DETROIT – Two Detroit artists are getting national attention for their custom shoes. Sydney G. James and Tony Whlgn designed custom Vans shoes to celebrate Black History Month. She’s black, like, she’s coming out and fully aware of her blackness,” Sydney G James said. I feel like a lot of the conversation in this country has been in black and white,” Tony Whlgn said. READ: ‘Black Art Library’ exhibit at MOCAD celebrates work of artists through booksAdTony Whlgn is a visual artist from Detroit.