Buzz: Ruins of Detroit

{via}

Detroit, Michigan, was one of the top American cities at one point, but we've all heard of its slow down-fall over the past few years. While there are still some good things happening in Detroit, its population has dropped 1 million since 1950 and unemployment is at 20.5%. The economic downfall has been referenced in lots of media, including the movie Up in the Air and even in one of the latest Superman comics. It is hard times.

Most of us see the economic despair as nothing but sad news... because it means lost opportunity, the falling apart of families and lives, not to mention the failing of the American Dream that Detroit once stood for. (Here's a really good article about the decline of Detroit and other cities in America.)

But recently, two French artists came to town and found beauty in the ruins. In their statement they write:

Ruins are the visible symbols and landmarks of our societies 
and their changes, small pieces of history in suspension.

Here are a few of their pictures, all found on the artist's website, so you can see for yourself (and buy from Amazon, if you wish):

The photgraphs just go on and on... each one more inspiring than the last. Head over to the artist's website marchandmeffre.com to see more, and learn more about the artists.

(I first read about Yves marchand and Romain Meffre on this blog)