Create a pencil drawing to take home while taking a closer look at the collection. No experience is necessary. All supplies provided.

For ages 6 - Adult (children ages 12 and younger should be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.

Signal-Return will be popping up in Prentis Court to celebrate the exhibition Printmaking in the 21st Century and provide visitors with a chance to learn a bit about the letterpress printmaking process and create a print of their own to take home.

Signal-Return is a Detroit nonprofit dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional letterpress printing, and building a community center for art, craft, design and collaboration. 

Learn about the history and contemporary applications of Risograph, alongside a printmaking demonstration with Detroit artist Rachel Delmotte. Participants will experiment with analog mark-making techniques to create their own riso print to take home.

Materials and supplies are provided, and all levels of experience are welcome.

Teachers and students from the Michigan Japanese Heritage Center will lead participants in making Washi, a traditional Japanese paper made using fibers from the inner bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub, or kōzo bush. Generally tougher than paper made from wood pulp, Washi is used in many traditional arts, like Origami, Shodo, and Ukiyo-e, as well as to make various everyday goods, like clothes and toys.  

This hour-long workshop is free with museum admission but has limited availability and requires registration. Any unused seats will be made available at the door. 

Hinamatsuri programs presented in partnership with the Japan Cultural Development, General Consul of Japan in Detroit, Japanese Business Society of Detroit and the DIA’s auxiliary Friends of Asian Arts and Culture. 

Returning after a two-year pause, the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, Japan Business Society of Detroit, and Japan Cultural Development invite you to celebrate Hinamatsuri, Japanese Girls Day, at the DIA on Sunday, March 5!

Visitor favorites like the tea ceremony, hina doll display, ikebana arrangements, and koto (Japanese zither) performance return along with storytelling and origami workshops.

This year, the work of four Michigan based female Japanese artists - calligrapher Kyoko Fujii, Mokuhanga paper artist Nobuko Yamasaki, mixed-media artist Hiroko Lancour and illustrator Mino Watanabe - will be featured. Visitors will also have the opportunity to try tea and participate in hands-on workshops. See schedule below.

Performances & Live Demonstrations 

• 10:15am Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks  | Great Hall   
• 12:45pm & 2:45pm Music performance by Ensemble Hanabi | Great Hall 
• 11:00am & 1:00pm Sa-do, Japanese Tea Ceremony Performance and Tea Serving* by Masters of Omote-Senke and Ura-Senke | Crystal Gallery  
• 11:00am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm, and 3:15pm Nihon Mukashi Banashi (Storytelling) Performance by Ms. Shannon O’Leary | Great Hall
• 11:45am & 1:45pm Shodo, Japanese Calligraphy Performance by Ms. Kyoko Fuji | Great Hall 
• 12:15pm & 2:15pm Koto Music Performance by MIYABI | Kresge Court 

Limited Workshops (pre-registration online or on-site day of) 

• 11:00am & 2:00pm Ikebana (Flower Arrangement) Workshop by Ikebana International | Student Lunchroom register on-site only 
• 12:30pm & 3:30pm Japanese Sweets Workshop by Toyota | Student Lunchroom register on-site only 
• 12:00pm & 2:00pm Washi Making Workshop by Michigan Japanese Heritage Center | Studio register online here 

All day fun in the Great Hall and Rivera Court

• Artist Display & Demonstrations by Ms. Kyoko Fuji, Japanese Calligrapher, MS. Hiroko Lancour, Mixed-media artist; Ms. Mino Watanabe, Artist/Illustrator; Ms. Noboku Yamazaki, Mokuhanga artist
• Tea Please! Tea Tasting
• Garapon By Aisin 
• Origami Workshop
• Hina Doll Display 
• Mikoshi Display 
• Kimono Display 
• Flowers Display
• Children Play Tools Display 

Presented in partnership with the General Consul of Japan in Detroit, Japanese Business Society of Detroit and the DIA’s auxiliary Friends of Asian Arts and Culture. 

A contemporary fairy tale that magically transports the audience through space and time, Unfolding captures the journey of a woman as she navigates a life of self-discovery.  

Weaving together nostalgic youth and covetable wisdom to explore themes of female empowerment, this puppet theatre production, conceived and directed by Margarita Blush, uses moving performance and puppetry, shadow imagery, unique design, exquisitely hand-crafted puppets, and poignant original music.

For families with children 6 and up.

Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is an American printer, book artist and papermaker best known for social and political commentary, particularly in printed posters.

Join Amos as he visits the DIA Artmaking studio to share more about his letterpress printing practice and his unique poster making technique.

Photo by Garrett MacLean.
 

Create a simple stencil using colored chalk and black paper.

Create a pencil drawing to take home while taking a closer look at the collection. No experience is necessary. All supplies provided.

For ages 6 - Adult (children ages 12 and younger should be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.

This event has been canceled, our apologies for any inconvenience. 

Create a pencil drawing to take home while taking a closer look at the collection. No experience is necessary. All supplies provided.

For ages 6 - Adult (children ages 12 and younger should be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.