Detroit Metro Airport welcomes DIA artwork to North Terminal

Dixita Limbachia
Detroit Free Press

"It's about damn time they did something like this," a passenger said looking at a painting in the North Terminal of the Detroit Metro Airport. 

Chad Newton, Wayne County Airport Authority CEO, shared that story during a news conference Thursday morning of how he overheard a wife telling her husband about finally seeing art in the airport.

Sharon Harrell, DIA community engagement manager, explains Benny Andrews' Portrait of a Collagist.

The Wayne County Airport Authority teamed up with the Detroit Institute of Arts' InsideOut program to unveil 24 new art installations throughout the North Terminal. 

"We need to embrace these ideas and think about what our passengers need here and what they would really appreciate," said Newton. "And art in the airport is something that is a great idea."

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These paintings are called “Reading the Story of Oenone” (left) and “Reeds and Cranes.” (right)

InsideOut is an art program that partners with metro Detroit venues to display art copies from the DIA on the outside of buildings. However, this is the first time it is teaming up with the airport and hanging up indoor artwork. 

The 24 high-quality reproductions at the airport include many masterpieces from the DIA collection, including "The Nut Gatherers" by William Adolphe Bouguereau and "Dancers in the Green Room" by Edgar Degas.

So why display art at the airport? State Rep. Leslie Love, D-Detroit, said during the news conference that it's about showing the culture and beauty of Michigan.

"The airport is one of the international gateways where people come to visit our state," said Love. "When they see the art on the walls that we have, it's a reminder of Michigan's legacy."

These painting are called “Winter Landscape in Moonlight” (left) and “Animals in Landscape.” (right)

Bettye Misuraca, a member of the Wayne County Council for Arts, History and Humanities, has long pushed for the idea to place art in the airport.

This painting is called “Reading the Story of Oenone.”  Lolita Haley, Wayne County arts authority board member, and State Rep. Leslie Love are viewing the art.

"I think it's a tremendous asset to the community," said Misuraca. "Maybe just looking at one picture might make someone start thinking differently."

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