Detroit Institute of Arts Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021
Updated Apr 27, 2021
April 27, 2021 (Detroit)—The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month throughout May with free virtual events and activities, including music, dance, art talks, puppets and more. All programs are free unless otherwise noted with $.
Professional and community cultural groups will showcase a blend of traditional and contemporary artistry across several Asian cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Mongolian, Taiwanese, Thai and Vietnamese. These programs were developed in partnership with the DIA’s auxiliary group Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures.
All events are listed under their start date, and end on May 30 unless otherwise noted. Events with (L) are live online events.
All events can be viewed on their listed start date on the DIA’s YouTube channel. Live events can also be viewed through the DIA’s Facebook page. For more information, visit www.dia.org/APAHM2021.
Saturday, May 1
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Opening Performance | A Journey with Minari Noon
For the opening of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, choreographer and professional dancer Joori Jung will perform A Journey with Minari, a dance inspired by Lee Isaac Chung’s acclaimed film Minari that follows a Korean-American family in search of their own American Dream and their discovery of what truly makes a home.
With opening remarks from Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang, Representative Padma Kuppa and DIA Director Salvador Salort-Pons, this timely performance kicks off the DIA’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month program series.
Lost Constellation (Parts I & II) | IS/LAND 1 p.m.
Part I: A Path of Lights
Dancers J Amber Kao and Ciale Charfauros explore interdependence, healing, and connection, with a poem written and performed by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang and music score by Chien-An Yuan.
Part II: Singular Plural
Charfauros leads a meditation of gender expression and persona. IS/LAND is a performance collaborative comprised of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists.
Thursday, May 6
(L) Thursdays “at” the Museum | Taiwanese Calligraphy with Dr. Shinming Shyu 1 p.m.
Dr. Shinming Shyu, whose early exposure to the art of traditional Chinese calligraphy under his father’s teaching, will lead an interactive demonstration on various styles of calligraphy.
Evolution of Culture | Revolution Chinese Yo-Yo 7 p.m.
The University of Michigan’s Revolution Chinese Yo-Yo team showcases a fusion of East and West through music and a juggling prop—the diabolo, the Western take on the ancient Chinese yo-yo. The diabolo represents East colliding with West, where a Chinese tradition is changed by Europeans resulting in something new.
Friday, May 7
$ DFT@ Home: To the Ends of the Earth, available for streaming through May 30
To the Ends of the Earth follows Yoko, a reality TV star who travels with a small crew to Uzbekistan to shoot an episode of her show. In front of the camera her persona is carefree and happy, a stark contrast to her real personality, cautious and introverted. Despite her best efforts, all the shootings are unsuccessful, so she takes to the streets of the country on her own. Lost in the streets of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, she finds herself adrift and alone confronting her deepest fears and hidden aspirations.
To the Ends of the Earth was commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Mongolian Melody: Mongolian Language - Mongolian Culture Concert Highlights | Morin Khuur Center in North America 7 p.m.
This performance from the Morin Khuur Center in North America features the traditional Mongolian instrument, the morin khuur, a two-stringed fiddle with a hollow trapezoid-shaped body attached to a long, fretless neck bearing a carved horse head.
Saturday, May 8
Father's Land – Returning to the Ground | Sea-Woon Kang 12 p.m.
This three-part dance performance is inspired by the Korean belief that humans are born of the energy found in the ground, coming full circle living above ground during life, to return underground after life.
The first two parts of Father’s Land represent dynamic birth and the diverse lives and feelings of people who live on the ground. The third part, shown on video, represents the return to the ground, and is a prayer for the humans making that journey.
Mountain of Flames | Yung Shing Le Shadow Puppet Troupe of Taiwan 1 p.m.
Mountain of Flames by Taiwanese puppet troupe Yung Shing Le is an excerpt from the classic 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West. In this performance mischievous hero Monkey arrives with his group of disciples at a volcanic mountain that is too dangerous to pass. The evil-cast fire can only be extinguished by Princess Iron Fan’s magical fan. It’s up to Monkey to figure out a plan.
Since 2018, the DIA has collaborated with Michigan Chinese Women’s Association to bring Yung Shing Le, a century-old family shadow puppet troupe from Taiwan to the Metro Detroit region. Audiences have enjoyed their live music, puppetry, and stories, handed down for generations, as well as up-close encounters with puppets unique to Taiwan.
Thursday, May 13
Artist Demonstration: Hiroko Lancour 7 p.m.
Viewers will learn about the art and artistic process of Hiroko Lancour, a Japanese-born mixed-media artist based in Metro Detroit. Fascinated by patterns, geometry and nature, her art is influenced by her background of East and West, with artistic experiments that often produce unexpected, accidental results.
Lancour is currently the Freer House Artist in resonance and has exhibited her artwork at numerous galleries in metro Detroit.
$ DFT@ Home: Edo Avant Garde, available for streaming through May 23
Edo Avant Garde is a revealing look at Japanese artists during the Edo period (1615–1868) with innovative approaches to painting that many in the West associate with “modern” 20th century art. Through interviews with scholars, collectors, dealers and priests in both Japan and the United States, the film explores concepts including abstraction, minimalism, surrealism and subjectivity in Edo-period paintings.
Friday, May 14
Why We Drum だから太鼓を叩く | Great Lakes Taiko Center: Raion Taiko & Godaiko Drummers 7 p.m.
This 2019 performance features members of the Raion Taiko and Godaiko Drummers ensembles. Viewers will hear the large “odaiko” drum with the rhythmic beats from the “shime daiko” drum, while the taiko drummers dance in harmony hitting the drums using “bachi” sticks.
Taiko drumming is rooted in Japanese music traditions and is the focus of a growing cultural movement in North America and around the world.
Saturday, May 15
Maga Puja Day – Candlelight Procession | Pong Lang Thai Dance Team of Michigan 12 p.m.
This presentation showcases the festivity of the candlelight procession ceremony of Maga Puja Day, a Buddhist festival honoring the third lunar month of the Buddhist calendar. The festival commemorates a spontaneous gathering 2,500 years ago in India when more than 1,200 Buddhist monks paid their respect to Lord Buddha to practice his teachings. To continue this tradition, members of the Thai community gather to celebrate at the temple from morning until evening.
Our Kitchen: Vietnamese Cuisine – Pho and Coffee | Chef Tommy Nguyen and the Vietnamese American Association of Michigan 1 p.m.
Chef Tommy Nguyen and host Stephanie Tran teach viewers how to cook pho, the most well-known Vietnamese dish in America served in households, street stalls and restaurants throughout Vietnam. Nguyen will also teach how to make Cà phê đá, or “cafe da,” a traditional Vietnamese drink consisting of coffee, sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes in a glass or mug.
Thursday, May 20
(L) Edo Avant-Garde with Linda Hoaglund and Dr. Yukio Lippit 6:30 p.m.
The DIA’s auxiliary groups Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures and Friends of Detroit Film Theatre partner with the Freer House to present a live discussion of the new documentary Edo Avant Garde with the film’s director Linda Hoaglund, and Dr. Yukio Lippit, Professor of Japanese Art at Harvard University.
Friday, May 21
Asian Sound Revolution – Pulse | Jin Hi Kim & Ensemble 7 p.m.
Led by Jin Hi Kim with six musicians trained in instruments of their cultural heritage, this performance from the DIA’s reopening of the Asian galleries in 2018 preserves pan-Asian musical traditions to create contemporary performances rooted in tradition. The segment shown in the recording features solos by Samir Chatterjee on the tabla (Indian) and Susie Ibarra on the kulintang (Filipino). The rolling ensemble pieces give insight into the pulse of these traditional sounds.
Saturday, May 22
East meet West: Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with a Motown Flair | Dragon Eagle TV 12 p.m.
This cultural presentation highlighting recording artist ZiZi features traditional Chinese songs and Motown favorites with local musician The @Will Band, blending traditional Chinese folk music reimagined in English with Chinese dance performed by local artists.
A review of the 2019 Mid-Autumn Festival DIA concert is presented in association with North American Chinese Coalition, Chinese Association of Greater Detroit and Michigan Chinese Art Troupe.
(L) Wimee’s Words Live - DIA Edition: Indian Shadow Puppets 1 p.m.
This live and engaging online puppet show features the fun, lovable robot Wimee who inspires kids to learn through creativity, interactive songs, wordplay and more. Each special DIA episode is inspired by exhibitions and works in the collection.
This episode takes a close look at Tholu bommalata shadow puppets from India. Viewers will be able to interact directly with Wimee through the chat options with audience suggestions to become a part of the show!
Thursday, May 27
(L) Tea Practices of China, Japan and Korea featuring ArtLab J’s East Meets West: Korean Tea Ceremony 7 p.m.
This conversation moderated by Katharine P. Burnett, Global Tea Initiative’s founding director and associate professor of Art History at University of California Davis, compares tea culture and practices found in China, Japan and Korea.
The program opens with ArtLab J’s East Meets West: Korean Tea Ceremony, a contemporary dance work inspired by darye (茶禮), a traditional Korean tea ceremony practiced among Korean people for a thousand years. In collaboration with Mike Han, Korean-Detroit artist whose artwork is influenced by Korean calligraphy, graffiti, and modern design.
Friday, May 28
安 Ān - an Artstronomic Program of Contemporary Dance and Cooking | Isaac Lim 7 p.m.
Isaac Lim, professional dancer and chef, explores his sense of Ān through food and dance in Taiwan.
Saturday, May 29
Find It …Every Dream | APAHM Closing Performance 12 p.m.
The closing performance of the DIA’s 2021 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations draws attention to the metaphors and symbolism in the performances of regional arts and cultural organizations led by Asian/Pacific Islander-Americans.
Weaving the Threads | Morin Khuur Center in North America, ArtLab J, Michigan Tai Chi Center, Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group and Spinnovation Detroit
These performances open and close the ceremony with interpretations on how the threads of tradition are woven into the fabric of modern American culture. Featuring the ancient musical practices of the Mongolian Murin Khurr and Japanese Koto and Taiko accompany a Cyr Wheel performance and a dance piece expressing the balance of Tai Chi movements with the movements of contemporary dance.
Kotojishi, The Dancing Lion | Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group
Japan has a long tradition of the lion dance known as Shishimai, which is performed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck to the community.
Ongkor Festival | Michigan Chinese Folk Dancing Group
Ongkor Festival is celebrated in the farmlands of Tibet, typically in August when crops are waiting for harvest, demonstrating people's wishes for a good harvest which allows time for farmers to relax and rest. Major activities of the festival include horseracing, shooting, singing, and dancing.
Giring-giring Dance | Bhineka Tunggal Ika
Giring-Giring dance is a typical dance originating from the Dayak Maanyan tribe who inhabit the Central Kalimantan Province in Indonesia. Giring-Giring dance is an expression of joy and a sense of love, usually performed to welcome special guests, and sometimes used as a social dance for young people in Kalimantan.
Dunhuang | Sunshine Teen Chinese Dance Group
The Chinese Dunhuang dance draws sources from body movements depicted in artifacts found in Dunhuang Mogao Caves in the Gansu Provinces of China. Found along the Silk Route, the 735 caves are famous for their statues and fresco paintings, spanning 1000 years of Buddhist art.
Where East Meets West | Mathangi Dance Company
Mathangi Dance Company combines Western break dancing and Indian koothu music. South Indian Dappanguthu is a folk dance and music genre with an emphasis on percussion with roots from Therukoothu (street performance) an ancient storytelling practice infused with song, dance, and music.
Find It …Every Dream is produced by Sharon Dow.
###
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.
Programs are made possible with support from residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
April 27, 2021 (Detroit)—The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month throughout May with free virtual events and activities, including music, dance, art talks, puppets and more. All programs are free unless otherwise noted with $.
Professional and community cultural groups will showcase a blend of traditional and contemporary artistry across several Asian cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Mongolian, Taiwanese, Thai and Vietnamese. These programs were developed in partnership with the DIA’s auxiliary group Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures.
All events are listed under their start date, and end on May 30 unless otherwise noted. Events with (L) are live online events.
All events can be viewed on their listed start date on the DIA’s YouTube channel. Live events can also be viewed through the DIA’s Facebook page. For more information, visit www.dia.org/APAHM2021.
Saturday, May 1
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Opening Performance | A Journey with Minari Noon
For the opening of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, choreographer and professional dancer Joori Jung will perform A Journey with Minari, a dance inspired by Lee Isaac Chung’s acclaimed film Minari that follows a Korean-American family in search of their own American Dream and their discovery of what truly makes a home.
With opening remarks from Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang, Representative Padma Kuppa and DIA Director Salvador Salort-Pons, this timely performance kicks off the DIA’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month program series.
Lost Constellation (Parts I & II) | IS/LAND 1 p.m.
Part I: A Path of Lights
Dancers J Amber Kao and Ciale Charfauros explore interdependence, healing, and connection, with a poem written and performed by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang and music score by Chien-An Yuan.
Part II: Singular Plural
Charfauros leads a meditation of gender expression and persona. IS/LAND is a performance collaborative comprised of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists.
Thursday, May 6
(L) Thursdays “at” the Museum | Taiwanese Calligraphy with Dr. Shinming Shyu 1 p.m.
Dr. Shinming Shyu, whose early exposure to the art of traditional Chinese calligraphy under his father’s teaching, will lead an interactive demonstration on various styles of calligraphy.
Evolution of Culture | Revolution Chinese Yo-Yo 7 p.m.
The University of Michigan’s Revolution Chinese Yo-Yo team showcases a fusion of East and West through music and a juggling prop—the diabolo, the Western take on the ancient Chinese yo-yo. The diabolo represents East colliding with West, where a Chinese tradition is changed by Europeans resulting in something new.
Friday, May 7
$ DFT@ Home: To the Ends of the Earth, available for streaming through May 30
To the Ends of the Earth follows Yoko, a reality TV star who travels with a small crew to Uzbekistan to shoot an episode of her show. In front of the camera her persona is carefree and happy, a stark contrast to her real personality, cautious and introverted. Despite her best efforts, all the shootings are unsuccessful, so she takes to the streets of the country on her own. Lost in the streets of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, she finds herself adrift and alone confronting her deepest fears and hidden aspirations.
To the Ends of the Earth was commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Mongolian Melody: Mongolian Language - Mongolian Culture Concert Highlights | Morin Khuur Center in North America 7 p.m.
This performance from the Morin Khuur Center in North America features the traditional Mongolian instrument, the morin khuur, a two-stringed fiddle with a hollow trapezoid-shaped body attached to a long, fretless neck bearing a carved horse head.
Saturday, May 8
Father's Land – Returning to the Ground | Sea-Woon Kang 12 p.m.
This three-part dance performance is inspired by the Korean belief that humans are born of the energy found in the ground, coming full circle living above ground during life, to return underground after life.
The first two parts of Father’s Land represent dynamic birth and the diverse lives and feelings of people who live on the ground. The third part, shown on video, represents the return to the ground, and is a prayer for the humans making that journey.
Mountain of Flames | Yung Shing Le Shadow Puppet Troupe of Taiwan 1 p.m.
Mountain of Flames by Taiwanese puppet troupe Yung Shing Le is an excerpt from the classic 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West. In this performance mischievous hero Monkey arrives with his group of disciples at a volcanic mountain that is too dangerous to pass. The evil-cast fire can only be extinguished by Princess Iron Fan’s magical fan. It’s up to Monkey to figure out a plan.
Since 2018, the DIA has collaborated with Michigan Chinese Women’s Association to bring Yung Shing Le, a century-old family shadow puppet troupe from Taiwan to the Metro Detroit region. Audiences have enjoyed their live music, puppetry, and stories, handed down for generations, as well as up-close encounters with puppets unique to Taiwan.
Thursday, May 13
Artist Demonstration: Hiroko Lancour 7 p.m.
Viewers will learn about the art and artistic process of Hiroko Lancour, a Japanese-born mixed-media artist based in Metro Detroit. Fascinated by patterns, geometry and nature, her art is influenced by her background of East and West, with artistic experiments that often produce unexpected, accidental results.
Lancour is currently the Freer House Artist in resonance and has exhibited her artwork at numerous galleries in metro Detroit.
$ DFT@ Home: Edo Avant Garde, available for streaming through May 23
Edo Avant Garde is a revealing look at Japanese artists during the Edo period (1615–1868) with innovative approaches to painting that many in the West associate with “modern” 20th century art. Through interviews with scholars, collectors, dealers and priests in both Japan and the United States, the film explores concepts including abstraction, minimalism, surrealism and subjectivity in Edo-period paintings.
Friday, May 14
Why We Drum だから太鼓を叩く | Great Lakes Taiko Center: Raion Taiko & Godaiko Drummers 7 p.m.
This 2019 performance features members of the Raion Taiko and Godaiko Drummers ensembles. Viewers will hear the large “odaiko” drum with the rhythmic beats from the “shime daiko” drum, while the taiko drummers dance in harmony hitting the drums using “bachi” sticks.
Taiko drumming is rooted in Japanese music traditions and is the focus of a growing cultural movement in North America and around the world.
Saturday, May 15
Maga Puja Day – Candlelight Procession | Pong Lang Thai Dance Team of Michigan 12 p.m.
This presentation showcases the festivity of the candlelight procession ceremony of Maga Puja Day, a Buddhist festival honoring the third lunar month of the Buddhist calendar. The festival commemorates a spontaneous gathering 2,500 years ago in India when more than 1,200 Buddhist monks paid their respect to Lord Buddha to practice his teachings. To continue this tradition, members of the Thai community gather to celebrate at the temple from morning until evening.
Our Kitchen: Vietnamese Cuisine – Pho and Coffee | Chef Tommy Nguyen and the Vietnamese American Association of Michigan 1 p.m.
Chef Tommy Nguyen and host Stephanie Tran teach viewers how to cook pho, the most well-known Vietnamese dish in America served in households, street stalls and restaurants throughout Vietnam. Nguyen will also teach how to make Cà phê đá, or “cafe da,” a traditional Vietnamese drink consisting of coffee, sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes in a glass or mug.
Thursday, May 20
(L) Edo Avant-Garde with Linda Hoaglund and Dr. Yukio Lippit 6:30 p.m.
The DIA’s auxiliary groups Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures and Friends of Detroit Film Theatre partner with the Freer House to present a live discussion of the new documentary Edo Avant Garde with the film’s director Linda Hoaglund, and Dr. Yukio Lippit, Professor of Japanese Art at Harvard University.
Friday, May 21
Asian Sound Revolution – Pulse | Jin Hi Kim & Ensemble 7 p.m.
Led by Jin Hi Kim with six musicians trained in instruments of their cultural heritage, this performance from the DIA’s reopening of the Asian galleries in 2018 preserves pan-Asian musical traditions to create contemporary performances rooted in tradition. The segment shown in the recording features solos by Samir Chatterjee on the tabla (Indian) and Susie Ibarra on the kulintang (Filipino). The rolling ensemble pieces give insight into the pulse of these traditional sounds.
Saturday, May 22
East meet West: Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with a Motown Flair | Dragon Eagle TV 12 p.m.
This cultural presentation highlighting recording artist ZiZi features traditional Chinese songs and Motown favorites with local musician The @Will Band, blending traditional Chinese folk music reimagined in English with Chinese dance performed by local artists.
A review of the 2019 Mid-Autumn Festival DIA concert is presented in association with North American Chinese Coalition, Chinese Association of Greater Detroit and Michigan Chinese Art Troupe.
(L) Wimee’s Words Live - DIA Edition: Indian Shadow Puppets 1 p.m.
This live and engaging online puppet show features the fun, lovable robot Wimee who inspires kids to learn through creativity, interactive songs, wordplay and more. Each special DIA episode is inspired by exhibitions and works in the collection.
This episode takes a close look at Tholu bommalata shadow puppets from India. Viewers will be able to interact directly with Wimee through the chat options with audience suggestions to become a part of the show!
Thursday, May 27
(L) Tea Practices of China, Japan and Korea featuring ArtLab J’s East Meets West: Korean Tea Ceremony 7 p.m.
This conversation moderated by Katharine P. Burnett, Global Tea Initiative’s founding director and associate professor of Art History at University of California Davis, compares tea culture and practices found in China, Japan and Korea.
The program opens with ArtLab J’s East Meets West: Korean Tea Ceremony, a contemporary dance work inspired by darye (茶禮), a traditional Korean tea ceremony practiced among Korean people for a thousand years. In collaboration with Mike Han, Korean-Detroit artist whose artwork is influenced by Korean calligraphy, graffiti, and modern design.
Friday, May 28
安 Ān - an Artstronomic Program of Contemporary Dance and Cooking | Isaac Lim 7 p.m.
Isaac Lim, professional dancer and chef, explores his sense of Ān through food and dance in Taiwan.
Saturday, May 29
Find It …Every Dream | APAHM Closing Performance 12 p.m.
The closing performance of the DIA’s 2021 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations draws attention to the metaphors and symbolism in the performances of regional arts and cultural organizations led by Asian/Pacific Islander-Americans.
Weaving the Threads | Morin Khuur Center in North America, ArtLab J, Michigan Tai Chi Center, Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group and Spinnovation Detroit
These performances open and close the ceremony with interpretations on how the threads of tradition are woven into the fabric of modern American culture. Featuring the ancient musical practices of the Mongolian Murin Khurr and Japanese Koto and Taiko accompany a Cyr Wheel performance and a dance piece expressing the balance of Tai Chi movements with the movements of contemporary dance.
Kotojishi, The Dancing Lion | Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group
Japan has a long tradition of the lion dance known as Shishimai, which is performed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck to the community.
Ongkor Festival | Michigan Chinese Folk Dancing Group
Ongkor Festival is celebrated in the farmlands of Tibet, typically in August when crops are waiting for harvest, demonstrating people's wishes for a good harvest which allows time for farmers to relax and rest. Major activities of the festival include horseracing, shooting, singing, and dancing.
Giring-giring Dance | Bhineka Tunggal Ika
Giring-Giring dance is a typical dance originating from the Dayak Maanyan tribe who inhabit the Central Kalimantan Province in Indonesia. Giring-Giring dance is an expression of joy and a sense of love, usually performed to welcome special guests, and sometimes used as a social dance for young people in Kalimantan.
Dunhuang | Sunshine Teen Chinese Dance Group
The Chinese Dunhuang dance draws sources from body movements depicted in artifacts found in Dunhuang Mogao Caves in the Gansu Provinces of China. Found along the Silk Route, the 735 caves are famous for their statues and fresco paintings, spanning 1000 years of Buddhist art.
Where East Meets West | Mathangi Dance Company
Mathangi Dance Company combines Western break dancing and Indian koothu music. South Indian Dappanguthu is a folk dance and music genre with an emphasis on percussion with roots from Therukoothu (street performance) an ancient storytelling practice infused with song, dance, and music.
Find It …Every Dream is produced by Sharon Dow.
###
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.
Programs are made possible with support from residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.