June 28, 2017 (Detroit)—From the art of Taiwanese shadow puppetry to bluegrass and rock and roll on a 1959 Telecaster guitar, to the Sphinx Virtuosi, featuring 18 of the nation’s top Black and Latino classical soloists, September at the DIA is a month you don’t want to miss. In addition, the weekend of September 22 is DLectricity, a festival of light-based art and technology featuring world-renowned and emerging artists whose cutting-edge works of art illuminate Midtown Detroit. The DIA will host a performance by composer Rashaad Newsome on Sept. 23 as part of this event.

Programs are free with museum admission and free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties unless otherwise noted. For more information, call (313) 833-7900 or visit www.dia.org.

Ed. Note: Image: Still of Jim Campilongo, courtesy of JR Delia.

Exhibitions:

“Art of Rebellion: Black Art of the Civil Rights Movement” on view through October 22.

“D-Cyphered: Portraits by Jenny Risher” on view August 4 through February 18, 2018.

General Guided Tours: Tuesdays–Thursdays, 1 p.m.; Fridays, 1 & 6 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of select galleries for an overview of the collection.

General and Family Guided Tours: Saturdays & Sundays, 1 & 3 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of select galleries or a family and kid-friendly tours.

Detroit City Chess Club: Fridays, 4–8 p.m.

The club’s mission is to teach area students the game and life lessons. Members have won state, regional and national competitions. People wanting to learn to play chess should show up between 4 and 6 p.m. There will be no teaching between 6 and 8 p.m., but visitors can play chess.

Drawing in the Galleries (for all ages): Fridays, 6–9 p.m.; Sundays, Noon–4 p.m.

Drop-In Workshops (for all ages)

Friday, 6–9 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, Noon–4 p.m.

Travel Journals: Friday, September 1–Sunday, September 3

Record your adventures and travels in an easy to make book.

Parfleche: Friday, September 8–Sunday, September 10

A parfleche is a rawhide carrying case decorated with geometric designs made and used by Plains Indians to hold clothing, valuables, personal items and tools. Make one you can really use with craft papers, markers, beads and leather cords.

Artist Trading Cards: Friday, September 15–Sunday, September 17

Artist trading cards are miniature works of art created on card stock. Make your own card to trade with friends.

Pinwheels: Thursday, September 21: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Join us in the outdoor courtyard on John R St. for Pinwheels for Peace. Create and plant a pinwheel on the DIA lawn as part of the global movement to raise awareness of Peace Day.

Open Studio: Friday, September 22–Sunday, September 24

Create something uniquely personal with a variety of materials in this open-ended drop-in workshop.

Spinners: Friday, September 29–Saturday, September 30

Have fun making this retro toy from simple materials.

Friday, September 1

Friday Night Live: Jim Campilongo Trio: 7 & 8:30 p.m.

The sound Jim Campilongo gets from a 1959 Telecaster brings to mind the early history of the instrument, with elements of country, bluegrass, blues and rock and roll. Campilongo brings his trio, which includes Josh Dion (drums) and Chris Morrisey (bass), to the DIA from its regular residency at the Living Room in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Saturday, September 2

Detroit Film Theatre: “Moka”: 9:30 p.m.

Diane is obsessed with tracking down the owner of a mocha-colored Mercedes believed to have been involved in a deadly hit-and-run. On the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland, she finds the car as well as the woman who’s putting it up for sale. In French with English subtitles. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Sunday, September 3

Detroit Film Theatre: “Moka”: 4:30 p.m.

See Sept. 2 for description.

Thursday, September 7

Thursdays at the Museum: Tour: 1 p.m.

Enjoy a highlights tour of the DIA’s permanent collection.

Friday, September 8

Detroit Film Theatre: “Il Boom”: 7 p.m.

During the 1960s, the entire population of Italy seemed to be getting rich, except for one timid man whose debt forces him to make an unthinkable deal with a wealthy matron. This dark satire has never been released in the U.S. until now. Newly restored, in Italian with English subtitles. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Friday Night Live: Michigan Philharmonic: Highland Park: City of Trees: 7 & 8:30 p.m.

Commemorating the Detroit ’67 rebellion, the Michigan Philharmonic performs compositions by the CutTime Players’ Rick Robinson, featuring Highland Park: City of Trees, which evokes that city before and after the summer of 1967, and First Grief, an elegy for the composer’s father.

Saturday, September 9

Detroit Institute of Awesome: DFT Animation Club: “Tyrus”: 2 p.m.

Tyrus Wong, a Chinese immigrant to the United States, fought prejudice and persevered to become one of the most relevant artists in film history. Wong inspired Walt Disney and brought the beauty of “Bambi” to life on the screen. Interviews with film historians, art curators, studio animation experts and the Wong family give a candid look at this artist, who passed away last year at age 106. Tickets: $5 for general admission, free for DIA members.

Detroit Film Theatre: “Il Boom”: 4:30 p.m.

See Sept. 8 for description.

Detroit Film Theatre: “Moka”: 9:30 p.m.

See Sept. 2 for description.

Thursday, September 14

Thursdays at the Museum: Art Talk: Diego Rivera and “Detroit Industry” Murals: 1 p.m.

Learn the complex and intriguing story behind Diego Rivera and the “Detroit Industry” murals, now a National Landmark. The artist considered these murals the most successful of his career. 

Friday, September 15

Detroit Film Theatre: “Pop Aye”: 7 p.m.

A successful Bangkok architect’s midlife crisis is interrupted when he’s reunited with an elephant he knew while growing up. The two embark on a surprising road trip to the Thai countryside in this universal tale. In Thai with English subtitles. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Friday Night Live: Maria Meirelles: The Prokofiev Piano Sonatas: 7 & 8:30 p.m.

Pianist Maria Meirelles performs the piano sonatas of Russian pianist and composer Sergei Prokofiev.

Saturday, September 16

Detroit Institute of Awesome: Artist Demonstration: The Exquisite Corpse Machine and Other Experimental Mechanisms for Creating Collaborative Artwork: Noon–4 p.m.

Detroit artist Andy Malone discusses and demonstrates his mobile and hands-on wooden machines, board games and drawings.

Detroit Film Theatre: “Pop Aye”: 7 p.m.

See Sept. 15 for description.

Detroit Film Theatre: “Il Boom”: 9:30 p.m.

See Sept. 8 for description.

Sunday, September 17

Detroit Institute of Awesome: Artist Demonstration: The Exquisite Corpse Machine and Other Experimental Mechanisms for Creating Collaborative Artwork: Noon–4 p.m.

See Sept. 16 for description.

Detroit Film Theatre: “Pop Aye”: 2 p.m.

See Sept. 15 for description.

Detroit Film Theatre: “Il Boom”: 4:30 p.m.

See Sept. 8 for description.

Thursday, September 21

Thursdays at the Museum: Art Making: Watercolor Postcards: 1 p.m.

Create postcards of your own design to send to friends and family.

Saturday, September 23

DLectricity Performance: Rashaad Newsome’s Shade Composition: 8 p.m.

The DLectricity festival concludes with Shade Composition, Rashaad Newsome’s performance artwork in the Detroit Film Theatre. Newsome serves as conductor of an ensemble of local self-identifying black female performers, whose voices and gestures are synthesized into improvisational orchestral music collaged with a live video and audio mix.

Sunday, September 24

Detroit Film Theatre: TBA

The Detroit Film Theatre showcases the best of contemporary and classic world cinema. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Thursday, September 28

Thursdays at the Museum: Film Matineé: “Seven Chances”: 1 p.m.

In this 1925 silent comedy, bachelor Buster Keaton learns that he is about to inherit a fortune but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. the same day.

Friday, September 29

Friday Night Live: The Sphinx Virtuosi: 7 p.m.

The Sphinx Virtuosi is one of the nation’s most dynamic professional chamber orchestras, comprising 18 of the nation’s top black and Latino classical soloists, all alumni of the internationally renowned Sphinx Competition. This performance features concerto repertoire from the baroque to the modern era.

Lecture: Dialogue Between Light and Shadow–An Introduction to Taiwanese Shadow Puppetry: 7 p.m.

Professor Yi-Feng Chiu explores the history of shadow puppetry in Taiwan.

Detroit Institute of Awesome: Puppet Performance: Yung Shing Le Shadow Puppet Troupe: 8 p.m.

Experience Taiwanese shadow puppetry in five plays presented by this century-old family theater that has handed down traditional practices and stories through five generations. Infusing modern techniques and original stories into their performance, they keep the art form relevant to modern audiences. Recommended for all ages. Made possible through a partnership with the Michigan Taiwanese American Organization.

Saturday, September 30

Detroit Institute of Awesome: Puppet Workshop: Taiwanese Shadow Puppets: Noon–2 p.m.

Members of the Yung Shing Le Shadow Puppet Troupe of Taiwan teach techniques of traditional Taiwanese shadow puppetry and help participants to create simple shadow puppets and learn a few performance basics. Preregistration is required. Details to register to be announced.

Detroit Institute of Awesome: Puppet Performance: Yung Shing Le Shadow Puppet Troupe: 2:15 p.m.

See Sept. 29 for description.

Detroit Film Theatre: TBA

The Detroit Film Theatre showcases the best of contemporary and classic world cinema. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Museum Hours and Admission (Note: General admission increased as of July 1)

9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays–Thursdays, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. General admission (excludes ticketed exhibitions) is free for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county residents and DIA members. For all others, $14 for adults, $9 for seniors ages 62+, $8 for students, $6 for ages 6–17. For membership information, call 313-833-7971.