arts & life
exhibit
30
Americans
It’s the last weekend to check out the DIA’s innovative exhibition,
taken from the collection of a Jewish couple.
details
30 January 14 • 2016
N, M
TIO
FAM
ILY
CO
LLE
C
ELL
UB
F R
SY
O
R TE
A
fter decades of collecting art
and bringing contemporary
works to public attention, Mera
Rubell decided to try her hand at mak-
ing it. She took a class in portrait paint-
ing and chose a subject who fell right
into place — Cindy Sherman, a pho-
tographer who makes social statements
CO
U
Donald and Mera Rubell with
Valerie Mercer, DIA curator and
department head, General Motors
Center for African American Art
with pictures of herself.
Rubell has described the
xperience as interesting and
experience
eautiful but decided that dabbling
beautiful
n artistry was enough for her. The
in
ormer teacher preferred searching out
former
ontemporary artworks with her hus-
contemporary
and, Donald, a retired doctor, establish-
band,
ng exhibits at a Miami space holding
ing
he Rubell Family Collection (RFC) and
the
oaning pieces to notable presenters.
loaning
Along those lines, the Rubells have
hared an exhibit, 30 Americans, with
shared
Metro Detroiters — who have one more
weekend to see it at the Detroit Institute
of f Arts, through Jan. 18. It showcases 55
aintings, sculptures, installations, pho-
paintings,
ographs and videos created by African
tographs
mericans who gained prominence in
Americans
ecent decades by exploring racial,
recent
ender, political and historical
gender,
dentity.
identity.
“We had a few hundred
works by African American
rtists collected over 40
artists
ears so we felt there
years
was a story to tell,”
ubell explains in a
Rubell
hone conversa-
phone
on from her
tion
Miami home.
IAM
I
Suzanne Chessler | Contributing Writer
30 Americans will be on view through Jan. 18 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. $5-$14/free for DIA members. (313) 833-7900; dia.org.