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Mini-Golf at the DIA

Monday, May 21, 2007

 

MINI GOLF AT THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS!

 

“Fore!Fun: Artfully Designed Mini Golf” opens at the DIA for summer visitors while the museum completes its renovation and expansion.

 

 

            May 21, 2007 (DETROIT)—As part of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) special line-up of summer events, “Fore!Fun: Artfully Designed Mini Golf” tees off on Sunday, May 27 and runs through Sept. 2. The 10-hole mini golf course specially designed for the DIA by Detroit area artists, architects and designers will be located on the north lawn while the museum is closed to complete the final stage of a six-year construction and gallery reinstallation project. 

 

The layout of the one-of-a-kind golf course was designed by Stephen Vogel, Dean of the School of Architecture at University of Detroit Mercy, and DIA board member. The holes are works of art in themselves, designed and built by the following local talent:

·        One Pure Stroke is a floor plan of the DIA by SmithGroup (Detroit), the architect of record for the museum’s renovation project.

·        The Loop is a challenging water hole by Cass Tech High School student Donald McKinnon (Detroit).

·        Leap Frog features a giant, colorful frog by Daniel Cascardo (Royal Oak).

·        Full Tilt Detroit resembles a pinball machine by Navigating Business Space (Troy), The Brainwerks (Southfield), Primeway, Inc., (Madison Heights) and Interior Partnership Group (Clawson).

·        Matisse Rose is built like a sculpture and represents the museum’s collection with long stripes of color, each representing a well-known artist, covering a sloped platform by Rose Desloover (­­­Farmington Hills).

·        Construction Site looks like just that, with a shovel, wheel barrow, bricks, barrel and cones for golfers to traverse, by Gillett Associates (Farmington Hills).

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·        What Goes Around is a concentric steel band spiral with a 16’ diameter that allows the golfer to watch the ball go past, by Gary Kulak (Birmingham).

·        Gridlock provides a bird’s eye view of Detroit’s freeway system and skyline by Nudell Architects (Farmington Hills).

·        Laughing Trees is based on a “Heidelberg-like” project in Atlanta featuring whimsically painted trees by Andy Malone (Detroit).

·        Devil’s Night is a commentary on this infamous night featuring marionettes on a rotating stage by Andy Malone (Detroit).    

 

Mini golf wouldn’t be complete without a Caddy Shack to purchase tickets, pick up clubs, grab a quick snack or purchase DIA golf hats and other “pro shop” items. Donated by the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, the DIA Caddy Shack was built using architectural salvage from Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit. Vogel directed the group construction effort along with Dan Pitera, Executive Director of The Detroit Collaborative Design Center, and architectural students from University of Detroit Mercy School of Architectural Design.

 

            “Fore!Fun: Artfully Designed Mini Golf” at the DIA opens to the public on Sunday, May 27 at 5 p.m. and will be available for play through Sept. 2. Course hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Cost for one round is $5 for adults, $4 for DIA members, and $3 for kids 12 and under. For more information, visit www.dia.org.

 

In addition to hot dogs, light snacks will be available at the Caddy Shack. CaféDIA will also remain open throughout the summer, offering crisp salads, hot soup, custom-made deli sandwiches, pizza, burgers, and desserts. Special summer hours May 29–Oct. 19 are Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Use the John R Street entrance of the museum.

 

DIA Closure and Reopening

            To complete the final phase of the renovation project, which includes reinstalling almost 5,000 works of art in redesigned galleries, the museum will close beginning Monday, May 28, the day after the Ansel Adams exhibition ends.  

 

While the doors are closed, the DIA has a great line-up of activities for the summer. With events like the debut of the DFT Film and Music Festival, age-appropriate summer camps, summer dining at CaféDIA and the popular art-making Drop-In Workshops at several local art festivals, there will be no shortage of fun. 

           

The museum’s reopening kicks off Nov. 10 with an exclusive first-look black tie gala fundraiser. The museum officially opens to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving.  

 

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The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA's collection is known for its quality, range and depth.

 

The DIA is currently undergoing a major renovation, and will be closed from May 28-Nov. 23 in order to complete the reinstallation of almost 5,000 works of art. While we are closed, we have many summer activities to enjoy, including mini golf on the lawn, a film and music festival, and drop-in workshops at art festivals around Michigan. Visit dia.org for more information.

 

Programs are made possible with support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.

 

 

Media Contacts                     Pamela Marcil  313-833-7899 pmarcil@dia.org

                                                Brendy Barr     248-651-4858 bbarr@dia.org

 

 

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