By Juanita Zuniga The Howler
A new exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts opened Detroit Cristo Rey students’ eyes to issues of race, politics and gender identity during their visits last month.
The senior and sophomore classes explored the “30 Americans” exhibit, which featured contemporary art by African American artists, highlighting issues in contemporary culture.
“30 Americans” was a welcome addition to the DIA’s diverse collections, students said. The museum contains a mural by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera called Detroit Industry, which Rivera said is a tribute to Detroit because of the city’s manufacturing base and labor force of the 1930s. The DIA also features Vincent Van Gogh’s Self Portrait, which was the first Van Gogh piece to enter a U.S. museum collection.
The 30 Americans exhibit gave the art world “a twist,” said Asia Jefferson, a senior at Detroit Cristo Rey. “You don’t really see black people depicted in art that much.”
Jefferson was pleased to see that black artists were changing the scene and creating an aesthetic that was based on the beauty of black culture. The exhibit offered a new perspective on Western art, she said.
The exhibit also presented pieces students could relate to.
“I was able to look at the art work and say ‘Hey, that’s something similar that reminds me of my family, friends and even me,’’’ said Monet Brown, a senior at Detroit Cristo Rey. Brown said the art portrayed social events that would happen her in own life. She felt the exhibit taught her that we need to be open to what others think even if we don’t agree with them.
The “30 Americans” exhibit will be at the DIA through Jan. 18. Tickets range from $5 to $14. Admission is free the first weekend of January and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan. 18.
