I kind of can't believe I'm actually typing these words: Detroit officially has a 10-foot bronze RoboCop watching over Eastern Market.
On Wednesday morning he was brought out of his secret storage facility to Russell Street, outside of the studio of FREE AGE in Detroit.
By the afternoon, I had watched something that started as a whimsical idea become reality.
Once the big boy got moving, nearly a decade and half of work came together in less than an hour.
The result is that an amazingly detailed, 10-foot bronze RoboCop that will greet generations to come.
Sparked by a viral 2011 tweet comparing Detroit's need for a RoboCop statue to Philadelphia's Rocky statue, the project grew through massive community collaboration.
After a few possible homes and overcoming all kinds of obstacles, Eastern Market ended up with it next to FREE AGE, a production and creative studio at 3434 Russell Street.
The statue stands 10 feet tall, weighs approximately 2.5 tons, and is made of bronze. It's a screen-accurate recreation of the original 1987 film costume.
Cast at Venus Bronze Works in Detroit, the same foundry responsible for iconic landmarks like The Spirit of Detroit and The Joe Louis Fist, the artisanship is stunning.
Some years ago I got to hold a few pieces of Robo in my hand.
As the son of a sculptor — although I have the artistic talent of a tomato — I can recognize when others have amazing abilities.
The project expanded from a planned 6-foot iron statue to a 10-foot bronze monument with input from sculptors, fabricators, and thousands of Kickstarter backers.
Final installation was made possible through collaboration between MGM Studios, The Imagination Station of Roosevelt Park, Omni Consumer Products, Eastern Market, FREE AGE, and Amazon.
“Public art has long been part of Eastern Market’s landscape, reflecting the creativity and collaboration that have shaped this district over time... We welcome the RoboCop statue to the district as the newest addition to that landscape,” said Katy Trudeau, President and CEO of Eastern Market Partnership.
To the creators, it represents Detroit's grit, humor, creativity, resilience, and community spirit. A testament to persistence and collaborative effort, honoring one of the best science fiction and action films of the 1980s.
To me, RoboCop remains relevant as a film for its deep exploration of what it means to be human amid technological and corporate control. It pulls together action and social satire — while looking at our own humanity, our identity, corporate greed, and political critique.
I'm told to look for an official event to celebrate this in the spring.
You're going to want to follow our Daily Detroit podcast for more Robo content on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.
With Noel Night taking a hiatus this year, join more than 50 of your favorite Midtown, Detroit destinations at Merry Midtown, a festive evening of shopping, dining, and fun in the spirit of the beloved annual holiday tradition.
This festive, family-friendly event will take place this Saturday, December 6 from 5p - 9p in Detroit's Midtown.
Look for ice carving demonstrations, carolers, mobile photo booths, Frosty the Snowman, a Christmas tree on stilts, Santa Claus, fire jugglers, flow dancers and more throughout the neighborhood!
🍻 Also on the Daily Detroit podcast: Barchaeologist and journalist Mickey Lyons joins me to talk about the hottest new bars around town, tips on what to order, and places you might not think of to go for a night out. [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify]
You'll want to check out her 14 picks for the best new bars over on Eater, too.
That's it for today. Thanks for reading and sharing your inbox with me, and thanks again to Ryan Southen for the photos. Check out his work here.
Talk soon,
-Jer
