Detroit Institute of Arts
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| Photo courtesy of http://detroit1701.org/Detroit%20Institute%20of%20Art.html |
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202
313.833.7900
Closed Mondays
AT A GLANCE: Detroit Institute of Arts
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Parking
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There is free parking
on the side streets surrounding the Detroit Institute of Arts. Otherwise, secured parking is available in the lot off
John R Street, just south of Kirby $7 fee
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Amount of time needed
to peruse exhibits
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2 – 4 hours
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Amount of time needed
for gift shop
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60-90 minutes
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Dress code
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Dress
respectfully.
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Be sure to…..
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Touch Artie the Donkey
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Take the FREE Rivera Court tour (stop by the information to find out
more)
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Participate in a “Hands On” workshop
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Nearby/other
establishments to visit
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Walkability, general
downtown area / amount of traffic
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You will need a car,
or other transportation.
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Safety, in terms of
type and number of crimes committed in general area
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Detroit is a large
urban center that attracts many types of people, and the areas around the
museums are generally safe. Please
keep valuables out of site and lock your car, to keep the honest people
honest. Be aware of your surroundings.
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If you have to ask why you should visit the Detroit
Institute of Art (DIA), I give you three great reasons and one good reason.
- Great reason #1: “The DIA’s collection is among the top six in the United States.” That’s a direct quote from the DIA website: About the DIA.
- Great reason #2: The Detroit Industry fresco cycle by Mexican artist Diego Rivera. “It is considered the finest example of Mexican mural art in the United States,” which is a direct quote from the DIA website: Diego Rivera Murals.
- Great reason #3: Sunday afternoon concerts in the Kresge Gallery: DIA Events Calendar.
- Good reason #1: Residents of Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb Counties in Michigan enjoy FREE admission. Honest, take a look Millage Benefits.
Visit.
Surround yourself with beauty.
Even if you have serious issues with museums, visit the DIA anyway. Beside art, the DIA sponsors lectures and
activities that anyone would appreciate.
We attended a lecture awhile back regarding Arabic rug patterns. When the lecture was over, I felt like I knew
everything, and more, about Arabic rugs.
I didn’t, but that’s not the point.
Being at the DIA will leave you with a bit more understanding then you
had when you first walked through the door.
Detroit Institute of Arts Mission Statement:
Creating experiences that help each visitor find
personal meaning in art.
Upfront gift shop suggestion:
Go through once to see everything. Go through again to really see things. Go through one last time and select items to
purchase. It’s acceptable to recharge in
the DIA cafeteria between rounds. Rest
your feet, sip your coffee, and formulate a shopping plan of attack. Allow yourself no more than 25 minutes of
downtime. Any less, and you won’t fee
fresh and rested, and anything more will lure you into a false sense of
security that can fog your shopping mojo.
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| Gift Shop Entrance |
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| Books! |
About this time you need to get a shopping route
fixed in your mind, because you don’t want to miss
anything. After the book section, we usually continue
along the back wall where items crafted by local artists are displayed. Silk displays color in a wondrous way, and
the silk scarves here are a testament to all that is good and beautiful about
silk. Need a decorative object for your
home or office? The gift shop sells
bright ceramic tiles and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired stained glass
objects.
I like the selection of children’s souvenirs here. They can purchase branded pencils, finger puppets, and a myriad of other kid things for themselves. If you need to buy a gift for a child, you’ll find branded t-shirts, coloring books, and introductory art books.
Work your way to the front, left corner (the wall opposite the book display) to the art reproduction area. We have been known to buy
There are an incredible amount of layers in this
gift shop, any which one caters to a different level of artist / art
lover. We’re not done yet. It’s time to peruse the interior of the DIA
gift shop. The glass counters are located
here, and you know what that means.
There’s going to be some good stuff there. My heart beats faster and my breathing gets
shallow and rapid whenever I approach the jewelry counter. It’s a tossup as to which part of the gift
shop is my favorite: books or jewelry. I
think you’ll face this same dilemma, being the savvy shopper that you are. The gift shop has a phenomenal selection of
jewelry, whether you like demure pieces or you lean toward the statement
pieces. Odds are that you will never
come across someone else wearing the same item.
The selection changes, so you may see different things upon each
visit.
Warning: you may need another 25-minute time-out in
the cafeteria before approaching the jewelry.
When drooling over the jewelry, think back to the
discussion we had a few weeks ago about branding. We know that a place’s brand is contingent on
past images and events. I argue that
re-branding, as used in today’s verbiage, is impossible. It’s akin to a friend changing outfits; it’s
still the same friend. The DIA gift shop
not only embraces the museum’s brand, it incorporates the brand of the City of
Detroit. I bring this up now, because it’s
apparent in the jewelry display. See
those cufflinks behind the glass? They’re
made from melting down illegal guns confiscated in Detroit. Where else but Detroit, and the DIA?
I don’t want to come right out and challenge you to not
find something exciting to buy in the gift shop. Several of you can be quite stubborn (you
know who you are), and will refuse to buy anything to prove me wrong. C’mon now…why would you want to deny yourself
something as beautiful and unique as yourself?
You deserve it. If you change
your mind later and want to purchase something that you saw in the gift shop,
the DIA has a great online shopping DIA Online Shopping.
Their merchandise supports the museum’s collections
and mission. It also supports your gift giving needs. Remember the “friend rule:” if you buy
something as a gift to give, you need to buy something for yourself. The universe just works that way. I would find it hard to believe that you
could not find a half-dozen things you wanted to purchase, because it’s that
good of a gift shop. With the holidays
approaching, bypass all of the hoopla and plan a visit to the DIA gift
shop. This is a large and well-stocked
shop that offers gifts and insights for all levels of art lovers. It raises and inspires your curiosity, which
is a good thing.
Ready for lunch?
Get back in your car and drive to West Canfield Street, to the corner of
Second and Canfield, where you have your choice of two restaurants: Traffic Jams or Motor City BrewingWorks.. The brewery is mainly a pizza
and beer joint, but the pizza is sooooo good.
Traffic Jam (TJ’s) is a full menu establishment, and practices
sustainability by growing their own vegetables in a rooftop garden, weather
permitting. Try the meatloaf. TJ’s performs culinary miracles with this
basic, ordinary dish. I’m also addicted
to their sweet potato fries. Live on the
edge, you cool traveler, and dip your fries into mayonnaise as they do in
Europe. Wow your friends with this
mayonnaise info and they will regard you with such awe that they may be inspired
to pick up the tab. Score one for
you.
You’ve had a long day. Head back to your home, or hotel, to
rest. Pour yourself an adult beverage
and put your feet up. You’ve covered a lot
of ground, and seen many things. When
someone mentions “Detroit,” you know the real story, and it involves art.
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