James McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in Grey and Black, No.1: Portrait of the Artist's Mother, 1871, oil on canvas. Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

Introduction
The contemporary notion that artists are innovators and revolutionary thinkers, yet also somewhat eccentric, may as well have come directly from the biography of James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903). In his time, Whistler was as well known for his new ideas about art as he was for his letter-writing campaigns, lawsuits, and verbal barbs directed at critics, dealers, and other artists who misunderstood his work.

At age twenty-one, Whistler left the U.S. to study and work in Paris and London— international centers for fine art. Although Whistler never returned to his native country, he was always considered an American. His attitude toward painting and his challenging ideas often perplexed the European art establishment but inspired fellow American artists.

American Attitude: Whistler and His Followers celebrates the influential work of Whistler and his impact on American painting. Among the 63 paintings is his most famous work, Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1: Portrait of the Artist's Mother, commonly referred to as "Whistler's Mother." Other signature works by Whistler include Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., as well as the DIA's own Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket. The exhibition is organized in a way that shows Whistler's unique handling of compositional and tonal arrangements and their impact. Other Whistler paintings are on view, along with works by American artists who were influenced by his innovative ideas including John Singer Sargent, William Merritt Chase, Henry Ossawa Tanner and others.

Tickets
1.877.DIA.TIXS.
Tickets include museum admission and an audio tour.

Adults: $12.50.
Youth, ages 6-17: $6.
Children under 6 are free.

Convenience and handling charges apply to all tickets except those sold on-site at the DIA Box Office. There are no refunds.

Visitors can secure advance timed tickets by calling 1.877.DIA.TIXS (1.877.342.8497), or at the DIA Box Office (walk-up only). Advance tickets are recommended. Same day ticket availability cannot be guaranteed.

Online: Click here to purchase tickets online.

Group Visits
Advance reservations are necessary for groups of 20 or more. Adult group tickets are $10 per person and youth group tickets $6 per child. To reserve, call 313.833.1292.

Hotel Packages
Hotel packages include a variety of hotel selections, rooms and rates; two VIP, front-of-the-line tickets, and tickets to other attractions. For more information on package options and rates or reservations call 1.800.DETROIT or log onto www.visitdetroit.com.

Catalogue
The exhibition is accompanied by a 272-page, full-color catalogue, published by the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia. It is available in the DIA Museum Shop for $35 soft cover and $60 hard cover. DIA Members receive a discount.

Speaker's Bureau
Volunteers offer slide-illustrated presentations on the DIA's collection and special exhibitions to adult organizations in the Detroit metropolitan area. Call 313.833.1510 to schedule a Speaker's Bureau talk for American Attitude.


This exhibition was organized as After Whistler: The Artist and His Influence on American Painting by the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Generous support is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. In Detroit, the exhibition is supported by the Comerica Charitable Foundation, Kenwal Steel Corp., the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the City of Detroit.