A: No.
Deliberately avoiding the scores of national media searching for stories and video that highlight Detroit’s urban decay, while concurrently fighting off the temptation to follow the Dateline NBC crew for a grilled raccoon snack, I recently decided to head to the city’s Cultural Center to visit an old friend, the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Been there lately? It’s better than ever.
Recognized as one of the country’s premier art museums, the DIA was founded in 1885 and moved to its current location in 1927. Two wings were added in the 60s and 70s, and a major expansion and renovation was completed in 2007. With over 60,000 works, the DIA is the fifth-largest fine arts museum in the U.S.
The DIA is well known for the diversity of its collection – geographically, culturally, stylistically and historically. A couple of quick notes:
- The museum is over 650,000 square feet, with more than 100 galleries, a 1,150-seat auditorium and a 380-seat lecture/recital hall.
- Collections include Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry fresco, which he considered his most successful U.S. work, and Vincent van Gogh’s Self Portrait, the first of his paintings to enter a U.S. museum collection.
- The collection includes works by Audubon, Bernini, Bruegal, Calder, Degas, Donatello, Homer, Matisse, Michelangelo, Monet, O’Keeffe, Picasso, Rembrant, Rodin, Rubens, Warhol, Whistler and Wyeth, as well as hundreds of others.
- The American painting collection is ranked third in the country, and its collection of European art is one of the nation’s largest and most distinguished.
The museum continually runs special exhibits from all parts of the world, and has a Friday Night Live program for all ages, featuring live music, art workshops and drawing areas set up in many of the galleries. I discover something new on each visit to the facility.
If you’ve never been there, or if it’s been some time since you’ve visited, I promise that you’ll find something of interest for everyone, even the kids. The contrast to the city’s other “image” is huge.
Alan V 05/10/2010
I’m a big fan of modern art. Going to the DIA for me is like going to church.
Rhonda L. 05/11/2010
Visiting the DIA is one of my favorite things to do. What a fabulous place!!! That reminds me, it is about time for another visit….love the photos. Great blog!
D. E. Allen 05/12/2010
Bob, you never cease to amaze me. I’m not a big fan of blogs, mostly because they are usually inane and ego centric. You seem to be more of the inciteful, lucid sort. I’m about to return from a trip to Spain which included visits to the Prado, Miro and Thyssen (sp?) museums. While some may be larger, none is better presented and, unfortunately less appreciated than Detroit’s own DIA. You did it justice.
Perry 05/12/2010
Two important points brought out that we forget or didn’t know, the american painting collection reanking third in the nation (didn’t know and why isn’t this known – MI or Det chamber of commerce not doing there job selling the city?)and the contrast in images is “huge!” (forgot its there)..again our local media is either stale or complacement or both and does nothing to represent those ongoing gems in the current rough landscape that can balance out the negativity…possibly turn the tide to the more positive as this article accomplished.