DIA Launches New Collection Focused on Automotive and Industrial Design | cultural | Detroit

The Detroit Institute of Arts is building a new collection inspired by the city’s automotive innovations.

The new collection will feature works that showcase the automotive industry’s technological, design and functional efforts with an emphasis on Detroit’s contributions. It is funded by a $5 million gift from the Mort and Brigitte Harris Foundation, which the museum will use to fill a new curator position: the Mort Harris Curator of Automotive, Industrial and Decorative Design.

So far, the museum has received a donation of 91 automotive drawings from Julie Hyde-Edwards which span decades of collecting by Julie and her late husband Robert Edwards.

“I am grateful to Mort’s son, Stuart Harris, and Brigitte’s daughter, Michele Becker, and administrator Doreen Vitti, with the support of Mort’s partner, Sandy Morrison, for continuing the generous support and longtime Harris family member at the museum,” said DIA Director Salvador Salort-Pons. in a press release. “Mort’s leadership and generosity helped shape so many institutions in Detroit during his lifetime. Along with Brigitte, their interest in art and the DIA was a joy to behold. This gift is enhanced by the extraordinary collection of works donated by Julie-Hyde Edwards, who along with Robert Edwards worked tirelessly to preserve and document these fragile works of art to enable future generations to discover and fall in love with work of these Detroit artists. .”

The museum plans to add concept drawings, models, paintings, prints, photographs, posters, architectural renderings, and more. at the exhibit, which explores the facets of modern life shaped by automotive design, with the help of the yet-to-be-named new curator.

Stay connected with Detroit Metro Times. Subscribe to our newsletters and follow us on Google News, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook, instagram, RedditWhere ICT Tac.