Clawson, Pleasant Ridge featured as part of DIA’s Inside|Out program

OAKLAND COUNTY — Clawson and Pleasant Ridge are two of the cities involved in this year’s Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside|Out program.

The art installations for this year’s Inside|Out program can be found all over Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. The program features reproductions of artwork from the DIA’s collection placed in public spaces around the tri-county area.

The art in Pleasant Ridge is located in Victory Park, Gainsboro Park, Memorial Park, Stevenson Park, at 99 Kensington Blvd., at 23925 Woodward Ave. and at 8 Ridge Road.

DIA Community Engagement Manager Sharon Harrell said the work picked for Pleasant Ridge, which hasn’t been a city featured in the Inside|Out program for a few years, was selected to bring a diversity of genres and aesthetics.

“It’s always great to circle around and revisit a particular county or city, and so it kind of fit with the geographics that we haven’t been to in a while.

“It’s really walkable and the landscape is really great. It’s nice that they have spaces that allow you to sit and contemplate the work. You’re able to place work in spots that are approachable. So that was really great. Every city is not like that,” she continued.

City Manager James Breuckman said the city is excited about having the art pieces featured in its parks.

“We have two separate areas of the city where now residents can enjoy some of the great pieces from the DIA while they walk through the parks,” he said. “We have a lot of people who walk through our parks every day regardless. I think this is just adding something to liven the experience.”

For Clawson, the art can be found at locations including City Hall, the Blair Memorial Library, Clawson Auto Sales, Eclectic Home, the Clawson Fire Department, the Hunter Community Center and Julian Brothers Bakery.

The art located in Clawson is different from Pleasant Ridge, as it is located within the city’s downtown.

“One of the good things about Clawson is it’s a city that will allow you to get on your bike, for example, and do a bike tour and kind of go through the city, because everything is not as compact as it is in Pleasant Ridge,” said Harrell. “In Clawson, they’re kind of throughout the city. You have the opportunity to kind of explore the city while you’re exploring the art.”

Clawson Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Joan Horton said public art always helps and encourages more walkability within a downtown.

“They give an interest to people for something else for them to look at when they’re walking around,” she said. “It does encourage that and that’s something that we’ve been working on in our master plan for the last four or five years. So we’re always happy to have more interesting things for people to see on the street.”

For locations of all the art installations, visit ​​dia.org/events/insideout-2023.