By: Mike Koury | Woodward Talk | Published May 8, 2024
HUNTINGTON WOODS — The city of Huntington Woods will be taking part in the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside|Out program for the first time in more than a decade.
Huntington Woods will be one of 10 cities, communities and park areas to feature the art from the DIA. The Inside|Out program sees high-quality reproductions from the museum’s collection placed in locations in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties in hopes to increase engagement.
“Huntington Woods and our Arts & Garden Board were so happy to be selected for the DIA’s 2024 Inside|Out installation. The works of art installed throughout our small city will bring joy and inspiration to walkers, cyclists, and children playing in parks,” Amy Shea, Huntington Woods liaison to the Arts & Garden Board, said in a press release. “Some of the artworks featured are instantly recognizable, and others may not be, so Inside|Out is an opportunity for people of any age to learn something new. I hope that the art will inspire people to make more visits to the DIA, a jewel of the city, only a few miles away.”
Community Engagement Manager Sharon Harrell said the DIA is excited to come back to Huntington Woods, which last hosted Inside|Out in 2013.
“They have a lot of parks so they’re very active,” she said of the city. “They have parks that are dedicated to children. Specifically. there’s the Senior Center, they have the library and so the area is just very community-centered and they have a lot of things going on. So I just think that it’s a great place for the community members to see the program but also to engage with each other. It’s a perfect area.”
The last time the program was featured in Huntington Woods, it only hosted a couple of art pieces. This year, the city will have 11 reproductions.
The art will be scattered at locations such as City Hall, the library, the recreation center, Scotia Park, Mary Kay Davis Park, Alligator Park, Peasley Park and the city’s entrance at 10 Mile Road and the Interstate 696 westbound service drive. Art also can be found at Wales Avenue west of the Morton Street entrance from the 10 Mile Road service drive, and 11 Mile Road and Meadowcrest Boulevard near Reynolds Park.
Harrell said the art will be up before Memorial Day.
“We kind of depend on our partner to bring activity centered around the artworks. And we support them. So if they do, for example, a farmers market, if we can get a docent out, we do bike tours with our volunteers, walking tours, bus tours, we can send volunteers out to do those. So we work with our community partners and support whatever program that they want. So they have to let us know that they want to do more or they have to let us know that they have a program.”
City Manager Chris Wilson said the city is very excited to welcome back the program to Huntington Woods.
“We’re very familiar with the program. We think it’s a great opportunity for not only our residents to see works from the DIA, but also for residents of the larger community to come into Huntington Woods, see the works and visit our parks and areas.” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for our residents and for the community to show off our parks and assets as well.”
Other cities and areas involved in Inside|Out this year include the Clinton River Trail, Auburn Hills, Highland Township, Novi, Pontiac, Rochester, Oakland County Community College, Orion Township Parks and Recreation and Oakland County Parks.