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Detroit Institute Of Art: A Virtual Experience

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The Detroit Institute of Art: A Virtual Experience The museum I chose to report on is the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit, Michigan. The DIA was founded in 1885 is located in Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for youth (6-17) and $7 for college students (with valid school photo ID). Admission is free for children 5 and under, Detroit residents and for members. Memberships can be obtained online as well as in person. There are different levels of membership that come with valuable benefits. The museum covers 658,000 square feet that includes …show more content…

In viewing some of the pieces of DIA’s permanent collection I came across one of my favorites; Vincent van Gogh’s Self Portrait with a straw hat. I find his collection of art to be truly amazing and skillful. In looking through the various collections, the paintings that I enjoyed most are those from the General Motor’s African American Collection. Established in 2000, the GM Center for African American Art represents one of the first curatorial departments dedicated solely to African American art at any major art museum. The Center actively pursues acquisitions and plans exhibitions of the museum's growing permanent collection of African American art. Currently over 400 objects, in various media, are included in the collection. Most of these works date from the latter half of the 1900's, and the collection are especially strong in the graphic …show more content…

The medium used for this work of art is oil. In this technique the oil acts as a binder and causes a quick drying layer that can built upon. The formal elements of a painting include line, color, space, light, texture and pattern. The line appears to be an implied line in which the work creates directional movements from top to bottom. But also forces the viewer to see how the figures stand out and there importance in the painting. The color shows a subtle spectrum with a detailed background from the skies to the mountains to the artist table canvas. The light is somewhat even throughout the painting showing emphasis on every figure holding something in their hands; and more so the final product of the artist that are being captured on the canvas. The visual texture of the painting appears to be smooth and the pattern is decorative and somewhat vibrant. The principle of unity and variety are evident in this painting, the design itself shows a sense of community of important figures throughout African American history. I was drawn to this piece because it embodied the heritage of African American art through history. This painting by Hale Woodruff displays many of the significant contributions that African Americans made to the world of Art. Not necessarily “picture art” but all realms of life art: cooking, liberal arts, politics, labor, law and many more through his vibrant

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