Miami, FL
Wynwood artist heartbroken after vandals destroy his iconic street art
As hundreds of thousands of people flock to South Florida for Art Week, one local artist says his heart is broken after vandals tore apart artwork he spent years creating.
Michael Addis, 73, is a fixture in the Wynwood community. His colorful “faces” have become a signature sight on light poles and trees throughout the neighborhood.
“I found an art that can keep my mind straight,” Addis said.
For nearly two decades, Addis lived homeless on the streets of Miami, battling a crack cocaine addiction. He credits art for his sobriety – and for saving his life.
“I invested a lot of money and a lot of time – time and ten years worth of time – well over a couple thousand dollars,” he said.
Artwork ripped apart
Over the weekend, Addis says someone ripped apart his artwork on at least three poles and trees along Northwest Second Avenue, leaving behind only remnants.
“It makes me feel empty, it makes me feel terrible,” Addis said.
Community outraged
Friends and local businesses say they can’t understand why anyone would destroy Addis’ art.
“This guy is a legend in the neighborhood,” said Skam Dust, a friend. “Now I’m seeing this, and I’m even trying to figure out why would this happen?”
ToeJam, a Wynwood business, features Addis’ art inside and outside its building.
“When they go ahead and have his artwork on one of the poles and some New Yorker comes in town, or some other business comes down here, and they take his artwork off the walls – this is what Wynwood was! This is what Wynwood is! It’s disrespectful,” said owner Judd Allison.
A message to the vandal
Addis had one emotional plea for the person responsible.
“Please – just leave me and my art alone,” he said through tears.
Wynwood Walls told CBS News Miami they have video of the man ripping down the artwork. Addis says he plans to keep creating and putting his faces back up.
Watch CBS News
An investigation is underway at a northwest Miami-Dade apartment complex after the sheriff’s office said a man was shot by his girlfriend after a “heated dispute” early Wednesday morning.
Few details have been released, but the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the incident took place at an apartment complex located off Northwest 7th Avenue.
The sheriff’s office said that a man became involved in a “heated dispute” with his girlfriend, and she shot him in the right arm.
He was rushed to a hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue in critical condition.
The woman is in custody.
The identities of those who were involved have not yet been released.
No other information was available.
Game date, time and location: Tuesday, Mar. 3, 7:30 p.m. EST, Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun, YES Network (Brooklyn)
Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida), WFAN 101.9 FM/660 AM (Brooklyn)
VITALS: The Miami Heat (32-29) and Brooklyn Nets (15-45) meet for the second of three regular season matchups. Earlier this season, Miami recorded a, 106-95, win in Brooklyn on December 18 and has now won four of the last five overall against the Nets.
It also marks the first of consecutive games against Brooklyn with the teams facing each other again on Thursday. The Heat are 83-61 all-time versus the Nets during the regular season, including 44-26 in home games and 39-35 in road games.
PROJECTED STARTERS
HEAT
G Davion Mitchell
G Tyler Herro
C Bam Adebayo
F Pelle Larsson
F Andrew Wiggins
NETS
G Nolan Traore
G Terance Mann
C Nic Claxton
F Michael Porter Jr.
F Noah Clowney
INJURY REPORT
HEAT
Davion Mitchell: Questionable – Shoulder
Norman Powell: Out – Groin
Nikola Jovic: Out – Back
Trevor Keels: Available – G League
Jahmir Young: Available – G League
Vlad Goldin: Available – G League
Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team
NETS
Nic Claxton: Probable – Thumb
Egor Demin: Out – Foot
QUOTABLE
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: “Regardless of the scheme is, I always go back to that, it’s just about committing to doing hard things. We were really moving in the zone, taking away airspace and scrambling to challenge shots at the rim. In a lot of these losses in the last month we’ve just been giving up shots at the rim and threes.”
For more Miami Heat information and conversation, check out Off The Floor.
Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at Twitter: @tropicalblanket
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