William Merritt Chase, James Abbott McNeill Whistler , 1885, oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Educators
Explore the work of James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903), learn how his innovative ideas about color and composition contributed to the birth of "modern" art, and discover how he inspired a generation of American artists to follow in his footsteps. An audio tour is included with exhibition admission, featuring a specially designed youth version and an adult version suitable for high school students.

Visiting
Tickets are $12.50 for adults. Tickets for adult chaperones and youth (ages 6–17) are $6.00. For every 10 youth tickets, a chaperone ticket may be purchased at the same price.

Advance reservations are available for groups of 20 people or more at a discount. Call 313.833.1292 for additional information on group visits.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.

Click here for information on student group lunches, or call 313.833.1345.

Teachers' Guide
Prepare for your visit to American Attitude: Whistler & His Followers with our Teachers' Guide. The guide includes:

  • A map of the exhibition
  • An exhibition summary
  • Information on interpretive materials in the exhibition
  • A walkthrough of the exhibition with descriptions of each gallery and audio stops
  • Samples of explanatory wall texts
  • A biography and timeline for Whistler
  • Historical background on Whistler and the late 19th-Century
  • Links to K-12 curriculum standards
  • Discussion questions
  • Resources, including books and websites

A copy of the guide will be mailed once you reserve your tickets.


Click on the icon to download the Teachers' Guide.

To download and print the American Attitude: Whistler & His Followers Teachers' Guide (24 pages) you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.


Exhibition Preview
Click here to take the Preview Tour and learn more about Whistler and his influence on various other artists in the exhibition.

Image Gallery
Click here to view a selection of full-color images from the exhibition.

Teacher Workshops

Evening for Educators
Friday, March 12, 5 - 7 p.m.
James Tottis, acting curator of American Art, tours the exhibition before it opens to the public, highlighting connections between Whistler and Detroit's history. Curriculum consultant Jim McConnell places the work of Whistler and his contemporaries in American history and explores ties to state social studies standards.

Member fee: $15; non-member fee: $20; student teacher fee: $10. Includes Friday night admission to the DIA. On Fridays, the museum is open until 9 p.m. with special programs for all ages. Click here to view a complete list of upcoming Friday events.

Saturday Workshop
March 27, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
James Tottis, acting curator of American Art, leads a before-hours exhibition tour highlighting Whistler's connections to the Detroit community. DIA educators identify key interpretive strategies within the exhibition and discuss options for student visits. The afternoon session takes place at the Detroit Historical Museum and features activities that incorporate 19th-Century decorative arts, architecture, city planning, and social history within the MEAP objectives.

Member fee: $60; non-member fee: $75; student teacher fee: $37.50. Fee includes lunch, which will be provided by the Detroit Historical Museum.
SB-CEU credit available for an additional fee.

Registration Information
To register for classes, call 313.833.4249. Teacher workshops are open to K-12 educators of all subjects.
Return to DIA.org