Philadelphia artist battling eminent domain decision
“In powerful simplicity, the mural painted on the exterior of James Dupree’s art studio tells the story of the battle between the renowned artist and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Seemingly creeping out of the wall, a grotesque human hand reaches for a building, the fingers looking more like an octopus’ tentacles than normal human digits. Dupree has painted a warning just below.
“HANDS OFF My Business.”
That concise phrase captures Dupree’s fight over the past year. In December 2012, the authority used eminent domain to condemn the three-lot property that Dupree bought in 2005, all to make way for a state-subsidized grocery store.
Dupree has used art to fight back, painting the mural to protest the seizure of his 8,000-square foot studio in Philadelphia’s Mantua neighborhood. He’s responded other ways, too — by partnering with the Institute for Justice to raise awareness, taking his objections to court and rallying support through an online petition at Change.org.”
Staub, Andrew. Pennsylvania Independent 9 January 2014.