Born 1973, Erickson Emerson Kloock (aka - eDOT) has spent much of his life searching for what he calls "Decayed Vision"; which is basically the purpose behind his decades of sketching and painting. "I have always had an appreciation for art; but as a child and young adult, I never considered pursuing a career as an Artist. I've always beleived that I had talent, but in the past, I had a hard time finding what inspired me".

That was until an old friend introduced him to ‘Urban Decay’ photography. “To this day I remember when it hit me (inspiration), my first exploration of the MCS (Michigan Central Station). My first step on to the roof was captivating. I was speechless. I had spent my entire life in and around Detroit, and it wasn’t till that moment, that I knew why I was here. It was like I was given a 6th sense, a dimension of sight that I had never seen... Decayed Vision”. Laughing, he further said “then my second step, went through a hole in the roof”.

But from that moment on eDOT was a full blown addict and his ‘drug of choice’ has been Art; specifically ‘urban decay’. He hopes that his gallery of decay “promotes thought and conversation” because he beleives that alone, will bring Social Awareness and Change to the city of Detroit.

      I scour the streets of one of the nations most dangerous and poverty stricken neighborhoods. I explore the back alleys and dark corners that most fear. I climb through broken windows of both commercial and residential buildings that have been abandoned and left for dead. I am an artist with a DECAYED VISION. And for the past 5 years, I have been primarily focused on and influenced by Urban Decay in the Motor City.

      In regards to the current economical state of Michigan, many point the finger of blame at the "Big 3". But the decline in the Auto Industry has only tipped the scale here in Detroit. The overall status of this region is a bit more complex. The population has steadily declined since the beginning of "White Flight" in the 1950's. Though it’s hard to be exact, most recent estimates place the city’s population as being just over 800,000. Decades of mismanagement have severely anchored the local government and public school systems. With the number of foreclosures growing daily, no one knows just how many abandoned homes tarnish Detroit’s 143sq. miles. The DVPC (Detroit Vacant Property Campaign) showed the number of vacant addresses being a whopping 72,527 as of March of 2008. That's 18% of the total listed addresses in the city of Detroit (393,607). Now showing the full effects of the countries Recession, we Fast forward 2 years, and that number has surely increased dramatically. For decades we assumed that the manufacturing jobs of the Big 3 would blanket us from the cold winters of Detroit and protect us from the "ups and downs" of our nation’s economy. Unfortunately we we're wrong, very wrong! Despite an official unemployment rate of 27% (Bureau of Labor & Statistics), the Detroit News recently reported that Mayor Dave Bing estimated it "closer to 50 percent". He went on to state that the city's "official unemployment rate" was as believable as Santa Claus (12-16-09 detnews.com). Official or unofficial, the number is staggering!

      Putting the “blame game” aside and getting away from the boring politics and statistics, Detroit is in crisis. In comparison to the recent tragedy in Haiti, I believe Detroit has experienced an economic earthquake that has leveled the Motor City. Take a drive through the streets and one can easily argue that Detroit is in full-blown Depression. To me, Detroit now defines Urban Decay! That’s where I come in. No, I’m not another politician promising change, nor am I a superhero ridding the city of crime. I am merely an artist trying to help bring happiness to Detroit. I scour the city’s darkest corners looking to artistically photograph the grit and grime. I hope that my art intrigues people, creates thought and conversation; but more importantly, I hope that it will someday lead to Social Awareness and Change. I want you to experience the blood, sweat and tears of Detroit. City Officials and Police alike look down upon “urban exploring” and to a certain extent, rightfully so. Drug Dealers, crack-heads, gangbangers, pitbulls and the homeless are just a few of the dangers I encounter frequently. Many of the buildings I enter are severely decayed and are no longer structurally sound. Floors and roofs fall in and walls crumble regularly. There are risks of asbestos exposure, chemical and toxic waste from illegal dumping, stagnant water, black mold and the list goes on. But buried beneath all the dirt and negative publicity, behind the FBI statistics and rankings, Detroit has beauty. The people here have not given up, we don't know how! We are the backbone of the "blue-collared" and we will continue to survive by any means neccessary. So despite all the obstacles I face, I stand diligent in my pursuit, my “Pursuit of Happiness” for Detroit.