December 11, 2020 (DETROIT) - The Detroit Institute of Arts is proud to present the 12th Annual Community Group Exhibition, featuring artwork made in 2020 by participants in the DIA's Community Group Program including the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Mariners Inn and Hannan Center in Wayne County. In total seven tri-county community groups participated in this year’s program.

Nearly 100 artists will be featured in this year's online exhibition, including over 150 images and video of the artists talking about their work. A link to view the exhibition can be found at https://www.dia.org/art/exhibitions/12th-annual-community-group-art-exhibition  through January 10, 2021.

“Art can be a wonderful healing tool. I am proud that our team at the DIA has been able to adapt in a challenging year to continue to be able to support the important work done by these tri-county human services agencies,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA Director. “From veterans to grandparents, the participants in this program have created artworks based on their personal experiences. I hope that this year’s online exhibition allows an even wider audience to connect with these special pieces of art.”

The DIA’s Community Group Program has been serving human service agencies in the Detroit area for more than 20 years, providing meaningful experiences through art with gallery tours and hands-on art making. The program focuses on providing a safe, nurturing environment for creative expression and socialization, while building positive relationships within the community. The annual Community Group Art Exhibition provides a unique opportunity for group members to share their artistic work with both their peers and the public.

A variety of community groups have participated in this program, including cognitively and physically challenged adults, alternative schools, veterans, adults with HIV, adults in recovery, survivors of sexual assault, and seniors. 

Based on the challenges of this year, DIA studio staff has worked with partners and participants in reinventing this program online, finding new ways to connect with the museum while looking at and making art. The DIA has been able to reach new people and stay in touch with longtime participants, and in the process help people find personal meaning in art, individually and with each other.

Instead of touring the museum's artwork and working in the museum's artmaking studio, DIA studio instructors led classes online and shared artwork from the DIA's collection, using themes, materials, or artists as inspiration for then making artwork with materials around the house. Many rarely-seen DIA objects or images were used in these classes, which broadened the experience as an additional benefit of being online.

Some of the online projects this year included artist trading cards, 3D memory boxes, and 2D and 3D line exploration. 

“The John D Dingell VAMC Art Therapy program is grateful to the DIA for adapting our in-person museum tour & studio classes to a virtual platform,” said Shelley Knoodle, art therapist at the John Dingell VAMC. “The DIA staff artists presented the same mentally and emotionally safe place for us to normalize thoughts and emotions as the pandemic presented a new way of life.”

Partnering organizations in this year's show are:

Oakland County:

• OLHSA's Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
• Grace Centers of Hope

Macomb County:

• CARE of Southeastern Michigan
• Bridges Academy

Wayne County:

• The John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
• Mariners Inn
• Hannan Center