August 2013: Toledo and Detroit

 

Toledo Museum of Art

I don't have much to recommend about Toledo (you wouldn't know you were in their "downtown," if you can even call it that) EXCEPT for their fantastic art museum!!! They have a small, but great collection of everything I like (Impressionism all the way to Contemporary), a nice sculpture garden amidst immaculate grounds, and the best art museum gift shop EVER, featuring actual art from local artists and not just the usual tchotchkes. Plus...

...their newish (2006) Glass Pavilion is so cool! Highlighted by an actual glass-blowing studio, the modern complex's clear glass walls also enclose a glass gallery, reception halls, and a coffee shop (with old-school glass display containing glass pieces for sale!). Outstanding stuff!

Word of warning: definitely park in the museum's pay lot (the museum is free so consider this your admission fee) because the surrounding area is sketchy to say the least!

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Detroit Institute of Arts 

Detroit's art museum is huge with the original, elegant Beaux-Arts building expanded several times over. The collection is diverse with one of the highlights for me being the "Rivera Court," where Diego Rivera painted 27 frescoes entitled "Detroit Industry."

It's easy to see why Rivera considered them to be his best work, with the art and hall blending together just as perfectly as Man and Machine do on the walls. Other highlights include one of van Gogh's best self-protraits, which was the first van Gogh to be purchased by an American museum. This one is also definitely worth a visit!

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Justin Timberlake and Jay Z. at Ford Field

I like both of these artists' music, but probably wouldn't bother seeing either one alone in concert. Their tour together this summer though seemed a like must-see event and it definitely didn't disappoint! Each supported the other throughout the show with only one being on stage alone for a short amount of time. The resulting musicality on display was so good that I think other artists should be forced to tour together. Not your ho-hum summer tour!