New DIA makes quite an impression on members

Michael H. Hodges / The Detroit News

"Honest to God, it gives me goose bumps," says Detroit artist Jon Strand on his first visit to the new Detroit Institute of Arts, which gave its members a sneak peek today -- one week before its Nov. 23 official inauguration.

"I don't know if it's because it's all so fresh," Strand says, marveling at a room titled "The Grand Tour of Italy," "but I've walked into galleries and let out gasps. I really have."

The museum's members-only preview will continue through this weekend.

As hundreds of members wandered the museum Friday morning, the atmosphere throughout was one of giddy exhilaration -- properly muted, of course. This is, after all, an art museum.

But for a region badly battered by grim news, the new DIA seem to have given metro Detroiters something about which they can be triumphantly, unapologetically proud.

"It's just such a big plus for Detroit," says Al Rickfelder of Farmington Hills, shaking his head.

About to enter the Greek and Roman galleries above Prentis Court, Michael Madigan contrasts the DIA's new explanatory labeling with that of a competitor in New York.

"I'm thinking about my experiences at the Metropolitan Museum," says the Lathrup Village resident, "and the main galleries there are going to seem very stodgy compared to this."

With most of the museum closed for six long years during the DIA's renovation -- and completely closed since May -- many members have clearly suffered a sort of museum cold turkey.

Says Daisy Lucente, "It's like coming home."

You can reach Michael H. Hodges at (313) 222-6021 or mhodges@detnews.com.