A past DIA piece by Shirley Woodson Take it to the Llimit 2013, an acrylic on canvas 40×40.
Unbeknownst to some Detroiters and well-known to others is that the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is one of the nation’s premier museums, ranking as a top-five arts center and exhibition institution. Founded in the late 1800s, DIA is one of the oldest museums in the United States. Yet, many may not realize that DIA is also a pioneer and leader in securing African American art, having established the nation’s first curatorial department and galleries dedicated to collecting and exhibiting the works of Black artists.
“We have been collecting very seriously in this area since the 1940s,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA’s Director. “We have one of the best collections of African American art in the world. We are totally committed to increasing the awareness of the contributions of Black artists to the arts community.”
Salort-Pons is proud of DIA’s General Motors Center for African American Art. The collection, he said, ranges from the -mid-19th century to today and has almost 600 works of art, including paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and photographs, all by Black artists locally and around the globe.
“Our mission,” said Salort-Pons, “is to highlight African American artists, American history, society and creative expressions from an African American perspective. It’s very important for us to tell that story.”
DIA is currently exhibiting artworks by Shirley Woodson, renowned Detroit artist, educator and advocate. “Shirley Woodson: Shield of the Nile Reflections,” which has been on display since December of last year and runs through June 12, is described as vibrant and dream-like.
“This exhibit has been a national focus,” Salort-Pons said. “NBC Sunday Morning Show featured her exhibition here at the DIA. The mission of the DIA is to talk about and highlight Detroit’s creative talent. Shirley is a great example of that. The museum is buying a painting in her exhibition to show support for Detroit artists.”
According to Salort-Pons, DIA’s collection holds artworks by numerous prominent Black artists, including Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas, Robert Duncanson, Charles McGee, Emma Amos, Titus Kaphar, Rashid Johnson. Black artists with local roots include Judy Bowman, Bre’Ann White and Tylonn Sawyer.
Another brilliant exhibit was “Black is Beautiful: The Photography of Kwame Braithwaite.” It was combined with another exhibit, “The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion.” The combined exhibits recently closed, but according to Salort-Pons, drew almost 80,000 people.
When deciding what Black art exhibitions, collections and new acquisitions come to the museum, Salort-Pons credits Valerie Mercer, curator and head of DIA’s African American Art Department, along with Juana Williams, associate curator of African American art — for being instrumental in the in-depth process. Both Mercer and Williams are African American.
While one would think that the DIA and the neighboring Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History are competitors, Salort-Pons, said it’s the opposite.
“We have a very good relationship with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History,” he said. “President and CEO Neil Barclay is a friend of mine, and we have worked together. Right now, there is collaboration on what is called the DIA Plaza Project, which is the transformation of DIA’s exterior into a Cultural Town Square in our community. Also, in 2017, we worked directly with the Wright Museum in the award-winning ‘Art of Rebellion: Black Art of the Civil Rights Movement,’ an exhibit at DIA.”
The exhibit featured paintings, sculptures and photographs primarily by African American artists commemorating the 1967 Detroit rebellion through the lens of art.
DIA also has interesting programs aimed at youth and families, including presenting films, storytelling sessions, artists’ demonstrations and art-making programs. The art-making programs have been led by noted artists, including Detroit native Judy Bowman, a mixed-media collage and fine art print artist.
Salort-Pons said DIA is excitingly looking forward to hosting the “Concert of Colors” from July 18 – 25, which will bring diverse genres of music and other performances to the museum and celebrate the many cultures and diverse communities in Southeast Michigan.
Moving forward to next year, DIA will exhibit James Barnor’s “Accra-London: A Retrospective.”
“He’s one of the greatest photographers and talents in Ghana. His exhibition is being shown at the Serpentine Gallery in London and it’s coming to the DIA in May 2023,” Salort-Pons said. “He has spent more than 60 years capturing African life, both at home and abroad. His exhibit is a major retrospective of his work.”
DIA does not solely feature African American art. Across the museum’s 658,000 square feet, there are more than 100 diverse galleries.
“We collect works of art from cultures all around the world,” said Salort-Pons. “And starting from pre-historic times to this day, we try to present in our galleries summaries of creativity, from its beginning to today, covering as many cultures as possible from around the world.”
Nevertheless, Salort-Pons added, “Through our visitors’ surveys, we know that many people come to the DIA because they want to see African Art. We believe our exhibits speak to that in great volumes.”
A Floridian and frequent visitor to Detroit, Milt Murray, agreed, having visited the DIA many times before the pandemic. “I have visited other museums around the country with African American art, but there is absolutely no museum like the Detroit Institute of Arts. Its dedication to displaying Black art and showcasing and empowering Black artists at the high level and frequency that it does is deep and unmatched.”
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