Dave Galli
In his 25 years as a DIA volunteer, two distinct moments stand out for Dave Galli. When leading a school tour, a student remarked, “Boy, this is way better than I thought!” Another memory involved a guest and her 92-year-old mother visiting Rivera Court. “The mother recalled seeing Diego Rivera working on the murals when she was a young girl on a school tour in 1932,” Galli says. “I was wowed by having had the privilege of meeting someone whom I call a ‘living bridge’ to the past.”
Galli first visited the DIA in 1985 with friends he met as a freshman at Wayne State University. “I was in awe,” he says. “As an early—and still lingering—habit, I grabbed several brochures and kept them for years. After I graduated, I came across the volunteer brochure, attended an orientation, and joined my first committee.”
Over the years, Galli has worn many hats. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Hospitality Subcommittee of the 2026 National Docent Symposium, which will be held in Detroit in November, and as Vice Chair of the Interpretive Programs Volunteers (IPV) Committee.
Galli is drawn to bold, vibrant works like Mark Rothko's Orange, Brown, Franz Kline’s Siskind, Helen Frankenthaler’s The Bay, and Ed Clark’s Maple Red. “I absolutely adore the Contemporary galleries, followed by the Modern galleries,” he says.
For Galli, the DIA is one of a kind: “It’s a wonderful combination of the artwork, how it’s presented, and the people—volunteers and staff—who bring the museum to life.”
Mary Sue Lanigan
“I don't have an artistic [bone] in my body, but I have always loved art and art history,” says Mary Sue Lanigan, who serves as a DFT usher and assists in the DIA Shop. Inspired by a friend who volunteered as a docent, she joined the museum in 2022 shortly after retiring.
One standout moment came during the Kresge Foundation’s 100th anniversary gala in 2024. “The event took place in the DFT and featured a surprise appearance by former President Barack Obama,” she says. “We were told there would be enhanced security, but we didn’t know who would be attending until we arrived for our instructions.”
Lanigan was introduced to the DIA in 1990, when she first moved to Detroit. She passed her love of museums on to her two sons, creating a family tradition of visiting each year at Christmastime. She is especially drawn to Contemporary art and looks forward to the opening of the new galleries later this year. Her husband, a geologist, is fascinated by Frederic Church’s depiction of a South American volcano, Cotopaxi—a large print of the painting is displayed in their home. “We have to go see it as soon as we arrive,” she says.
“It is a beautiful museum, and I am proud to be associated with it...and enjoy learning about the collection,” Lanigan says.
Deneen Garrett
Deneen Garrett’s favorite part of volunteering is engaging directly with visitors, especially students on field trips. “During a recent shift, a student asked about leaving her artwork at the DIA,” she says. “Since they were in a rush, she gave me a sticky-note drawing. I hung it outside the art room — her work is now on display at the DIA.”
Garrett began volunteering two years ago in Gallery Services and later joined Gallery Information, where she serves as Vice Chair and Training Coordinator. In 2025, she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year.
“I became an art collector in 2020 and, a few years later, started exploring curation,” Garrett says. After a private tour of the African American galleries, her group was encouraged to consider volunteering. “It’s a way to stay close to the art while contributing to something meaningful.”
Garrett is drawn to African American art, from vibrant abstraction to delicate charcoal and pencil drawings. Her appreciation for abstraction is rooted in the ways Black artists have challenged expectations and expanded the field.
At home, her collection continues to grow and includes works by Detroit artists such as Donald Calloway. “I call my dining room my art gallery—and it’s expanded into my hallway, bedroom, and office,” she says.
Garrett, Lanigan, and Galli are three of the many volunteers who enhance the museum experience. On any given day at the DIA, 25 to 30 volunteers can be found across the museum—more on Friday nights and during special programs.
“Our volunteers help create meaningful experiences that connect visitors to our exhibitions and programs,” says Phil Rivera, Director of Volunteer Services. “They create a sense of welcome and belonging—both in the museum and in the community—and help make each visit feel personal and memorable.”