The Friends of African and African American Art will present the 32nd Annual Alain Locke Awards to artist Titus Kaphar.

Kaphar will receive the Alain Locke International Award for his work as an artist, sculptor, and filmmaker, creating socially and politically powerful works that reflect on the experiences of Black Americans and his own life story. 

Kaphar "confronts history by dismantling classical structures and styles of visual representation in Western art, which, in turn, subverts centuries of art historical traditions." A Michigan native, Kaphar lives and works in New Haven, CT. 

He received an MFA from the Yale School of Art and is a distinguished recipient of numerous prizes and awards including a 2018 MacArthur Fellowship, a 2018 Art for Justice Fund grant, a 2016 Robert R. Rauschenberg Artist as Activist grant, and a 2015 Creative Capital grant.

The Alain Locke Recognition Award will be received by Detroit-based artist Rashaun Rucker, renowned for his drawings, sculptures, printmaking and installation art.

Free with registration. A reception will follow the awards event.

• 2 – 3:30 p.m. Awards, Lecture Hall
• 3:30 – 5 p.m. Reception, FJC Dining Rooms

Featured Performances:

• Sorhogton | Performed by The Throat Singer
• Binakbak Na Diwa (Strip my Soul) | Performed by Martha Bryan and Caitlyn Giles
• Heart Lantern – Yunnan Flower Lantern | Performed by J. Z. Dance Studio, Choreographed by Joanne Zheng
• Loi ve xom nho (To the Countryside) | Performed by Vietnamese American Association of Michigan-Dance Team, Choreographed by Trisha Tuyet Nguyen
• Dunhuang Fairies | Performed by J.Z. Dance Studio, Choreographed by Joanne Zheng
• Peacocks |Performed by Inner Action Dance, Choreographed by Sharon Kang
• Hmong Dance | Performed by Hnub Qub Cia Siab (Star of Hope), Choreographed by Cynthia Ly and Stephanie Yang
• Bhangra Dance Performance | Performed by RVD Academy, Choreographed by Monick Mehta
• Taiko Journey from Japan to the Great Lakes | Performed by Great Lakes Taiko Center (GLTC) Taiko Arts Collective
• Lion Dance | Performed by Linh Son Buddhist Youth Group

Weekend Family Programs at the DIA are generously presented by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

Celebrate Hinamatsuri (Japanese Girls Day) at the DIA! Enjoy beloved traditions like the tea ceremony, a display of hina dolls, Ikebana flower arrangements, and soothing koto music, along with a special performance by Bentenya, a lively music group practicing the 150-year-old street art of Chindon. 

Hinamatsuri at the DIA is organized by Japan Cultural Development, a non-profit organization that fosters friendship between local and Japanese communities through cultural demonstrations in Detroit, and is supported by Japan Business Society of Detroit, Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, the DIA’s auxiliary Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures, as well as many other organizations.

See the full schedule below.

Performances & Live Demonstrations

• 10:15 a.m. Opening Remarks | Rivera Court (second floor), Council General of Japan in Detroit Mr. Hajime Kishimori, President and CEO of DIA Dr. Salvador Salort-Pons, and President of JBSD Mr. Shin Sasaki
• 10:30 a.m., 12:20, 2:30 & 4:15 p.m. Music Performance: Bentenya | Rivera Court
• 10:30 a.m., 2:15 & 3:30 p.m. Storytelling: Friendship Dolls Story | Danto Lecture Hall (first floor)
• 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Shodo, Japanese Calligraphy | Rivera Court
• 11:45 a.m. & 1 p.m. Sa-do, Japanese Tea Ceremony by Masters of Omote-Senke and Ura-Senke | Danto Lecture Hall
• 12:30 & 3 p.m. Koto Music Performance by MIYABI | Kresge Court (first floor)

Limited Tea Service is available after each Tea Ceremony. Registration for morning service opens at 10 a.m. and for afternoon service at 12:30 p.m. in Prentis Court (first floor). Arrive early to secure your spot – tea service fills fast!

Limited Workshops (registration on-site day of)

• 1 p.m. Ikebana (Flower Arrangement) Workshop by Ikebana International Detroit 85 | Student Lunchroom (first floor)
• 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Japanese Sweets Workshop by Toyota | Student Lunchroom

Registration for morning workshops opens at 10 a.m. and for afternoon workshops at 12:30 p.m. in Prentis Court. Arrive early to secure your seat - workshops fill fast!

Drop-in Workshops

• 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Origami, Japanese Paper Folding | Prentis Court OR Great Hall (second floor)
• Noon - 2 p.m. Sekka Shibori, Japanese Fabric Dying | Art-Making Studio (first floor)

Gallery Tours

• 10:30, 11:15 a.m., Noon, 2 & 3 p.m. Docent Tours of Japanese Gallery by Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures | Departs from Prentis Court

All Day Fun

• Shiga Prefecture Information & Tea Tasting | Prentis Court
• Friends of Asian Arts & Cultures Information | Prentis Court
• Hina Doll Display | Rivera Court OR Great Hall
• Mikoshi Display | Rivera Court OR Great Hall
• Ikebana Display | Prentis Court

Weekend Family Programs at the DIA are generously presented by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

Founded in April 2008 by Jeff Clark, I Love Steppin’ is an open community of dancers passionate about Chicago Style Steppin’. Members gather in cities nationwide to celebrate and raise awareness of this cherished tradition within Black communities.

This event welcomes dancers of all ages and includes a brief introductory lesson on Steppin' basics from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, followed by 90 minutes of dancing to music curated by DJ Rod Edwards.

This workshop will explore hip-hop's method of production, the remix, by translating it into visual expression through the creation of stylized, vibrant portraits using unconventional mediums and techniques.

Detroit native Jonathan Kimble (b. 1997), a BFA graduate from the College for Creative Studies (2020), is a fine artist, art collector, muralist, and mentor. His work captures the chaotic yet harmonious complexities of the human soul. Kimble's style is characterized by expressive shapes and mark-making through mixed media. He has exhibited at notable galleries in the metro Detroit area, including MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit), Detroit Historical Museum, Liberal Arts Gallery, and the Baltimore Gallery, and has been featured in multiple local art showcases and auctions.

This program is made possible by the PNC Foundation

USA/1920—directed by Oscar Micheaux | 60 minutes

One of the most significant early works by independent African American film pioneer Oscar Micheaux, The Symbol of the Unconquered was created as a bold response to the racist themes central to D.W. Griffith’s 1915 film The Birth of a Nation. 

In Micheaux’s powerful narrative, the Ku Klux Klan is depicted as a violent gang of hooded thieves attempting to seize the property of a determined young Black homesteader. The film also explores complex issues of racial identity and the miscegenation laws of the era, adding depth to the characters’ struggles.

Recently restored by the Royal Cinémathèque of Belgium, this thematically rich work will be presented with a new live musical score, composed and performed by Marion Hayden.

“Stunning. Perhaps no other film in history has encapsulated so well the nightmarish, threatening madness of the Klan.” -Donald Bogle

Join us for the 2025 Women's History Month Educator Workshop!

Shelley Selim, Mort Harris Curator of Automotive, Industrial, and Decorative Design, will share the educational path that led her to the field, discuss career highlights and challenges, and explore how women artists and their work have been represented—or overlooked—throughout history. She’ll also highlight how her department showcases the achievements of women in the DIA’s collection.

The workshop includes guided gallery conversations focusing on works by women and an overview of DIA resources for educators, including field trips, learning materials, and professional development opportunities.

Open to all educators. 3 SCECHs pending.

Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. is a true renaissance man. He has been a professional musician for over forty years. More than 35 years ago, the legendary bluesman Willie Dixon encouraged him to bring his music into schools. In recognition of his efforts, The National Blues Foundation named him a leading blues educator in 2007.

In addition to his music career, Rev. Jones has served as a pastor for over 20 years and has been a nationally recognized storyteller for more than fifteen years. These experiences have allowed him to work in diverse ways, using his speaking and musical talents to educate, entertain, and inspire. At the heart of his message is the belief that our cultural diversity tells a story that should be celebrated.

A selection of Hair Wars stylists will demonstrate some of their innovative hair creations in a drop-in style demonstration. Throughout the day, these stylists will work with various models to create works of art from hair. With videos and images from past Hair Wars shows, this demo offers a fun experience into this unique, Detroit-born entertainment.

Create a pencil drawing to take home while taking a closer look at the collection. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. For ages 6 and up (children ages 16 and younger should be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.