2022 marks the 13th year of the Detroit Institute of Arts INSIDE/OUT program that has artwork popping up all around the three counties in the metro area that support the museum by paying into a dedicated millage to support its operations. DIA INSIDE/OUT provides Metro Detroit communities with high quality reproductions of artwork from inside the museum to display outside in public spaces. A nice reminder of the treasures that can be seen at the Detroit Institute of Arts and a fun way to spend some time wandering around local civic centers, downtowns, neighborhoods and parks hunting for posted artwork.
Participating communities rotate from year to year to differ things up and spread the visibility of this outreach program throughout the region. INSIDE/OUT returns this year to our neck of the woods with artwork on display in a variety of public spaces around the city of Troy, Michigan. We had a good time engaging in an art hunt to check out all of the DIA art placed throughout Troy.
We started off with a hike through the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center encountering a group of wild turkeys and seeing some grazing deer before coming across Talking Oak (1857) by William Maw Egley. Then it was time to meander around the city's historic green to see Asafo Flag (1863) which was a rally flag for the Asafo movement to combat African colonialism. Next it was off to Boulan Park to take a look at Jose Clemente Orozco'sMexican Pueblo (1930).
Our art hunt led us to the city's civic center to view another five paintings. The Community Center featured Savoy Ballroom (1931) by Reginald Marsh, City Hall highlighted an ancient dragon that once stood guard on the gates into Babylon, Troy's Racquet Club displayed Solomon Irein Wangboje'sMother and Child (1960), Chief Shoppenegons (1910) welcomed us to the library, and the Jeanne Stine Community Park showcased Mary Cassatt'sIn the Garden (1904). We wrapped up our walkabout by stopping at Dairy Queen for a treat to celebrate finding all of the DIA INSIDE/OUT art pieces we were searching for. Our DIA art hunt across Troy, Michigan provided us with quite a bit of exercise and enjoyable moments making for an entertaining afternoon excursion close to home.
DIA INSIDE/OUT artwork will be on display in Troy and other participating communities now through November if you want to go out on your own art hunt. 2022 communities are:
It is 313 Day! I've had lots of memorable experiences in the City of Detroit with my kids ranging from attending the commissioning ceremony of a naval warship to seeing life size dinosaurs romp through Little Caesars Arena. Going to see Aladdin at the Detroit Opera House with my daughter and the Pistons play a basketball game with my son were some special one-on-one times with each of my children.
One of our favorite days spent downtown was the Star Wars adventure we had at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Michigan Science Museum. Today seemed like a good day to reminiscence about past experiences at these museums which are two of our favorite places to spend time at in Detroit and look forward to having new experiences there as we hopefully all begin to move on beyond the pandemic that has isolated us for so long.
We've visited the Michigan Science Center on a number of occasions to have fun with their extensive collection of interactive science exhibits, watch super-sized movies in the state's only IMAX dome theater, and check out visiting traveling exhibits like Toytopia and Titanic: The Artifact Collection. It is always a blast and we are looking forward to getting back there to play around in their new Ames Room optical illusion experience. Ever wonder how they made the regular-sized men playing Hobbits look small in scenes standing next to characters whose actors in real life are similar height to them? This special effects demonstration will shed some light on that!
I want to get back down there before June 27, 2021 to explore their temporary exhibit Detroit Style: Car Design in the Motor City, 1950–2020 which concludes this summer. It highlights the artistry involved within the automotive industry when it comes to car design. This gallery includes 12 real cars that showcase significant design elements that have been parked inside the museum. I absolutely want to get a close up look at Detroit Style.
With the 313 in mind, for those of you not from the D that is the area code for the City, have to give a plug to the limited time exhibit Russ Marshall: Detroit Photographs, 1958-2008 which features 90 black and white pictures by the photographer featuring a unique perspective of the people and places of Detroit from streetscape imagery. Take a walk through 50 years of Detroit history by experiencing this collection of Russ Marshall photographs.
Also coming up in 2022 will be a special Van Gogh exhibit. The Detroit Institute of Arts was the first American museum to purchase a work of art by this now renowned artist. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the DIA adding Vincent van Gogh's Self-Portrait to its collection. In commemoration, the museum will display alongside Self Portrait more than fifty other Van Gogh paintings, drawing and sketches on loan from collectors and museums from around the world. Something to look forward to as hopefully the pandemic comes to closure.
What are some of your favorite places in the 313? Do you have a favorite restaurant, park or other spot that you frequent or have fond memories of visiting? There is a lot to discover in the D!
From racing around a motor speedway track in a Dodge Hellcat to embarking on a dinosaur expedition, 2018 was filled with ageekdaddy.com adventures. This blog is all about creating opportunities for my family to have fun experiences we might not otherwise have and last year was filled with good times. Here is a look back in retrospect at some of the best blogging adventures we had in 2018:
A Geek Daddy added a new member to the family with the addition of our new Boxer puppy that we named Penny. We caller her that because her brown coloring reminded us of the color of the coin. White fur on her front legs also make it look like she is wearing socks. I wanted to call her Sox after the White Sox but the kids vetoed that name idea saying it sounded to much like a cat's name.
She sure grew up fast! Penny went from 10 pounds when we brought her home to weighing 50 pounds by the end of the year. For the first few months we had her, Penny would sit on my lap while I would type up blog posts. She is a bit heavy for being a lap puppy now but still has been involved with the blog doing some reviews for a water fountain and dog toys from Petmate. We are looking forward to celebrating Penny's first birthday coming up in February.
My family served as brand ambassadors for Goldfish Swim School in 2018 and I have to say this has been one of the most wonderful experiences we've had related to ageekdaddy.com. The twins have not only learned how to be safe in and around water but have also excelled at being able to utilize a variety of swimming strokes. Goldfish Swim School even hosted the girls soccer team I coach to visit for a special water safety presentation with their mascot Bubbles and to spend a day having fun playing in the pool. This was a great way to kick off their summer break!
My son is still making his way through the last level of Goldfish Swim School lessons, but my daughter graduated in 2018. What do you do when your child has passed all the classes at Goldfish Swim School? You have them join their Swim Force club which teaches kids about participating in swimming as an athletic sports and hosts competitive meets for them to race in. My daughter was so excited to participate in her first competitive swim meet in 2018. We also had some great times stopping by Goldfish Swim School during their open swim times when families can have fun together in the pool. My kids even went trick or treating with Bubbles last Halloween.
If you have a child between the ages of 6 months and twelve years old, you are missing out if not involved with Goldfish Swim School. Based upon the incredible experience my family has had, Goldfish Swim School absolutely has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval. In fact, as you can see from this post a lot of dad's appreciate this place. Visit goldfishswimschool.com for more information and to locate a pool near you.
We didn't have to travel to a galaxy far, far away to have a Star Wars adventure. It just took a road trip to downtown Detroit's cultural center to have a spectacular time by visiting the Michigan Science Center and the DIA. Both were featuring Star Wars themed activities and exhibits during the summer.
The science center staged a "Science of Star Wars" show which had experiment styled skits with demonstrations on how sci-fi move special effects are created and how a real life light saber might work. The center's Spark!Lab also was featuring activities tied to the Star Wars movies like letting kids construct their own droids and space craft mock ups. The planetarium show at the Michigan Science Center even incorporated Star Wars references into it including imagery of one of Saturn's moons that looks like the Death Star.
After spending a morning over at the Michigan Science Center, we headed across the street to spend the afternoon at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). The whole family was excited to see their special exhibition "Star Wars and the Power of Costume." This provided the chance to see more than 60 costumes and 150 sketches used in the producing the Star Wars movies.
Wow! This exhibit would make any Star Wars fan roar like a wookiee in excitement! It was amazing to get a close up look at an actual Chewbacca costume that appears in shots of the movies as well as an R2D2 prop Kenny Baker sat in and Princess Leia dress worn by Carrie Fisher while filming 1977's original Star Wars: A New Hope motion picture. I'm a big fan of Ralph McQuarrie's artwork and it was incredible to see some of his original concept art for the Star Wars movies on display at this DIA exhibit.
The Force with us during our downtown Detroit Star Wars adventure as it was really one of our most memorable days of 2018. While the Star Wars activities may be over now, there are always interesting things to see and do at the cultural center which in addition to the DIA and Michigan Science Center is also home to the Detroit Historical Museum, main branch of the Detroit Public Library, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, College for Creative Studies, the Scarab Club and Wayne State University.
It was a father-son weekend on an expedition to Pittsburgh in search of dinosaurs. We took a dinosaur trek through the Pittsburgh Zoo and strolled around one of the world's most prestigious fossil collections at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Spent some time at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh making dinosaur crafts plus saw a Tyrannosaurus Rex made from LEGO bricks on display at an art exhibit hosted by Carnegie Science Center. We also saw Jurassic World 2 on an impressive screen 38 feet tall at the science center's Rangos Giant Cinema.
Our dinosaur road trip provided a great bonding experience. Our time in Pittsburgh searching for dinosaurs was an entertaining and educational opportunity for us to spend some quality time together. We discovered why the city has earned the nickname "Kidsburgh." It really is a great place for a family vacation with lots of interesting and fun things to do throughout the city ranging from going to the Kennywood Amusement Park filled with thrilling rides to taking in a baseball game at PNC Park. We are absolutely going to have to make a return trip soon bringing my wife and daughter along with us.
I was so geeked that Dodge invited me to participate in their Detroit area Roadkill Nights event that took place at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan over the summer. This is an event meant for gearheads! It includes a car show, vehicle demonstrations, and actual drag racing. Oh yeah!
It was time to buckle up because I jumped in a Dodge Challenger Demons and Charger Hellcats to swerve around a skid pad and speed around a race track. That was so much fun!
I also competed in a virtual reality racing simulator. Didn't do too bad either winning 2 out of 3 races. It took me a race to get down shifting the manual transmission than I dominated on the simulator. Hey, I won a t-shirt!
Then it was time to watch real drag racing taking place on historic Woodward Avenue. The smell of motor oil and burning rubber as a mix of hot rods, sports cars, and even a classic 1980s era station wagon raced down the street was intoxicated. That combined with a great meal and open bar with front row track side seating courtesy of Dodge made for a perfect evening.
Walt Disney World invited ageekdaddy.com to participate in the grand opening festivities of Toy Story Land at its Hollywood Studios amusement park. That was an invitation that we of course weren't going to turn down. So, my wife, I and the kids were off to Orlando, Florida!
The twins were some of the first kids to get a chance to ride the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster before it opened to the public. What an amazing opportunity! That is now there favorite ride at Walt Disney World! It may be mine too … Slinky Dog Dash really is fun roller coaster that little kids as well as adults can equally enjoy riding.
Disney Imagineers really did a fabulous job with this new addition to Walt Disney World. Kids and kids-at-heart are going to love stopping by to play with Woody and his gaggle of Toy Story friends. We can't wait for the chance to go back again!
TOP OF THE ARCH
Did you know you can go to the top of the famous St. Louis arch? There is a viewing deck 630 feet up in the air at the pinnacle of the Gateway Arch. Head up there for a birds eye view of St. Louis.
While walking the grounds around the Gateway Arch and visiting the museum underneath it are free there is an admission fee to go up to the viewing deck. Explore St. Louis provided us some complimentary tickets during our visit, but otherwise it would have cost us $40 for our family of four to go up to the top. That being said if we hadn't been offered a perk I would have paid for the tickets for the tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch anyhow. It is just too unique of an experience not to do while you are there in my opinion.
We've been to the top of the Arch in St. Louis. A family vacation moment to remember forever. Another thing I can cross off my bucket list!
From our road trip to St. Louis, I learned that this city really is a great spot for a family getaway. Did you realize they have a number of attractions with free admission including an art museum, science center and zoo. I hadn't realized just how great a place it is to visit until we actually spent some time there this year.
HELLO 2019!
2018 was full of family fun that also included camping trips, some special events at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan, and enjoying some theatrical shows among other neat things we did throughout the year. Looking forward to what blogging adventures are in store for us during the new year! Stay tuned to ageekdaddy.com and travelingdad.com to keep up with what we are doing in 2019.
Here is a fun weekend activity for Metro Detroit area families to enjoy that provides an interesting way to teach kids about a different culture from another part of the world in an entertaining way. The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is hosting a Taiwanese arts and culture festival on Saturday and Sunday (September 15 - 16, 2018) from noon to 4 pm each day. Taiwanese Festival activities are FREE with museum admission, which is complimentary for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and DIA members. The festival is part of special Asian arts and cultures programs leading up to the opening of the DIA's newly expanded Asian art galleries on November 4, 2018. Festivities will include movies, performances, cooking demonstrations, traditional arts and crafts, puppets to play with and educational displays.
A highlight of the event for me is an appearance by Yenchih Huang who is a professional LEGO brick builder certified by the toy company. This master builder has worked with the LEGO Group since 2009 and has created numerous life-size brick sculptures for the company that have been on display at events and exhibitions in Asia. Yenchih Huang will display a large “Chaotian Temple LEGO” and demonstrates Taiwanese-style LEGO-building at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday in the Great Hall during this DIA event.
Kids will also enjoy these hands-on activities taking place from Noon–4 p.m. throughout the weekend in the DIA's Student Lunchroom:
Dough figurine: Make a simple dough animal using basic tools.
Lantern making & door gods coloring: Create a lantern decorated with Chinese characters that typically accompany the display of door gods and color your own door god.
Taiwan puzzles: Learn about Taiwan’s geography by playing with Taiwan maps and landmark puzzles.
Travel to a galaxy far, far away without having to blast off into outer space by simply taking a road trip to the City of Detroit. From May 20 through September 30, 2018 the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will be hosting STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME; a special exhibit produced by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in partnership with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and in conjunction with Lucasfilm Ltd. This spectacular exhibit provides people with an up-close look at concept art and costumes used in producing the first seven space operas in the Star Wars saga of films.
A Geek Daddy was invited by the DIA to an advance preview of STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME before the exhibit opened to the general public. It was a fantastic experience to have the chance to be able to check out 60 costumes that appeared on-screen in Star Wars movies along with more than 150 sketches used in helping produce the look of the characters and locations within the films.
This exhibit highlights the artistic elements used in producing the films that contribute to the wonderful imagery that has captivated movie goers for over forty years and made this sci-fi saga a pop culture sensation. Star Wars fans will be wowed to be able to stand next to the actual costumes and props used to bring some of their favorite characters to life on the silver screen while someone who may never have seen the films will still be impressed by the craftsmanship of the outfits and the artistry of the sketches used in bringing George Lucas' fantasy stories into reality.
COSTUMES
Did you know actors don't normally get to keep the costumes they've worn while filming a movie? In most cases the movie studios and producers retain ownership of costumes and props after filming has wrapped up. In the case of STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME, the items on display are owned by either George Lucas or Walt Disney Studios on loan to the Smithsonian Institute for use within this traveling exhibition which is concluding its national tour with this showing at the DIA. See for yourself the actual costumes that were worn by actors while filming Star Wars scenes from the original (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi) and prequel (Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith) trilogies as well as 2015's The Force Awakens representing some of the most beloved and infamous characters in cinematic history.
Begin your trek through the exhibition by entering a room that pits the light side of the force against the dark side. In the middle of the room is an impressive fight scene that depicts the villainous Sith called Darth Maul battling a number of Jedi. A number of light saber hilt props that were used in the prequel movies are embedded with the border of the display. Press buttons near some of the informational plaques about the costumes being featured in this fight scene to hear and see some of the light sabers being wielded by the Jedi activate before your eyes just like in the Star Wars movies. This is an exciting way to begin your Star Wars adventure at the DIA that is sure to delight kids and kids at heart.
There isn't a Jabba the Hutt on display; but any guy who grew up in the 1980's will recognize a particular costume actually worn by Carrie Fisher in Return of the Jedi while being chained to that monstrosity that is viewable in a Tatooine themed showcase. A princess outfit from the original Star Wars movie and her Boussh bounty hunter disguise from Return of the Jedi are also on display to see.
Speaking of Star Wars royalty, Padme Amidala played by Natalie Portman in the prequel trilogy has a gallery devoted to costumes worn by this character. This room has a number of fancy gowns, military uniforms, and the wedding dress for her nuptial with Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader). Take a moment to look at the intricacies of these costumes whose details can't fully be appreciated until seeing them in real life.
Look at this paw! Chewbacca doesn't wear shoes after all so I took a close up look at how the outfit used for the Star Wars movies handled that detail. The exhibit has Chewie's original costume from 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope and you can see that it includes slipper like attachments meant to look like the alien's feet that even include toe nails. An important aspect of the character that isn't much noticed because of the attention to detail by costume designers but on the other hand would have really stood out if done poorly.
I know it is just a costume but it is amazing how realistic Chewbacca looks standing right in front of you. For being more than forty years old the Chewbacca and Han Solo costumes from the original Star Wars trilogy look amazing. Shout out your best impression of a wookiee roar then press a button on the informational plaque in front of you and Chewbacca roars back at you. Another of the very nice interactive elements contained within this exhibition.
You know you want to see Darth Vader! Well visitors won't be disappointed as the Lord of Sith awaits your visit. You can't resist the power of Star Wars! Stand in front of the Darth Vader costume worn in Revenge of the Sith by Hayden Christensen for a fun Star Wars photo op.
I'm not going to giveaway all of the highlights of the costumes on display. Ewoks, Mandalorians, stormtroopers, and x-wing pilots … there are a whole lot more costumes on display. You'll have to visit for yourself to take in everything there is to see within STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME.
CONCEPT ART
In addition to costumes, there is also a tremendous amount of concept art on display in STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME. I'm a huge fan of Ralph McQuarrie's work in shaping the imagery of science fiction movies during the 1970s and 80s. So I was in awe getting a first hand look at some of the concept art illustrations and costume sketches by him on display.
Concept artwork that helped the filmmakers visualize how they wanted characters to appear and scenes to be visualized are sprinkled throughout the exhibition. There is a hand drawn sketch that costume designers used to work George Lucas in creating the cast of characters included within the iconic cantina scene from the original Star Wars movie. That is one of my all-time favorite movie scenes that just left me in amazement when I saw it as a kid in the theater. So I really got a kick out of examining this sketch outlining ideas for alien costumes to use in that movie.
I also found a showcase that combined concept art with costumes really interesting. You'll see illustrations of characters with fabric swatches for consideration in their costume designs. Impressive, most impressive!
In addition to the pieces by McQuarrie there are numerous examples of concept art being shown by a variety of other artists as well. Make sure to take some time to enjoy and appreciate these artists work as you may your way through the exhibition. It really caught my attention that between the drawings of Padme Amidala by Ian McCaig along with all her costumes that this character with her strong presence throughout the exhibition must really have a special place in George Lucas' heart.
PROPS
In addition to costumes and concept art, there are also a good number of props on display. I was so thrilled to get up close to the R2D2 droid used in the original 1977 Star Wars film. I got goosebumps just being near it. This Star Wars fan was truly geeking out at this moment!
Also on display is BB8 who became a fan favorite in The Force Awakens. I know seeing him will be the highlight of many kids visit. It was nice to see some elements of the newest Star War trilogy incorporated into this exhibition including this BB8 model as well as costumes worn by new characters like Rey and Finn.
You'll also encounter one of the world's most famous puppets while wandering through STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME. A Yoda puppet used in the filming of The Empire Strikes Back is the last thing you'll encounter before you exit. So you absolutely leave the exhibition on a high note. Fun you will have at the DIA!
A DAD'S PERSPECTIVE
I remember as a child my parents bringing me down to visit the DIA when a special exhibit themed around the Muppet Movie (1979) was in town. It featured authentic puppets used in the movie as well as for The Muppet Show and Sesame Street television series. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Big Bird, along with Bert & Ernie were all there to see. Forty years later, I still fondly remember that experience and I've had a life-long appreciation of the DIA since. I'm hoping that STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME will have that same impact now upon my son and daughter creating a lasting memory and fostering a personal connection with the art museum.
The kids have grown up being exposed to my passion for Star Wars. We've watched all the movies together and viewing the animated television series has been a favorite way for us to relax around the house together. So my son and daughter are as excited about the content of this exhibition as this die hard Star Wars fan is. So I'll definitely be heading back with them to enjoy STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME as a fun family bonding experience.
The Star Wars exhibition at the DIA has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval not only because the items being featured are awesome to encounter but also based upon the visually stunning layout they are being displayed in. The staging and lighting of the artwork, costumes and props being showcased combined with their pop culture appeal envelope the museum with an exhilarating vibe. Most of the content of the show is also out in the open and not sealed off behind safety glass barriers providing for exceptional viewing that lets you feel like you can just reach out and touch the objects. Don't try to do that though or a security guard may rip off your arm in a wookiee like rage!!!
Everyone who attends is also provided a portable device that provides an audio tour of the exhibit as part of their admission price with their being different versions to listen to for both kids and adults. These handheld digital docents are really convenient and a great way to immerse yourself in this Star Wars experience. A really nice touch by the exhibition organizers.
ADMISSION & HOURS
General admission to the DIA as well as tickets for this special exhibit are required.
General admission to the museum is $14 dollars for adults, $9 for senior citizens, $8 for college students, and youth at $6 with kids under 6 years old being admitted into the DIA for free. General admission to the museum is FREE for Macomb, Oakland and Wayne county residents based upon their millage in support of the museum's operating expenses.
Tickets to STAR WARS AND THE POWER OF COSTUME are $7 for youth ages 6 to 17 years old. Children under 6 are FREE. Adult tickets are $19 (Tuesday - Thursday), $24 (Friday - Sunday) with Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county residents receiving a $5 per ticket discount.
The museum will have extended hours during the Star Wars exhibition:
TUE & WED
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
THUR
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
FRI
9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
SAT
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
SUN
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
MON
Closed
The DIA is located at 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit's midtown neighborhood cultural center situated near the College of Creative Studies, Detroit Historical Museum, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Michigan Science Center and Wayne State University. There is a paved lot on the north side of the museum and two parking garages in close proximity to the building with daily rates under $10.
The Detroit Institute of Arts has been recognized as one of the premier art museums within the USA. It is home to more than 60,000 pieces of art and historical relics including the first Van Gogh painting to become part of a U.S. museum’s collection (Self-Portrait, 1887), the first over-life-size enlargement of Rodin’s “The Thinker” sculpture (1904), and Diego Rivera’s world-renowned “Detroit Industry” murals (1932-33). For more information, visit dia.org.
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The Detroit Institute of Arts film theater (DFT) is hosting a series of family friendly science fiction matinee movies throughout the summer of 2018 that are FREE to attend with paid admission to the art museum. Movies being shown include THE TIME MACHINE (1960), FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956), PLANET OF THE APES (1968) 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) & BLACK PANTHER (2018). Each feature film will also be preceded by a chapter from the original FLASH GORDON serials of the 1930s.
The matinees will play daily at 3pm with rotating titles throughout the summer that explore the themes of Adventures and Quests, Space Travel, Alien Encounters, Other Dimensions, Creatures, and Robots. Visit dia.org/dft for a full calendar of movies being shown and more information about the Detroit Film Theater's Sci Fi Summer event.
The DFT has posted a few disclaimers to their showing of these movies. First, that films of earlier eras reflect the values of the day including their portrayal of gender roles and lack of racial diversity. Showing them does not imply an endorsement of the portrayed social norms. Secondly, the theater does not condone war between planets, irresponsible time travel, or the destruction of Los Angeles by giant insects.
Remember, local Detroit area residents that those of you who live in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties get FREE admission to the DIA which means the only cost to view these movies for you is the price of parking (unless you live in Midtown than you can just walk or take the QLine to get there). So if you don't have anything going on during a summer afternoon escape the heat by watching a classic Sci Fi movie at the DFT.
As a kid who enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons and reading fantasy adventures about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, it was always a thrill to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts where I could get a close up look at real suits of armor. They're still one of my favorite things to see at the DIA and now my son joins me in my enthusiasm of this display when we go on a family trip to the museum. These suit of armor have been on exhibit for generations of visitors to appreciate since the William Randolph Hearst Foundation donated items from the tycoon's personal collection to the DIA in 1953 following his death.
The Detroit Institute of Arts' William Randolph Hearst Collection of Arms and Armor includes ten suits of fifteenth through seventeenth century armor along with twenty-five other accessories and weapons that go along with them from this time period. Over the years other donors have also added to the collection. The museum showcases selections from the collection within its Great Hall located adjacent to the Woodward Avenue entrance lobby and next to the Rivera Court which is home to the building's renowned "Detroit Industry" frescos. Imagine a horse galloping at you in full trot hoisting a man covered in shiny armor hoisting a lance or sword directed in your direction! These were the first tanks of warfare and must have been a sight to behold on medieval European battlefields.
Get an up close look at the ingenuity put into these hand-crafted suits of armor. Look at the one pictured below! Slits in the helmet are just big enough to provide the wearer with an adequate view to see through but small enough to protect a knight's eyes. A metal rod attaches the helmet to the armor's lower back plate securing the head to avoid neck and spine injuries. There are large screws and bolts across the suit so extra plates of armor can be mixed and matched as necessary for use in different circumstances. This suit of armor weighs 88 pounds which is the average weight of a 12 year old boy. How would you like to be riding a horse or fighting in hand to hand combat with the equivalent of a 7th grade kid strapped to your body?!
This next armored suit has a crest imprinted within its shoulder. Called "heraldry" these symbols on suits of armor identify the family lineage of the person donning it. Having a solid metal plate in front of your mouth must make it hard to speak while in a suit of armor. This particular suit addresses that conundrum by inserting a voice box into the helmet. Notice too how the armor on one shoulder is caped ... this is designed to provide more protection and aid deflection in the spot where a lance would be impacting the wearer during a joust.
A variety of daggers, maces and swords from the Middle Ages are also on display within the castle-like room of the Detroit Institute of Arts' Great Hall near several of the suits of armor that are on display.
There are also several early pistols and rifles on display within the Great Hall that are examples of the firearms that ushered out the age of knights in shining armor. These Austrian, German and French weapons have elaborately engraved wooden stocks and were used during the sixteenth century when swords and guns were intermixed on the battlefield. During this time a knight in armor on horseback may have charged an infantryman aiming a musket at him.
While the Detroit Institute of Arts is known for its displays of paintings and statues, it is also full of historic relics like these medieval suits of armor and weapons. These items show the artistry and craftsmanship that are works of art in their own right. Other relics within the more than 65,000 pieces in the DIA's permanent collection ranging from a mummy to an original Howdy Doody puppet. Items are regularly moved between being on exhibit and preserved in storage so there is always something to discover on a visit to this art museum.
For more information about admission pricing, directions to the museum, and
exhibits on display and parking arrangements, go to dia.org. Hey, like this tv commercial that I fondly remember from my childhood proclaims, "You gotta have art!" I'd encourage you to go on a family outing to the Detroit Institute of Arts to take in all the awesomeness this place has to offer. You're sure to have a great time!
