Oct. 2, 2019 (Detroit)—November at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) brings two new exhibition openings with “Detroit Collects: Selections of African American Art from Private Collections” on Tuesday, Nov. 12, and “Michigan’s Great Lakes: Photographs by Jeff Gaydash” on Friday, Nov. 15. The DIA continues to offer films, artist demonstrations, art-making, and live music all month long, as well as special free family fun throughout the Thanksgiving weekend.

“Ofrendas: Celebrating el Dia de Muertos” ends Sunday, Nov. 10 with a presentation by the artists, as well as a brief history of the holiday by the Mexican Consulate in Detroit.

General admission is always free for residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

The DIA thanks its sponsors for the following programs: Friday Night Live! is supported by the DTE Energy Foundation; the Detroit Film Theatre is generously supported by Buddy's Pizza.

Exhibitions

“Ofrendas: Celebrating el Dia de Muertos” on view through November 10

“Humble and Human: Impressionist Era Treasures from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Detroit Institute of Arts, an Exhibition in Honor of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.” on view through January 5, 2020

Guests of Honor from the Musée du Louvre: “Jean-Antoine Houdon’s Portraits of Americans in the Age of Enlightenment” on view through May 3, 2020

“Detroit Collects: Selections of African American Art from Private Collections” on view November 12, 2019–March 1, 2020

“Michigan’s Great Lakes: Photographs by Jeff Gaydash” on view November 15, 2019–May 3, 2020

Ongoing

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 tour.

There will be a special Family Guided Tour on Friday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.

Gallery Adventures: Saturdays & Sundays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

These family-friendly pop-up tours by DIA docents provide activities for children and the whole family. They take place in the French galleries on Saturdays and the Native American galleries on Sundays.

Gallery Adventures will be offered on Friday, Nov. 29 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Gallery Games: Saturdays & Sundays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Families of all ages can enjoy free, take-away kid-tested and approved games at the cart in Prentis Court next to Artie the Donkey.

Gallery Games will be offered on Friday, Nov. 29 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Thursdays at the Museum, 1 p.m.

Special programs, including light refreshments, for adults 55+, including tours, talks, art-making, films and more.

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 arrive between 4 and 6 p.m.; open play (no teaching) is between 6 and 8 p.m.

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

Drop-In Art-making (for all ages): Regular Hours: Fridays, 6–9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, Noon–4 p.m.

Friday, November 1

Friday Night Live! Warsaw Concerto: 75 Years 7 p.m.

Pianist Joseph Palazzolo celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, featuring the music of Frederic Chopin, Ignaz Paderewski, Camille Saint-Saens, as well as polkas, klezmer and other concert music from the period performed by Palazzolo and violinist Sonia Lee.

Saturday, November 9

Detroit Institute of Arts 2019 Gala 6 p.m.

Sunday, November 10

Ofrenda Artist Talk: Celebrating el Dia de Muertos 2 p.m.

Artists who created ofrenda altars for the Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos will discuss the meaning and inspiration behind their work, and the  Mexican Consulate will provide a brief exploration of the history of the holiday.

Detroit Film Theatre: Jay Myself 3, 5 & 6:45 p.m.

This documentary follows photographer Jay Maisel in 2015 when he moves out of the Germania Bank Building, a 100-year-old, dilapidated, 35,000 square-foot landmark on the Bowery in lower Manhattan. “The Bank” became Jay’s studio and a home for himself, his wife and daughter, and over time became a six-story museum for his art as well as for countless objects that inspired him. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Thursday, November 14

Thursdays at the Museum: Art BINGO! 1 p.m.

Join us for a special event, Art BINGO! Learn about the DIA's spectacular collection and win prizes.

Friday, November 15

Detroit Film Theatre: Angels are Made of Light 7 p.m.

This moving documentary follows the lives of several young students and their teachers at the Daqiqi Balkhi School in Kabul, Afghanistan. With students and instructors narrating their own stories, their memories show the realities of everyday Afghan life in the wake of strife, disruption and turbulence. In Dari, Pashto, Arabic and English with English subtitles. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Friday Night Live! Juxtatonal featuring Nick Zoulek 7 & 8:30 p.m.

Juxtatonal (JUX) is a contemporary voice and cello duo whose music, like their name, brings together the styles of Detroit-based soprano, Jocelyn Zelasko, and NYC-based cellist, Bryan Hayslett. Joined by saxophonist Nick Zoulek.

Saturday, November 16

Detroit Institute of Awesome! Artist Demonstration: Encaustic Painting with Karianne Spens-Hanna 12 p.m.

Detroit-based artist Karianne Spens-Hanna demonstrates the encaustic—heated wax—technique, then guides visitors as they try their own encaustic wax pieces.

Lecture: The Last Night: The Art, Armor and Ambition of Maximilian I 2 p.m.

The DIA auxiliary Visiting Committee for European Sculptures and Decorative Arts presents a lecture by Pierre Terjanian, curator of the of Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition The Last Knight: The Art, Armor, and Ambition of Maximilian I. Terjanian will discuss the themes and share discoveries made over the course of its preparation. The exhibition examines the significance of European armor at the dawn of the Renaissance through the lens of Emperor Maximilian I's (1459–1519) life.

Detroit Film Theatre: Angels are Made of Light 4 & 7 p.m.

(see Nov. 15 for description)

Sunday, November 17

Detroit Institute of Awesome! Artist Demonstration: Encaustic Painting with Karianne Spens-Hanna 12 p.m.

(see Nov. 16 for description)

Detroit Film Theatre: Piranhas 2 & 4:30 p.m.

Based on the novel by Roberto Saviano, this coming-of-age story is about 15-year-old Nicola and his pack of hellions who become captivated by the lifestyle of the local Italian-mafia and their decadence into the violent world of Naples’s crime group, the Camorra. In Italian with English subtitles. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Thursday, November 21

Thursdays at the Museum: Film: The Palm Beach Story 1 p.m.

The story of a bankrupt inventor’s wife who decides that the best way to raise money for her beloved husband’s new project is to divorce him, and marry a Palm Beach millionaire, J.D. Hackensacker III.

Friday, November 22

Detroit Film Theatre: Ága 7 p.m.

In this story about an indigenous couple living in Siberia, the husband embarks on a journey to find their estranged daughter, Ága, after his wife falls ill. In Yakut with English subtitles. (96 min.) Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Friday Night Live! Marcus Elliot Trio 7 & 8:30 p.m.

This group of Detroit-area composers inspired by Detroit jazz perform music from their new release Broken Seeds.

Saturday, November 23

DFT Family: Tia and Piujuq 2 p.m.

Tia, a young, lonely Syrian girl new to Montreal discovers a magic portal, where she meets Piujuq, an equally bored and lonely Inuk girl who introduces Tia to her world through games and Inuit stories, only to have their blossoming friendship threatened by a mysterious figure. In Arabic, English, French and Inuktitut, with English subtitles. Free for Friends members; $5 general admission.

Detroit Film Theatre: Ága 4:30 & 7 p.m.

(see Nov. 22 for description)

Sunday, November 24

DFT Family: Tia and Piujuq 2 p.m.

(see Nov. 23 for description)

Detroit Film Theatre: Ága 4:30 p.m.

(see Nov. 22 for description)

Friday, November 29

Detroit Institute of Awesome! Puppet Performance: National Marionette Theatre presents Pinocchio 2 p.m.

The National Marionette Theatre presents the beloved tale of a puppet’s journey to become a real boy, told with carved marionettes and hand-painted scenery, inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio.

Detroit Film Theatre: Il Cinema Ritrovato: Festival of Restored Cinema Masterworks Il Cinema Ritrovato is a three-day festival of rescued and restored world cinema masterworks from the Italian film archive Cineteca di Bologna. The festival is presented by the DFT in cooperation with the Consul of Italy in Detroit. Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

City Lights 4 p.m.

A tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) and vows to get enough money to restore her sight.

Victims of Sin 7 p.m.

This daring melodrama from Emilio “El Indio” Fernández includes several dance numbers by the star Ninón Sevilla and music by Pérez Prado.

Friday Night Live! Audra Kubat 7 & 8:30 p.m.

Detroit's award-winning indie-folk rock artist, Audra Kubat performs new music in celebration of her latest album release.

Saturday, November 30

Detroit Institute of Awesome! Puppet Performance: National Marionette Theatre presents Pinocchio 2 p.m.

(see Nov. 29 for description)

Detroit Film Theatre: Il Cinema Ritrovato: Festival of Restored Cinema Masterworks

(see Nov. 29 for description). Tickets: $9.50 for general admission and $7.50 for members, seniors and students.

Touki Bouki 2 p.m.

This important African film tells the story of two lovers who plan to leave Senegal for the glamour of France, until they encounter complications both concrete and mystical.

In a Lonely Place 4:30 p.m.

This film noir stars Humphrey Bogart as a volatile screen writer who is suspected of murder.

Suspiria 7 p.m.

Dario Argento’s suspense classic about a ballet dancer at a mysterious dance academy. In English.

IN THE COMMUNITY 

Behind the Seen

Presented by trained DIA teaching volunteers, "Behind the Seen" brings insight and engagement about the DIA's collection from the museum to your community. Talks last up to one hour and are available to adult civic and social groups, libraries, senior centers, and other community-accessible locations in metro Detroit.

Monday, November 18

Caroline Kennedy Library of Dearborn Heights: Vogue 7 p.m.

This talk explores costuming and adornment throughout time and discover the many ways that personal, political and cultural identity is communicated through our clothing and body art.