Artist to use parts of Rosa Parks home for project

DETROIT, Mich. - An artist is planning on taking the home of Rosa Parks to use as an art installation in Berlin.

The niece of Rosa Parks and artist Ryan Mendoza tell us there has actually been some opposition over the project. It will take the home Parks lived in during the late 1950s in Detroit overseas.
They say America needs to truly appreciate her legacy.

Rhea McCauley, one of Parks' living nieces, bought the house on South Deacon Street in November 2014. They paid $500 for it from the Detroit Land Bank Authority with the hopes of restoring the blighted property.

McCauley says the "Rosa Parks Foundation" had a difficult time finding help for the restoration project.

"I know she has streets named after her and medals and awards, but I'm talking about truly understanding the significance of Auntie Rosa," said McCauley. "And I have talked to young people and they don't even know who my aunt is. And that's a shame. It's not their fault, but we as a country need to acknowledge, and if we can't , you know, I'll take her where she is acknowledged."

Artist Ryan Mendoza has received some backlash in the past for some of his work. You may recall the White House Project, the deconstruction and recreation overseas of an abandoned Detroit house.
Mendoza asked GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump to live in the house, which caused an uproar.

Mendoza spoke about that and his new project.

"That's something I think people in Detroit should know something about," said Mendoza. "They should know that a house from Detroit, instead of being demolished is remembered."

Unlike the White House Project, Mendoza says pieces of the house are being reconstructed for his Berlin studio. Mendoza hopes to showcase it before it's brought back to the U.S., something Rosa Parks' niece is happy about.

"America will have to show they really care about her legacy," said McCauley. "This is something that me and my family, we've been fighting for forever. It's her legacy, but it's got to be the right legacy. It's got to be where children, generations from ourselves, you know, will understand the significance of a personality and a person like Auntie Rosa."

The house on Deacon Street was Rosa Parks' first home in Detroit.

She lived there between 1957-1959, before she resided elsewhere in the city.

Mendoza didn't care to share many details on how his final project will look.