The Cultural Center of Detroit is located in the Midtown section, just north of downtown. We had the opportunity to visit two of the centerpieces of the neighborhood, the Main Library and Institute of Art.
We started at the Library where one of Detroit’s newest features, a streetcar called the Q Line’ was passing as we arrived.
We made our way around the building to the Cass Avenue entrance, which is much newer than the Woodward Avenue side.
The original building is in an Italian Renaissance style, with it’s impressive stairways and ceilings.
This look is carried over to one of the exhibition halls.
While one of the hallways on the second floor resemble a cathedral.
Reliefs celebrating the classics adorn this level.
A look at the main entrance ceiling.
We are still in the library, not the Institute of Art…
Directly across Woodward Avenue is the Institute of Art, with a statue of the Thinker greeting you.
The exterior had a significant amount of sculptures.
It is immediately apparently that the library and art museum were designed in similar style and completed at the same time.
Coincidentally there was a celebration of India going on the day we were there.
We came for the Rivera murals and ended up celebrating India as well!
The artists were happy to tell you about their culture.
A Rangoli demonstration.
This henna artist was very skilled, with a steady hand.
The east lobby had this great display.
Another exhibition hall featured pop art.
Some great chairs.
Ruben & Iabel Toledo had an exhibit called Labor of Love.
They also paid homage to the River murals. The DIA is a destination just for the murals, but the rest of the exhibitions are world class as well.
RDZ Photography 