with an art collection valued at more than one billion dollars...
, and in Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
.
Tyree Guyton has received the following awards for his contributions as an artist and humanitarian: Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
International Artist Award (2003), Award of Recognition, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Malik Kilpatrick is a former mayor of Detroit, Michigan. Kilpatrick's mayorship was plagued by numerous scandals and rampant accusations of corruption, with the mayor eventually resigning after being charged with ten felony counts, including perjury and obstruction of justice...
(2002), Best Known Artist in Metro Detroit, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
(2001), "Michigan Artist of the Year," Governor John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
, State of Michigan (1992), Humanity in the Arts Award, Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
(1992), "Michiganian of the Year Award," State of Michigan (1991), David A. Harmond Memorial Scholarship (1990), "Testimonial Resolution Award," Wayne County, Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
(1990), "Spirit of Detroit Award," Detroit City Council, Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
(1989).
In 1999, Tyree Guyton was the subject of an HBO Films documentary, "Come Unto Me: The Faces of Tyree Guyton". This film won numerous honors, including an Emmy Award for editing in 2000 and honorable mention at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
for director Nicole Cattell.
In 2005, Guyton and the Heidelberg Project
Heidelberg Project
The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art project in Detroit, Michigan. It was created in 1986 by artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather Sam Mackey as an outdoor art environment in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood on the city's east side, just north of the city's historically African-American Black...
were featured on the Vision TV
Vision TV
VisionTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts multi-faith, multicultural, and general entertainment programming aimed at the 45 and over demographic....
documentary "Urban Shrines", produced by Toronto-based Markham Street Films. In 2007 Guyton's work was included in the French documentary "Detroit: The Cycles of the Mental Machine", featuring Techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
artists Mike Banks
Mike Banks (musician)
Michael Anthony Banks, better known as "Mad" Mike Banks, is an American techno producer. He is the co-founder, along with Jeff Mills, of US record label Underground Resistance and was a key player in the "second generation" of Detroit techno....
and Carl Craig
Carl Craig
Carl Craig is a Detroit-based producer of techno music, and is considered to be one of the most important names in the Detroit second generation of techno producers and DJs...
, by director Jacqueline Caux.