DETROIT – Some call it art and others call it vandalism. It covers our buildings and streets all across metro Detroit but two entrepreneurs have discovered a way to use its beauty.
"I was running on the Dequindre Cut one day and I was really inspired by all this graffiti, and I saw a piece that had literally fallen on the ground and I wondered if I could access all the really unique layers that were underneath it," said Amy Peterson. "So I started playing around and sure enough all of these brilliant colors came to light."
With a little ingenuity and a lot of elbow grease, Peterson and Diana Russell have taken the bright colors of an abundant local resource and repurposed it for the masses.
"So this thing that looks like the Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine' album is actually what's underneath graffiti?" asked Mitch Albom.
"Yes," said Russell.
"There's a lot of history in that piece," said Peterson.
The result was Rebel Nell, a unique Detroit-centric jewelry company. Peterson and Russell create the works of art alongside women they hire from area homeless shelters.
"Hearing that a lot of them had gone through so many challenges and really needed someone to believe in them and give them a second shot at life, that really is the catalyst for wanting to start a business that employed, educated and empowered under-served women," said Peterson.
"Women were ready for some sort of transitional opportunity," said Russell.
"They are the complete creative designers," said Peterson. "They are the visionaries of every piece."
Some of Rebel Nell's designs have even inspired some couples.
"It's funny. We have had two people so far propose to their fiancés with our rings," said Russell.
"With graffiti rings?" asked Albom.
"Graffiti rings," said Russell.
"The start of a beautiful relationship," Albom said.
"It is," said Peterson.
Turning scraps of graffiti into wearable art, the ladies of Rebel Nell are designing with their city in mind in the heart of Detroit.
Heart of Detroit