  Leland_palmer Member Username: Leland_palmer Post Number: 405 Registered: 08-2004 |
Michael H. Hodges / The Detroit News On the eve of its November grand reopening, big things are happening at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The Detroit News learned Wednesday that AT&T will give the museum "Young Lady and Her Suite," a 35-foot tall, bright-red sculpture by one of the 20th century's leading artists -- Alexander Calder. The news broke the same morning the DIA reinstalled Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" on its Woodward Avenue pedestal. From 1973 until late 2006, when "Lady" was removed for restoration, the sculpture was a familiar landmark at the corner of Michigan and Cass avenues, in front of the corporation's Detroit headquarters. http://detroitnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20071025/E NT05/710250416 So is this a good thing or a bad thing? Sure the DIA gets a "multimillion-dollar piece" but we lose a piece on art on the street to a less visible location. You expect to see art at an art museum, but what makes public art so great is that you can find it walking down the street. Is AT&T being philanthropic or getting rid of some clutter from their campus? (Message edited by leland_palmer on October 25, 2007) | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1112 Registered: 10-2003 |
I am sure it will not be hidden away, it's 35 feet tall for god's sake! It's not like it will be installed inside the DIA. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 1856 Registered: 10-2006 |
"Is AT&T being philanthropic or getting rid of some clutter as they redevelop their campus?" Seems like a win win for both AT&T and the DIA. The DIA gets more art, and AT&T gets to start over with a new look for their grounds. | ||
Wirt Member Username: Wirt Post Number: 67 Registered: 12-2005 |
I kind of liked it better downtown | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 1858 Registered: 10-2006 |
"I kind of liked it better downtown" Well, perhaps it is not public art and you don't get to decide where it goes... | ||
Aoife Member Username: Aoife Post Number: 31 Registered: 04-2007 |
That is nice for the DIA, but I would rather see it downtown. The great thing about Calders is that they usually appear in very public, non-art settings. Giant, colorful pieces in unexpected places. They also have a tendency to make the sometimes crappy architecture that surrounds them seem a little bit more interesting. I am a little based- I grew up in Grand Rapids, and the Calder they have there really beautiful- it brings life to a rather uninspired area of their downtown. The grounds of the DIA are amazing on their own- they really don't need the spark of color like downtown Detroit does. | ||
Wirt Member Username: Wirt Post Number: 68 Registered: 12-2005 |
"Well, perhaps it is not public art and you don't get to decide where it goes..." perhaps it is public now... | ||
Downtown_remix Member Username: Downtown_remix Post Number: 521 Registered: 03-2007 |
HEY GUYS, Are we having the Detroit "Hum Drum" attitude moment here? Are we so afraid of change? Has decades of stagnitation left a negative funk in our thinking? Lets remember, this section of downtown has just opened a Zillion dollar Casino and hotel resort, A multi million dollar transit center is underway, DTE is spending millions to beautify its campus, Trolley Plaza is preping for a complete overhale, Two surviving Queens (Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby) of our distant past are rising from the dead. Grand circus Park area is up to something for sure. So A T & T probably have a master plan as well, perhaps they are shopping around for a new art piece for that corner, or the may already have one ready, but had to get rid of the "o'l washed up pink lady on the corner. Now She will be a sista on John R. lol... you know,, fresh new start, exactly wat 139 square miles of the city needs. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1446 Registered: 04-2006 |
I have to agree with re-mix. The most important thing is that its staying here. Too much has left the area, while this is a different location, in the grand scheme of things it could be much worse. | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 2219 Registered: 11-2004 |
It's a great thing for the DIA, that's for sure. It could have been very cool on that corner again though. I always enjoyed it there. Personally, I doubt that something of that significance will be installed to replace the Calder on that corner. | ||
Detroitrulez Member Username: Detroitrulez Post Number: 481 Registered: 12-2006 |
quote: At the rate that project is going, it should be ready by the time the Detroit-Windsor Olympics are announced. quote: better than an underhale, I suppose. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 3251 Registered: 10-2003 |
I mean.... That sculpture is alright I guess. I don't personally get it, but it's fun I suppose. I cast my vote for apathy on this one. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5557 Registered: 08-2004 |
When that sculpture was installed in the early 1970's in front of the then Michigan Bell HQ, it was painted a dark brown color to match the dark brown of the metalwork of the building. Then at a later date it was repainted in the bright orange-red color that Calder originally envisioned it. I too am sad to see it disappear in front of the downtown streetscape. But like has been stated, at least it's staying in Detroit. Maybe they should move the Thaddeus Kusiousko (sp?) Bicentennial equestrian statue (located farther west on Michigan & 3rd) to in front of the AT&T Michigan HQ. The current grassy knoll location of that statue has all the grandeur of a roadside billboard. (Message edited by Gistok on October 25, 2007) | ||
Downtown_remix Member Username: Downtown_remix Post Number: 523 Registered: 03-2007 |
DETROIITRULEZ,, GO TO THE ROSA PARKS TRANSIT CENTER SITE.... not 3 months ago, but today and give these people the full report of how far they've come. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2139 Registered: 01-2005 |
Well, no one posted a photo of "Lady". Is that the sculpture that looked like a boiler exploded? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 3254 Registered: 10-2003 |
 | ||
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch Post Number: 2447 Registered: 06-2004 |
How many of the people bitching about the move were even aware that it has been in storage for the last 1 1/2 years? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 3255 Registered: 10-2003 |
"From 1973 until late 2006, when "Lady" was removed for restoration, the sculpture was a familiar landmark at the corner of Michigan and Cass avenues, in front of the corporation's Detroit headquarters. " Everyone who read the first post. | ||
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch Post Number: 2448 Registered: 06-2004 |
Yeah, I kind of meant before they read the post. | ||
Winstin_o_boogie_iii Member Username: Winstin_o_boogie_iii Post Number: 97 Registered: 02-2007 |
DIA Related: "Beginning October 25, free passes to 25 metro area museums will be available for check-out at Main Library and every branch library in Detroit." DIA is a participating museum... http://www.detroitpubliclibrar y.org/events/MAP.htm | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 610 Registered: 04-2006 |
the sculpture was originally going to be donated to the Smithsonian! thank god they changed their minds... And the piece WILL be placed outside... it will still be public art. - andy | ||
Billk Member Username: Billk Post Number: 148 Registered: 09-2005 |
Does anybody know the name of this sculpture? The Detroit News called it " Young Lady and her Suite". Crain's called it "Young Woman and her Suitors". | ||
Wirt Member Username: Wirt Post Number: 69 Registered: 12-2005 |
Jeune Fille et Sa Suite  | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5559 Registered: 08-2004 |
Well since the removal for restoration was discussed in a thread last year... anyone who read that thread would have known of the status of the Calder sculpture. | ||
Detroitrulez Member Username: Detroitrulez Post Number: 484 Registered: 12-2006 |
As I seem to recall, that thread was more notable for the plethora of ignorant comments about the sculpture rather than anything else. | ||
Detroithabitater Member Username: Detroithabitater Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2006 |
I lived in Toronto once. Loved the fact there was public art on every corner. I didn't have to go to the Art Gallery of Ontario to see it. | ||
Oakmangirl Member Username: Oakmangirl Post Number: 558 Registered: 08-2007 |
Wirt, The literal French to English is the "Young Lady and Her Suitor". Both sources are technically wrong; "suite" makes no sense and Crain's pluralizes it when it's a singular noun. Really, it should be Follower or Admirer. | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 192 Registered: 07-2007 |
Many area libraries are participating in the Museum Pass program, not just DPL, for those who are interested: http://www.detroitadventurepas s.org/ | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2142 Registered: 01-2005 |
I truly do not comprehend any "art" in that mess of boiler plate. Now, Rodin's "The Thinker" is magnificent, and I thrill in looking at the detail every time I see it. Explain to me what I'm missing in the Calder. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 11709 Registered: 10-2003 |
That was art? I thought it was the bastardized remains of the monkey bars that littered Washington Blvd. Who knew? | ||
Oilcan_harry Member Username: Oilcan_harry Post Number: 21 Registered: 08-2006 |
Good thing the "Lady" is not made of copper, it wouldn't last out the week. | ||
Spaceboykelly Member Username: Spaceboykelly Post Number: 256 Registered: 04-2005 |
I think the debate on what is considered Modern art has already ended (almost 60 years ago). Calder is art... it isn't that hard to grasp. Maybe you guys should utilize the DIA when it re-opens. If you would really liked an explanation of why it is art I can go into it but it doesn't seem like DYES is the place for it. It's nice that it has been given to the DIA but I really liked seeing that Calder and the triangular, crushed automobile sculpture downtown. Both have been absent for a while. Does anyone know if Yoko Ono's Wish Tree is still downtown? | ||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2073 Registered: 01-2004 |
"That was art?" youranass ! lol | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 995 Registered: 10-2007 |
"Is AT&T being philanthropic or getting rid of some clutter as they redevelop their campus?" The buzz around here is "good riddance". AT&T needed the space where the sculpture has been sitting for the last couple of years. It has been repainted and "looks great", so they say. | ||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2074 Registered: 01-2004 |
Yeah, Downtown was looking too much like New York or Chicago with a huge famous piece of fine art just sitting there. tear that schitt down. Or maybe they could make a loft out of it ? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5763 Registered: 08-2004 |
Yeah Mauser765... downtown was starting to look too much like NYC and Chicago... well at least we still have that "cow bell" (Millenium Bell) at GCP to regale us with beauty... ... and just what did AT&T need that space in front of their Michigan Ave. HQ for? A decorative sidewalk? The relocation of that statue is a loss for Downtown, and a gain for Midtown. But the statue will be among a sculpture garden of other statues... it will blend in with the other statues in Midtown, rather than stand out in Downtown. | ||
Everydayislikesunday Member Username: Everydayislikesunday Post Number: 349 Registered: 12-2004 |
It's my understanding that the Calder isn't going in the sculpture garden. It will be installed on the Southeast lawn, on the corner of Farnsworth and John R. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2264 Registered: 01-2005 |
I hiked a few miles into the hills up around Breckinridge, Colorado, a few years back, to find an old mining camp indicated on my USGS map. Found it, and there was an old boiler there that had exploded probably back around 1900 or so when the camp was in action. Kinda looked like the Calder. Maybe the DIA should haul it down and put it on the sidewalk out front. | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 47 Registered: 11-2007 |
Put an inscription on it and put it on e-bay Ray. I actually know a guy who makes a decent living buying crap at flea markets and selling on e-bay for 10 times what he pays. |
