Your Daily Art

Tag: Detroit Institute of Arts

  • The scene so nice, it’s painted twice.

    The Trappers Return, 1851 by George Caleb Bingham, Detroit Institute of Arts.

    Bingham made a living painting portraits early in his career as an artist, but eventually switched to genre paintings like this. In this version you can see more of a resemblance to a bear cub.

  • Goldie and Bubbles

    Leisure Hours by John Everett Millais, The Detroit Institute of Arts.

    Late in his career, Millais gave up the idealisim of his youth and the PRB and created very popular and sentimental pieces. He was also quite sought after as a portrait artist for his ability to create beautiful paintings around his subjects.

  • In Honor of Labor

    Detroit Industry, South Wall detail, 1932-33 by Diego Rivera, The Detroit Institute of Arts.

    Rivera was at the height of his popularity when he was commissioned to create two large murals representing the auto industry. As a follower of Trotsky, Rivera took the opportunity to celebrate all workers and their important contribution to American Industry.

    Detroit Institute of Arts Rivera Court
    Detroit Institute of Arts Rivera Court

  • Circling the Wagons Around the Art

    There is an article in the New York Times about foundations pooling resources to cover the portion of the pension bailout that Orr was looking at some of the DIA’s art to cover.

  • Art for All

    Everyone knows about the financial and societal woes of Detroit. The once grand and prospering city has been in decline for decades now and an emergency manager was appointed in March which gave fiscal control to the state instead of the city. Last week the news came out that all city interests are being examined as possible revenue streams, up to and including, the city owned Detroit Institute of Arts. Now in all probability, the city would not be able to sell off assets given in trust or as gifts to the institution and the idea has already sparked a backlash in the museum community who would take it as a direct assault on museums in general. Even the suggestion of looting the collection really drives home how desperate situation is. The DIA owns some spectacular pieces, a Brueghel any museum would love to own, a beautiful Caravaggio, the painting by Whistler that sparked (pun intended) the legendary Whistler vs. Ruskin case, a sublime Bingham, and of course the Rivera Court, just to name a few. Perhaps all this publicity will remind people the depth and beauty of the collection and how a visit, over the course of the summer, to see it  for themselves would do the DIA and the city good.